If you’ve spent all day looking for information about whether or not the 5R55S is different from the 5R55W but have been frustrated by the lack of resources, then stay awhile and listen.

That’s why we’re going to touch on the response to the question, What’s The Difference Between A 5R55S And An 5R55W?

Table of Contents

What’s The Difference Between A 5R55S And An 5R55W?

The 5R55S is the same transmission that was used in the F-150, Explorer, and Expedition until the 2009 model year. It was replaced by the 5R55W, which is basically the same transmission but with a different gear selector plate (that’s what makes it different).

The 5R55S uses two planetary gear sets, while the 5R55W uses three planetary gear sets. The 5R55W also has a longer output shaft and a longer valve body, which gives it more torque capacity than the 5R55S.

Product Recommendations:

Are 5R55E And 5R55S Transmissions Interchangeable?

5R55S will not fit in place of a 5R55E. For one thing the electrical connections and electrical components are completely different, and the 5R55S bellhousing is not removeable.

The only way to get a 5R55S into an E5OD transaxle is to modify the transaxle case. You would need to cut away some of the case so that it could accept the wider gearset (which is used in the 5R55S because it has a higher torque capacity).

The 5R55E was used on both C4 and C5 Corvettes, as well as other vehicles like Cadillac CTS-V’s and Pontiac GTO’s. The 5R55S was only used on 2004+ GTO’s, but they were very similar to the Corvette version so there are parts interchangeability issues with them too.

What Cars Use 5R55S Transmission?

The 5R55S, minus the SelectShift feature, was used in models of the Ford Mustang from 2005 until 2010. The 5R55W began use in November 2000 for the 3rd generation Ford Explorer and 2001 Ford Ranger.

It’s an electronically controlled five-speed overdrive automatic transmission from General Motors that was primarily used in rear-wheel-drive applications. It was produced from 2000 to 2005, replacing the 4T60-E and 4T65-E transmissions. It was replaced by the Hydra-Matic 5L50 / 6L50.

The 5R55S was available with two different electronic shift systems: Ultradrive and Ultradrive II. Both systems were controlled by a Powertrain Control Module (PCM) using an Autotrac controller.

The Ultradrive system had three modes of operation: Normal, Sport and Winter (or Snow) mode. The snow mode reduced torque converter slip at low speeds by utilizing engine braking to slow vehicle acceleration during hill descent or when descending long grades at high speeds, and it also enabled downshifts on slippery surfaces without touching the brake pedal or throttle pedal by automatically engaging traction control.

How Do I Know If I Have A 5R55S Transmission?

The 5R55S is a manual transmission that was used in many GM vehicles from 2005 to 2009. The first thing to look for when trying to determine if you have a 5R55S transmission is the VIN number on the driver’s door sill, or on the bottom of the car near the front axle. It should start with the 8th digit of 5 (if it doesn’t, you don’t have a 5R55S).

If your VIN starts with 8th digit being 5 and there is no “V” after it, then you have a 5R55S transmission. If your car has an “XH” or “5L30E” code after its VIN then you don’t have a 5R55S.

You can also pull up your vehicle’s build sheet online to see if it shows any of these codes:

8th digit = 0 = L99 4L60E (auto)
8th digit = 1 = L99 4L60E (auto)
8th digit = 2 = L99 6T80E (auto/V6 only)
8th digit = 3 = L99 6T80E (auto/V6 only)

Can I Do A 5r55W to 5r55S Swap?

Yes, it is possible to swap a 5r55W transmission into your 5r55S-equipped vehicle. Keep in mind that this swap requires the use of a custom bellhousing, so you cannot simply swap out your transmission and call it a day. You also need to purchase a new driveshaft (as the length will be different) and have it shortened appropriately.

You might also find this forum response valuable:

I have a 2008 5.4L F150 Super Crew with the 5r55-W transmission and I want to swap it out for a 5r55S and convert it to an auto. Can I do this?

Yes, you can do this. The 5-speed is much stronger than the 4-speed, so if you’re planning on putting big power in your truck, it’s definitely worth the money. However, there are some drawbacks.

Since it’s an overdrive transmission, it means that the gears are farther apart than they would be in a 4-speed or 3-speed transmission. For instance, 4th gear on a 3-speed is 1:1 ratio (you’re going as fast as your engine will go), whereas 4th gear on an overdrive transmission is like 1:1.86 ratio (the engine is going about 86% as fast as its top speed).

This means that you won’t be able to get up to highway speeds as quickly with the overdrive transmission than you could with a non-overdrive transmission…but again this is only really noticeable at high speeds (like 80+ MPH).

The other issue with swapping from one transmission to another is that they have different torque converters which require different flex plates.

How Many Quarts Does A 5R55S Transmission Take?

The 5R55S is an electronically controlled automatic transmission. It was introduced in the 2007-2008 model year and is used behind the 3.0L and 3.9L engines.

It’s important to know that there are two different capacities for this transmission: 11.2 quarts and 8.8 quarts (dry fill). The difference is due to the fact that there are two different versions of this transmission, one with a torque converter and one without a torque converter.

The capacity listed on the dipstick refers to an SAE J1703 test, which uses just enough fluid to fill the torque converter and then drains it out again.

This test does not take into account any sludge or debris in your transmission fluid, so you’ll want to replace it more often than once every 40k miles if you do any type of off-road driving or hauling loads regularly.*5R55W/W transmissions behind 3.0L & 3.9L engines will have a dry fill capacity of 8.8 quarts.

How Do I Fill Out A 5R55S?

When filling out a 5R55S repair order form, consider these questions:

What were you doing when the problem occurred? If it was while driving or accelerating hard, this could indicate worn or damaged clutches or bands in your transmission. If it happened while shifting into reverse or first gear, this could indicate worn gears in your transmission.

Are there any noises coming from under your dash? If so, this might indicate damage to other parts of your vehicle’s drivetrain such as your engine mounts or front axle U-joints.