I'm not sure what trans is in the truck but I'm going to ask the question anyways. I travel quite frequently and the truck sits in the long-term parking lot at the airport for 2.5-3 weeks at a time. When I get back and put the truck in D the truck does not move. I have to cycle the tranny from P R N D a few times before the truck starts to move and then it's kind of slow as if the tranny is slipping. Any ideas? The truck is a daily driver with no towing as of yet and only has 14000 miles on it. The fluid looks and smells fine. Thanks

 

Put the transmission into neutral for about 15-30 seconds before you start driving.

 

Yep, fluid will drain from the torque converter when left sitting for long periods. In Park the tranny does not pump ATF. When putting it in N for 15-30 seconds it will pump fluid through the system and "recharge" the TC.

 

If the fluid drains from the TC could there be damage occuring while the TC is rotating and waiting for fluid to return? This doesn't seem right that the fluid would drain from the TC. Thanks for the replies.

 

I freaked out the first time it happened to me , i read the owners manual it says that it is designed that way

 

Thats why I dont drive an auto dodge . well not one made by dodge

 

Are we supposed to actually read the owners manual?

Thanks for the info guys.

 

This happened all the time on my 1996 3500 V-10/47RE when it would sit in the garage for an extended time. Of course, fluid didn't circulate in Park on that truck, but 30-45 seconds of idling in Neutral would wake everything up. Torque converter draindown has been around on these transmissions for a long time!

Rusty

 

My 1970 D200 with a 727 Torqueflite does exactly the same thing. 30 seconds in neutral fills it right back up. Also, it doesn't hurt the TC because it doesn't completely drain, only about half way (down to the level of the drive hub), so there is still lube in there.