4l80e Transmission Information
- What Vehicles Were The 4l80e Found In?
- 4l80e Specs
- 4l80e Transmission Maintenance
- 4l80e Upgrades
- 4l80e Problems
- 4l80e FAQ’s
What Vehicles Did The 4l80e Come In?
The 4l80e transmission was found in a many heavy duty GM and high end luxury vehicles, such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, and Jaguar ranging from model years 1991 – 2013. Here is the complete list of 4l80e equipped cars and trucks.
- 1991–2013 Chevrolet C/K/Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500 & 3500
- 1991–2013 Chevrolet/GMC Suburban/GMC Yukon 2500 & 3500
- 1991–2009 Chevrolet Van/Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana 2500 & 3500
- 2002–2006 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500 General Motors LS engine only
- 1992-2006 Hummer H1
- 1992–1998 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Spur II, III, IV
- 1991–1992 Bentley Eight
- 1991–1997 Bentley Turbo R
- 1991–2002 Bentley Continental R/S/T
- 1999–2006 Bentley Arnage Red Label / Bentley Arnage R/RL/T
- 1993–1996 Jaguar XJS
- 1994–1997 Jaguar XJR
- 1993–1997 Jaguar XJ12 / Daimler Double Six
- 1996–1999 Aston Martin DB7
- 2000- 2006 Chevrolet HD trucks
Although the 4l80e is common in a lot of heavy duty vehicles, their strength, even in stock forms makes them a very sought out candidate for transmission swaps in high performance cars or trucks in drag race applications.
What Year 4l80e Is Best?
When it comes to the 4l80e, not much is different in terms of years, but how its taken care of is more important. Is has often been debated all over the internet that a newer (99+) 4l80e is more capable than an older unit. However, many have used 4l80e transmissions from all years and have had plenty of success with longevity and reliability in extreme use cases.
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4l80e Transmission Specs
Case Material: Aluminum
Torque Rating: 440 ft lbs
Weight: 236 pounds (Dry)
Fluid Capacity: 14 quarts (Dry)
Gear Ratios:
- 1st Gear: 2.48:1
- 2nd Gear: 1.48:1
- 3rd Gear: 1.00:1
- 4th Gear: 0.75:1
- Reverse: 2.07:1
4l80e Transmission Fluid Type, Capacity & Specs
The 4l80e recommended transmission fluid if Dex / Merc aka Dexron 3 (Dex III), or is backwards compatible with the modern Dexron 6 (Dex VI), and has a fill capacity of about 14 quarts of transmission fluid. When dropping the transmission pan to perform a standard drain and fill transmission fluid change, you can expect to replace around anywhere from 4-5 quarts of fluid assuming the stock transmission pan is being used.
If you have a deeper aftermarket transmission pan on your 4l80e, then this quart estimate will likely be more and require you to check fluid levels as you fill and run the transmission through the gears.
Overall, the best transmission fluid for 4l80e transmissions is either a factory spec Dexron 3 or Dexron 6. The beauty of the 4l80e is that it’s just a simple old GM transmission, so there’s no need for expensive transmission fluid. We still recommend Dex 6 in most common applications.
- Backward compatible with previous Dexron automatic transmission fluids and can be used as a much-improved replacement for older vehicles/transmissions originally using previous Dexron fluids
- Improved performance over previous Dexron fluids in: friction durability, viscosity stability, aeration and foam control, and oxidation resistance
- Potential to enable improved fuel economy and longer transmission life
- Provides for extended drain intervals. Provides consistent shift performance, even in extreme conditions.
4l80e Transmission Fluid Temperature
The 4l80 runs in the 180-200 range when fully warmed up,
To combat transmission temp issues, installing an aftermarket transmission cooler is certainly helpful along with a deeper, higher capacity transmission pan if you have the space to do so, and thermostat bypass.
4l80e Transmission Filter
Transmission filters for the 4l80e are very inexpensive and simple. Most 4l80e transmission filters and kits (including pan gasket and filter seal) cost around $20 – $30. The filters we recommend for your 4l80e are:
- Airtight closure prevents loss of line pressure
- Filter fibers and phenolic resin resist change in temperatures
- Manufactured to GM OE specifications for fit, form and function
- Provides the performance and dependability you expect from ACDelco
- Premium filter specified to OE levels of filtration and fluid flow
- Ensures transmission longevity when replaced at regular service intervals
- Includes replacement reusable style gasket to replace aged original
- Designed to prevent pan leaks
- Kit for GM 6L80 Transmissions (confirm by inputting year / make / model)
4l80e Transmission Maintenance
The 4l80e requires recommended maintenance of changing the fluid, and filter every 30,000 miles depending on usage. If you have a truck that you use to tow or haul often, it’s best to check your fluid and make a determination as to how frequent you should change out your fluid.
When checking your transmission fluid, be sure to not only look at the fluid level, but the color and smell. Good transmission fluid will have a reddish color to it, but if it looks dark, almost brown and has a slight burnt smell to it, then you are very past due on your maintenance. The chart below shows how transmission fluid looks at various stages.
4l80e Transmission Fluid & Filter Change
Changing transmission fluid and filter in your 4l80e is a very simple and straight forward DIY project if you are handy. One of pros of the 4l80e is that there is typically a drain plug on the bottom the pan to make fluid and filter maintenance easy. Like said before, it’s typically best to do a basic transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles or so depending on use. If you tow or race often, it’s always a good idea to change fluid more frequently.
Below is a detailed video of performing a transmission fluid change on a 4l80e in a Chevy Silverado. The same idea applies across the board for most 4l80e equipped vehicle.
How many quarts does it take to do a fluid and filter change on a 4l80e trans? For a typical pan drop and fluid change, you will need about 5-7 quarts to do the job.
As always, start with adding a few quarts of atf when you have the new filter and pan back on and shift through the gears to get fluid moving and warm, then keep checking and added until you have the right level.
4l80e Transmission Pan Torque Specs
When reinstalling the transmission pan on your 4l80e, be sure to not over tighten the pan bolts. The correct torque spec for the 4l80e transmission pan bolts is 100 – 120 inch pounds. In addition, it’s best to tighten the bolts in a cross pattern to prevent over-tightening on one side of the pan over the other. It’s not the biggest issue, but typically best practice to torque (or use your better judgement) in a somewhat consistent sequence.
4l80e Upgrades
When it comes to upgrading your 4l80e, besides adding better internals and hard parts, there are a few simple upgrades that you can make to keep transmission temps down. The most common simple DIY 4l80e upgrades that can be done with simple hand tools in your driveway without removing the transmission to tear apart are definitely transmission coolers, pans, and thermostat bypass.
4l80e Transmission Pans
Like other GM transmissions, the 4l80e has a very simple pan design that is easily removed for maintenance and has a good bit of aftermarket support. While the stock pan is typically good enough for most, some opt for a larger capacity deep pan, especially those who tend to tow / haul or race more than average.
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