What year did the F-250 go to 10 speed transmission?
The F-250 Super Duty moved to a 10-speed automatic with the 2020 model year, a shift from the longstanding 6-speed setup that aimed to improve towing capability, acceleration, and overall efficiency. While Ford’s lighter F-150 adopted a 10-speed earlier (in 2017), the heavy-duty F-250 did not follow suit until 2020.
Context and significance
To understand the change, it helps to place the Super Duty update within Ford’s broader strategy of expanding the use of a 10-speed automatic across its truck lineup. The upgrade on the F-250 was part of a comprehensive refresh aimed at boosting performance for high-torque applications and long-haul towing.
What the switch meant for the F-250
The 2020 refresh brought a 10-speed automatic to the F-250, applying the transmission to available gasoline and diesel powertrains. The new gearing spread provided smoother shifts, better low-end response for towing, and improved highway efficiency, all of which are critical for heavy-duty work scenarios.
The following list highlights the key aspects of the 10-speed introduction to the F-250.
- Transition from a 6-speed automatic to a 10-speed automatic across the Super Duty lineup.
- Wider gear ratio spread designed to optimize torque delivery and fuel economy, especially during towing and highway cruising.
- Availability paired with the main Power Stroke diesel and gasoline powertrains used in the F-250.
- Expected benefits include smoother shifts, improved acceleration under load, and enhanced overall drivability.
These changes marked a significant upgrade in capability and efficiency for the F-250’s heavy-duty towing and daily use.
Timeline: Ford’s adoption of the 10-speed across the F-Series
The shift to a 10-speed automatic did not happen all at once across Ford’s lineup. The 10-speed first appeared in the lighter F-150, and Ford extended the technology to the Super Duty line with the 2020 model year refresh, making the 10-speed a standard feature in the F-250/F-350 moving forward.
- 2017: The F-150 becomes the first Ford truck in the current generation to use a 10-speed automatic.
- 2020: The F-250 and F-350 Super Duty receive the 10-speed automatic as part of a major refresh for the lineup.
The 2020 update thus represents the first time the heavy-duty F-Series adopted Ford’s 10-speed transmission for its primary use in high-torque, heavy-haul applications.
Summary
In short, the Ford F-250 adopted a 10-speed automatic for the 2020 model year. This change aligned the Super Duty with Ford’s broader push toward greater efficiency and towing capability, delivering more gears, smoother shifts, and improved performance under load. While the F-150 pioneered the 10-speed in 2017, the heavier F-250 followed in 2020, marking a notable milestone for Ford’s heavy-duty lineup.
