DPS6 6DCT250 Dual Clutch Transmission Fluid, XT-11-QDC 1qt

If you own a 2011-2019 Ford Fiesta or a 2012-2018 Focus with the PowerShift automatic, the transmission under the hood is the DPS6 (Ford also calls it the 6DCT250). Most people searching for this fluid are in the middle of a shudder or input seal repair, or they have found a wet bellhousing and want to top off with the right oil. This is genuine Motorcraft XT-11-QDC in a one-quart bottle, the part number Ford's own repair bulletins call for on this gearbox.

What XT-11-QDC does in a DPS6

The DPS6 is a dry dual-clutch box. The two clutches run dry, in air, at the front of the case, and the gearbox oil stays behind the input shaft seals with the gearsets, shafts and differential. Ford's chemicals and lubricants catalog describes XT-11-QDC as a synthetic-base dual-function fluid that protects the gears, synchronizers and bearings and also serves the transmission's shift mechanism, and it states the fluid should be used only where Ford's WSS-M2C200-D2 specification is required. Because it never touches the clutch faces, it is not a cure for shudder on its own. Its job is to keep the gear train lubricated at the correct viscosity so the synchronizers engage the way the control module expects.

Symptoms that bring owners to this fluid

• Shudder or judder when pulling away at light throttle, the classic DPS6 complaint
• Oil weeping from the clutch housing or the drain hole at the bottom of the bellhousing
• A low fluid level found after a clutch, seal or actuator job
• Gear whine or notchy engagement after someone topped the box off with a generic ATF

Ford's TSB 16-0109 ties excessive clutch shudder on these cars to fluid contamination of the clutch caused by leaking input shaft seals, and it notes that the car may or may not show a visible leak from the clutch housing. In other words, the shudder is often a sign that gearbox oil got where it should not be, so the fix is the seals plus the clutch, and the oil you put back in must be the correct spec.

How to confirm before buying

Check for oil in the bellhousing area before you blame the clutch alone, and scan the transmission module for stored codes. Our PowerShift DPS6 diagnosis guide walks through separating clutch shudder, seal leaks and TCM faults, since a failing control module can mimic a mechanical problem. If the clutches are oil-soaked, fluid alone will not stop the judder.

Fitment

This listing covers the DPS6 / 6DCT250 dual clutch in the 2011-2019 Fiesta and 2012-2018 Focus with the automatic. Ford's catalog also lists XT-11-QDC for several manual gearboxes (MT82, MT88, MMT6, B6 and MTX75), but the rule is the spec, not the vehicle: use it wherever your owner manual or service information calls for WSS-M2C200-D2. It is not a substitute for Mercon LV or any conventional automatic fluid. If you are unsure which transmission you have, send us the year and VIN and we will check it. Browse the rest of our transmission fluids if you need a different spec.

Install notes

• Plan on more than one bottle for a full drain-and-fill; the listing figures roughly two quarts for that service. On a clutch or seal repair, Ford's bulletin calls for up to one quart to make up what is lost.
• Ford released differential seal plugs to install whenever the transmission comes out, to reduce fluid loss during removal and bench work.
• Clean every trace of oil off the bellhousing and flywheel before new clutches go in. Contaminated clutch material is what causes the judder in the first place.
• Replace the input shaft seals any time the clutch is out. Our DPS6 input seal installer kit drives them square without nicking the shaft.
• If you are replacing the clutch pack itself, the DPS6 dual clutch kit with forks and the reset and reinstall tool set cover the parts and the setup tools. Check the workshop procedure for any module programming or clutch learn it calls for after the swap.

Genuine Motorcraft, one US quart, ships fast from the USA.

Does this fluid fit my 2014 Ford Focus automatic?

If it has the PowerShift (DPS6 / 6DCT250) dual clutch, yes. That covers the automatic Focus from 2012 to 2018 and the automatic Fiesta from 2011 to 2019. The spec to match is Ford WSS-M2C200-D2.

How many quarts do I need?

For a drain-and-fill, plan on about two quarts. On a clutch or seal repair Ford's bulletin calls for up to one quart to replace what was lost. Always fill to the level in the service information for your VIN.

Will new fluid fix my DPS6 shudder?

Usually not by itself. The clutches run dry, and Ford links shudder to gearbox oil leaking past the input shaft seals onto the clutch. The seals and the contaminated clutch need attention, then the box is refilled with the correct fluid.

Can I use regular ATF or Mercon LV instead?

No. The DPS6 calls for WSS-M2C200-D2 fluid. A conventional automatic fluid has different viscosity and friction properties and is not approved for this gearbox.

Is this the same fluid used in the Mustang MT82 manual?

Ford's catalog lists XT-11-QDC for the MT82 and several other manual gearboxes as well. Check your owner manual for the WSS-M2C200-D2 callout before using it in any manual transmission.

• Ford PowerShift DPS6: Diagnosing Dry-Clutch Shudder, Seal Leaks, and TCM Failures