Ford C6 Transmission Fluid Type and Capacity
As a conscious owner of your Ford, you want to ensure your C6 transmission is in good shape by using the appropriate amount of fluid with the correct type.
That’s why in today’s write-up, we have all the info about the ford C6 transmission fluid type and capacity.
What’s more? We will make every effort to present all the information about the matter that you should know about your C6 transmission. So, let’s move forward.
What Fluids Can You Use in Your Ford C6 Transmission?
The C6 transmission is a heavy-duty automatic transmission of 3 speeds. It is a powerful transmission built by the Ford Motor Company. Usually, the C6 transmission is used in many Ford V-8 passenger cars and pickup trucks.
Regarding fluid type in the C6 transmission, the manufacturer recommended using the Type F transmission fluid. This type F transmission fluid is specific for the Ford transmission until the mid-1977.
Apart from the Type F fluid, Dexron or Mercon is also compatible with the newer or later C6 transmission models. You can use the Dexron or Mercon instead of the Type F fluid in your C6 transmission.
Indeed, it is recommended to use Type F fluid for greater performance use & longevity of the C6 transmission because the C6 transmission is specifically designed for this fluid’s engagement.
Read Also: Mercon Vs Mercon V: What’s The Best Transmission Fluid?
How Much Transmission Fluid Does the Ford C6 Transmission Take?
The C6 transmission has a large fluid capacity of 7 quarts, including the stock pan. It also needs an additional 3 to 4 quarts for the torque converter. So, your ford C6 transmission fluid capacity is about 24 pints or 12 quarts, including the torque converter.
The C6 transmission will hold about 10 quarts of transmission fluid if the converter is drained. If the converter is not drained, and you only drop the pan, add 5 quarts and check.
That means it can take up to 7 quarts, depending on how long the pan is off. You just need to add several quarts after adding the initial 5 quarts.
Read Also: 4R100 Transmission Fluid Type
C6 Compatible Vehicle [Make and Model] and Fluid Capacity
Using the correct amount of fluid in the transmission is crucial for the service line and operation of the vehicle. That’s why we listed the C6 transmission-compatible cars with their fluid capacity here.
| Models | Year | Fluid Capacity |
| Ford Bronco | 1978–1991 | 6.5 to 9 pints |
| Ford F-Series | 1967–1996 | 11.7 to 13.5 qt |
| Ford Fairlane | 1964–1970 | 4.5 U.S. qt |
| Ford Galaxie | 1966-1974 | 4 U.S. qt |
| Ford LTD | 1966–1980 | 5 U.S. qt |
| Ford LTD II | 1977–1979 | 5 U.S. qt |
| Ford Ranchero | 1966–1979 | 15.1 qt to 19.4 qt |
| Ford Thunderbird | 1966–1979 | 5 U.S. qt |
| Ford Torino | 1968–1976 | 5 U.S. qt |
| Lincolns | 1966–1979 | 7-quarts |
| Mercury Comet | 1966–1969 | 4 U.S. qt |
How Often Should You Change the Transmission Fluid in Your C6 Transmission?
No matter what type of vehicle you own, changing the transmission fluid at appropriate intervals is always recommended.
If you are driving a manual transmission, you should change the fluid between every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. In the case of the automatic transmission, replacing the transmission fluid every 60,000 to 100,000 miles is recommended.
As the C6 transmission is the automatic transmission of the Ford vehicle, you should change the fluid in its recommended time. It will not harm your transmission if you change the fluid early.
A good rule of thumb is to change the fluid of your C6 transmission every 30k miles or once a year.
Read Also: 700R4 Transmission Fluid Type
How Can I Improve My C6 Transmission Performance?
You may want to upgrade the performance of your C6 transmission to meet up modern-day performance toughness & expectations & surprisingly, you can do so! In line with that, you can improve the C6 transmission performance by following the below steps.
