Why a six speed auto?
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
The 5 speed auto in my superduty crushes the 4 speed it replaced. Better mileage, less hunting for the right gear, etc. Also, it didn't cost much more than the 4 speed it replaced but boy what an improvement. I can't wait until they upgrade the superduty to a six speed like GM did in their trucks.
Someone else also said it and i concur - go drive an Expy with the 6 speed and then give us your feedback...
Fish
Someone else also said it and i concur - go drive an Expy with the 6 speed and then give us your feedback...
Fish
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 3
From: Kzoo
Originally Posted by vochy
IMO more moving parts are bad. maybe i'm just stuck in the past? It just seems like transmissions are following the path of razor blades. 3 blades work for me. I tried the more expensive 4 and 5 blade razors but found any increased performance from them wasn't worth the cost.
In my 06' 5.4l, I found that the Torque converter lock up at a high enough RPM to get into the torque curve and has very strong off the line pick-up. gearing up any more would be a waste. IMO!
In my 06' 5.4l, I found that the Torque converter lock up at a high enough RPM to get into the torque curve and has very strong off the line pick-up. gearing up any more would be a waste. IMO!
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 226
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From: IA
"Vochy, I don't understand why you asked the question if you had your mind made up in advance and you're just gonna disagree with all the answers given."
-webmaster
I asked this question in the begining to spark a disscusion. If I just agree with everyone this disscussion is over. Its not that I really dissagree with anyone. I am trying to hear others opions by antagonizing them out (excuse the spelling).
As for fuel economy increase, I did an online search and found an artical about ford and GM's joint 6 speed project. The artical claims a 4% increse in fuel economy. So there is some truth there. But heres the Math.
1.04 x 15MPG=15.6 (that 0.6 will really come in handy)
by the way my 06' only gets about 14mpg with a tail wind.
As for upfront cost, the artical claims the cost to be about the same. Again I was wrong.
How about moving parts. I was wrong again. The atical states that the 6 speed has the same # of componets as the 4 speed GM tranny that it replaces.
Here is a link to the artical that I read. http://wardsauto.com/ar/ford_gm_automatic/
Webmaster, I have a lot of respect for you and this web site, I hope that you or anybody else did not take this the wrong way. I was looking for a good disscussion not a bash fest.
-webmaster
I asked this question in the begining to spark a disscusion. If I just agree with everyone this disscussion is over. Its not that I really dissagree with anyone. I am trying to hear others opions by antagonizing them out (excuse the spelling).
As for fuel economy increase, I did an online search and found an artical about ford and GM's joint 6 speed project. The artical claims a 4% increse in fuel economy. So there is some truth there. But heres the Math.
1.04 x 15MPG=15.6 (that 0.6 will really come in handy)
by the way my 06' only gets about 14mpg with a tail wind.
As for upfront cost, the artical claims the cost to be about the same. Again I was wrong.
How about moving parts. I was wrong again. The atical states that the 6 speed has the same # of componets as the 4 speed GM tranny that it replaces.
Here is a link to the artical that I read. http://wardsauto.com/ar/ford_gm_automatic/
Webmaster, I have a lot of respect for you and this web site, I hope that you or anybody else did not take this the wrong way. I was looking for a good disscussion not a bash fest.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Figure this,
with the avances in tech and tolerances our 4 speeds (after the bugs got worked out inm the 90's) have way less service problems than the 3 speeds. engines last longer and get better miloage and performance. I wish I had a 6sp for my excursion.
with the avances in tech and tolerances our 4 speeds (after the bugs got worked out inm the 90's) have way less service problems than the 3 speeds. engines last longer and get better miloage and performance. I wish I had a 6sp for my excursion.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 2
From: Hawkeye Country
Originally Posted by madhatch
have way less service problems than the 3 speeds.
i also see the upside of a modern 6 speed, better milage, allows for better gearing. if i could put a 6 speed behind my 21 year old 351 i would. it would be neat to see a super low granny first gear, along with deep diff gears, and then a double over drive. get the best of both worlds
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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Originally Posted by vochy
I dissagree, my girl friend drives a 96' contor which only has a 3 speed tranny in it. for a car of its size it gets very good fuel economy (30 mph).
Originally Posted by vochy
and as for the six speeds keeping the RPM's in the sweet spot I beleive (correct me if im wrong) the the 4 speed in my 06' has clutching action between gears to keep the RPM's in a sweet spot.
Smaller RPM drops on shifts allows the engine to spend more time operating at RPMs that give better fuel economy. Six speeds are all about getting better economy. It isn't going to be several MPG better, it's going to be less than 1 MPG better. If you look at the fines that the automakers have to pay if they don't meet the fuel economy regulations you'd understand why they will do almost ANYTHING to get a half of a mile per gallon increase.
The fine for missing the CAFE regulation is $10,000 per 1/10 MPG miss, times EVERY VEHICLE SOLD THAT YEAR!
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 226
Likes: 1
From: IA
Casey Your right about my GF's car. I was thinking of her old car which is a geo metro (smallest PSC ever). that car only had a 3 speed. the contour does have OD. You also bring up a good point about the six speeds able to clutch with the torque conerter.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 52
From: Lawton, Oklahoma
Drive train components rarely are a major expense to the new owner. Its the little guy who can only afford a used vehicle that gets screwed when he buys the vehicle that the tard who abused it from new gets rid of it. When that lower income joe gets to pay the 4 grand for a new one.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,006
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From: San Jose, CA
I seem to remember reading a blurb in some magazine a while ago. They stated there's roughly a 5% gain in mpg per additional gear starting from 3rd-to-4th, but the diminishing returns are quick. That sorta correlates with what vochy is quoting.
Maybe that's why nobody hasn't just leapfrogged everyone else and just jump at building an 8-speed tranny...
Maybe that's why nobody hasn't just leapfrogged everyone else and just jump at building an 8-speed tranny...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,006
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From: San Jose, CA
shoot... that's right. My wife and I test drove one of those just a couple months back. My memory is going quick :-( Mighty nice I should say--I could barely feel it shifting. But I'll rather buy 2 my trucks for one of those, and I don't have to worry about getting door dings much less where I go. She's got a different opinion though :-(
OTOH, when given unlimited resources ($$) to build a high end vehicle, anything goes... I'm sure that's not in Ford's mind when it comes to designing/building our trucks :-)
OTOH, when given unlimited resources ($$) to build a high end vehicle, anything goes... I'm sure that's not in Ford's mind when it comes to designing/building our trucks :-)
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 392
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Vochy, that 0.6 gain in fuel mileage doesn't seem like alot for a individual and it isn't. If you drive 12,000 miles a year that's only going to save you 30 gallons of fuel in a year. But if you take that and do the math for 500,000 F150 Ford might sell and it comes out to 15,000,000 gallons of gas. And that can keep the tree huggers at bay for a little while.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,298
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From: Southern California
If it was all a marketing ploy they would give you a two speed transmission and convince you that was the best there is.
IMO, you are getting a good discussion. Just because not everyone shares your same opinion doesn't mean you're getting bashed.
Originally Posted by vochy
I was looking for a good disscussion not a bash fest.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
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From: Louisville,Ky.
Originally Posted by vochy
Casey Your right about my GF's car. I was thinking of her old car which is a geo metro (smallest PSC ever). that car only had a 3 speed. the contour does have OD. You also bring up a good point about the six speeds able to clutch with the torque conerter.
