The Hydra-matic 5L40-E uses a line pressure control system which has the ability to adapt the system line pressure in order to compensate for normal wear of clutch fibre plates, seals, springs, etc. The adapt feature is similar in function to fuel control (integrator/block learn).

The Hydra-matic 5L40-E transmission uses the adapt function for garage shifts, upshifts, and TCC applications. The TCM monitors the input shaft speed in order to determine if the shift is occurring too fast or too slow and adjusts the pressure control solenoid in order to maintain the correct shift feel.

As this adaptive feature is unique to any given transmission, it should be noted that any two different vehicles fitted with the Hydra-matic 5L40-E automatic transmission, could exhibit different shift characteristics and have a different 'feel'. This is a normal phenomena.