1- Pair Custom Parts:
The C6 transmission has its favoritism as it is more lightweight than the MX transmission of vehicles. Still, it is heavyweight if not compared with its predecessor.
Due to this heavy weight, it is sometimes seen to lose the horsepower of the C6 transmission. By adding custom parts, you can reduce the transmission’s horsepower loss. You can pair a modern 4R100 electronic overdrive in this line.
2- Upgrade the Valve Body:
You can also upgrade the valve body of your C6 transmission to enable automatic transmission. A valve body shift assists in providing you with firmer shifts & eliminates different issues like clutch chatter, band failure, premature clutch, etc.
3- Mounting Bell Housing:
In your C6 transmission; you can mount the stock case with an SFI-certified bell housing to enhance the horsepower of the transmission. You can upgrade the horsepower by about 1,000 hp, 2,000 hp, or more of the C6 transmission.
4- C6 Planetary Carriers:
Switching the stronger C6 planetary carriers can improve your transmission’s performance. It can surge horsepower over 2000 H.P. Needle bearings can also replace the thrust bearing in several rolling parts to reduce friction.
Read Also: Allison 1000 Transmission Fluid Type And Capacity [An Absolute Know-All!]
5- Replacing First & Reverse Planetary Gearset:
In the first and reverse planetary gearset, there are usually three or four pinions made of aluminum. You can replace it with a steel-made six-pinion planetary gear set.
The increased number of pinions helps in load distribution of the C6 transmission & the change can strengthen the unit as you have used different materials.
6- Lincoln Drums:
To upgrade the performance of your C6 transmission, you can use Lincoln drums to add more clutch. Although it featured four clutches, you can fit up to 6 clutches to have a higher level of grip.
7- Aftermarket Clutches:
You know, aftermarket clutches are thicker than stock clutches. For instance, stock clutches are 0.0080-inch-thick, whereas aftermarket clutches are 0.0065-inch-thick. Using less thick clutches provides space for stacking in the transmission.
8- Upgrading Gear Ratios:
The first, second & third gear ratios for the C6 transmission are 2.40:1, 1.40:1, and 1:1, respectively. Yet, you can use a wide ratio gearset to the first gear with a numerically larger gear.
A wider gear ratio will be beneficial as it will make the gear act fast & there will be no increase in the R.P.M. driving if you have a heavy car.
What is the ratio of the C6 transmission?
The C6 transmission has the following gear ratios:
| Gear | Ratio |
| 1st | 2.40:1 |
| 2nd | 1.40:1 |
| 3rd | 1.00:1 |
| 4th | 0.70:1 |
| Reverse | 2.99:1 |
FAQs About Transmission fluid for C6 Ford
Discussing the C6 transmission fluid type & capacity may invoke many questions in your mind. That is why we listed some most common queries that you may ask.
How many years is a C6 transmission?
The Ford C6 is a heavy-duty transmission established by the Ford Motor Company. It built a C6 transmission between 1966 and 1996.
What is so different about the C6 transmission?
C6 transmission is unique in its way. Although many other transmissions are used in various vehicles, the owners consider the C6 transmission the workhorse of choice. C6 transmission provides less complexity, less parasitic power loss, lower weight, and excellent torque capacity for large vehicles.
What engines will a C6 transmission fit?
Ford engines have five different bell housings. Among them, the 300 I6, the 351 Cleveland & the Ford Windsor engines were used in the Windsor pattern. The 351M and 400 & all Ford “385” engines used the 460 patterns.
Does the Ford C6 transmission have an overdrive?
Adding an overdrive in the C6 transmission is physically impossible. But the 4R100 can provide its forward planetary gear set for shorter and second gear ratios. It can create a “wide ratio” in C6 transmission.
What is a better C4 or C6 transmission?
The C6 transmission has gotten the most favoritism among the transmission. The C4 transmission is unsuitable for off-road driving because the C4 transmission cannot handle as much power as the C6 transmission. Besides, C4 transmission can be used in cars, not in trucks.
