Thoughts on the 6L80E

[rjfguitar]

I just hate that mine needs to be floored to go "O shit okay I need to double down shift"...

Although mines probably much better in a 3/4 ton with 4.10s than a burban with 3.42.


On a side note is there no 6L60e? they just stuffed an 80 into everything?

Yep, you feel like you have to MASH the throttle just to get it to respond half way decent, at which that point it finally down shifts 10 gears, throws your head back and makes a bunch of noise. My wife hates that. Yeah, I liked the 3.73's in our old Yukon, I thought it was geared just right for a town/highway vehicle.

I thought the same thing, didn't do my research and thought I was getting a 6 spd equivalent to the 4L80E, which made sense to me due to the power output of the 6.2L. Nope, it's a pretty light duty trans for the most part.

 

[rjfguitar]

I haven't driven one but I've always figured the new 6 speeds would be shift happy.

As for the Dodge with the Cummins, I'd go with the Asian trans. The 68rfe is already know for only going 150k average even behind a stock engine.

It's Aisin actually. I'd probably prefer the Aisin too, but it's only paired with the HO Cummins version and they add a few grand usually. The 68RFE is a pretty good trans for the most part. I've been told it's fairly similar to the 48RE, which is also a pretty good trans contrary to what is heard on the internet. Between my '06 and my dad's '06 we have put on over 300K on our stock 48's, and are making a combined 925HP between the two, far from stock.

What I do like about the 68RFE is that it does at this point have quite a bit of aftermarket support behind it. Best trans I've ever had is my built 47RE in my '01. My plan is to go drive 4th gens equipped with both trans and see which has the best shifting characteristics.

 

[Stomis]

Yep, you feel like you have to MASH the throttle just to get it to respond half way decent, at which that point it finally down shifts 10 gears, throws your head back and makes a bunch of noise. My wife hates that. Yeah, I liked the 3.73's in our old Yukon, I thought it was geared just right for a town/highway vehicle.

I thought the same thing, didn't do my research and thought I was getting a 6 spd equivalent to the 4L80E, which made sense to me due to the power output of the 6.2L. Nope, it's a pretty light duty trans for the most part.

Jeeze... Thats exactly what I thought, that I was getting a 6 speed version of a beef 4l80e...

I wish the Allison 1000 was an option on LS trucks. best auto ever.

 

[Chevy305]

I know your frustration with the tuning on the 6L80. The tuning sooooo lazy from the factory. I had enough of it being in 6th gear at 35mph. I had to always shift it manually to get it be in the gear I wanted. Then I finally tuned it....
All I can say is holy crap what a difference it makes. It shifts much faster and firmer at the right speeds. I had the tuner adjust 4th, 5th, and 6th up a lot from his standard tune. I don't hit 5th until 42mph and 6th at 54mph. Plus the reduction of torque management makes a big difference too, now it doesn't cut all power when shifting. Now I hardly ever shift it manually, just thow it in D and it shifts where I want now. Honestly get yourself a tune! Youll wonder why you waited so long to do it.

As far as longevity with a tune, I can't answer that. But I do know there isn't much aftermarket support for the 6L80. I see a lot of high horsepower guys swap them out for 4L80s.

One thing I did notice was that while lugging in 5th or 6th and applying a little extra gas to maintain speed on a hill or slowly accelerate, the truck will shutter and you can see the rpms fluctuate a little. It was there stock but barely noticeable but after my mods and tuning it's definitely a lot more pronounced. My tuner said that it's converter slip and further research seems to confirm that. I guess the stock converters are fairly weak and have trouble holding while locked.

I also get a single shift flare on the 2-3 shift when its cold out on the first drive of the day. I still need to figure that one out.

 

[JoshHefnerX]

I also get a single shift flare on the 2-3 shift when its cold out on the first drive of the day. I still need to figure that one out.

I remember there being a tsb for shift flare on my G8 - don't remember what it was but there may be one out for yours.

 

[Chevy305]

I remember there being a tsb for shift flare on my G8 - don't remember what it was but there may be one out for yours.

Not that I know of. The shift flare has only been there post tune. I need to data log it and see what it's actually doing

 

[KirsL]

It's Aisin actually. I'd probably prefer the Aisin too, but it's only paired with the HO Cummins version and they add a few grand usually. The 68RFE is a pretty good trans for the most part. I've been told it's fairly similar to the 48RE, which is also a pretty good trans contrary to what is heard on the internet. Between my '06 and my dad's '06 we have put on over 300K on our stock 48's, and are making a combined 925HP between the two, far from stock.

What I do like about the 68RFE is that it does at this point have quite a bit of aftermarket support behind it. Best trans I've ever had is my built 47RE in my '01. My plan is to go drive 4th gens equipped with both trans and see which has the best shifting characteristics.

Damn autocorrect, lol. Phone changed it and I didn't notice. They must of improved them a bunch the 68rfes, but I haven't done any major reading on them in a while. Most people do rave about the aisin, compare it to the Allison. Does suck it's only behind the HO motor though.

I completely agree once I put the built 48re in mine it made me wish I had done it sooner. Made a huge difference with how the truck ran.

 

[rjfguitar]

I completely agree once I put the built 48re in mine it made me wish I had done it sooner. Made a huge difference with how the truck ran.

Yep exactly, the thought of having that same setup but with 2 extra gears sounds nice.

 

[CyberSniper]

I had a L76/6L80e truck (the first of them, and the replacement for the Vortec Maxx). The factory tune was a bit irritating originally. I had them reflash it and it was much better but I lost 1mpg for around town driving. I sold it with 113k on it, never changed the fluid, and I was never nice to it.

I have a L86/8L90e truck now. 420hp/460ftlbs in a half ton with an 8 speed. It goes. The garage shift is terrible (delays when changing directions or in and out of park). It has an annoying flutter at 1250-1500rpm caused by the TCM continuously disengaging and engaging the TCC. Other than that, it's awesome. It gets 4-12mpg BETTER than my old L76/6L80e truck depending on how I drive it. The amusing part is that if you mash the stupid pedal to the floor the tires whine until all four tires make it to 35mph and then stability control turns back on and the fun ends. If you try to get too wild the stability control never really goes all the way off (dry asphalt powerslides) and ends your fun. If you want to actually go fast off the line though you have to put it in 4wd. I do wonder about the longevity of the TCC with the abuse it seems by the TCM.