Coming out of gear?

[JackSprat]

Hey guys,
I had my transmission serviced, they replaced the pan filter and gasket along with the cooler "spin on" filter. This was done approx a week and half ago. Three days ago after I pulled a 21ft trailer (Toy hauler) a few miles (I brought it out of storage), the truck then sat for a few hours after the pull. I started it up, put in drive and it wouldn't engage drive fully (it felt like it was in gear real soft like, it didn't really want to move forward -- like it was low on fluid, then after a few seconds it engaged and performed like normal). I should have checked the fluid level at that time but didn't think to much about it as I thought maybe because I put it under a load from pulling that trailer, it was just equilibrating since the tranny service. It acted normal after that
Well, it did it again last night after I drove two hours to a destination. I let the truck sit for approx 2 hours, I came back outside and started it, put her in drive and the same thing happened (went into gear real soft like, I'd give it gas <not much> and it inched forward, like it was "low" on fluid). So I let it warm up a few minutes and put her in gear and it felt normal. I then drove to the nearest lighted up gas station and popped the hood. I checked the fluid level and it was down below the top "indicator" hole on the dip stick. I didn't want to use just any fluid from the gas station and figured "one" hole low on the dipstick would be ok to "walk" her home. It acted normal all the way home (although I did not push her hard).
I went out this morning and checked the fluid level "cold". I wiped the dip stick clean and put it back in all the way and pulled it out to check it, it was about an inch above the top indicator marker (How is that possible?). I put the dip stick in again and checked it another time, same answer. I then started it up and let it warm up to temp, then drove around the block and checked it again when it was at operating temperature. The level was as it was last night, one Indicator marker "low".
So, does anybody have an idea whats going on?
I did not do the service myself, I do not know what type of filter's or fluid they used.
I spoke just with the owner of the shop and he asked me to bring it in tomorrow (Monday) and he would put it on the lift and drop the pan to see if anything is immediately apparent (super nice man willing to work with me to figure this out, he even said if he had to, that he would tow it to the local dodge dealer and have them go thru it (on his dime) if he can't "see" something was done wrong (My local Dodge/Ram dealer is 65 miles away) (Welcome to Wyoming).
He assured me his team used quality fluid that was Dodge/Ram compatible and the same with the filter's.
2016 PW 6.4 w/34,000 miles (I love my PW!).
I've seen no visible leaks.
If anybody has an idea whats up, I'd like to share it with him so he has more information to help figure this out.

[Pit Slave]

First off, in order to check the fluid at cold temps, the truck needs to be running, parking brake on, transmission in neutral.

What you are describing is "delayed engagement" of the transmission. It could be low fluid or a defective pickup/filter or both. It has happened in the past that the pickup/filter would crack with certain after market units. It's why it is recommended to use a MoPar pickup/filter type unit. The spin on filter is not know to be an issue on these transmissions.

[JackSprat]

I agree on the "delayed engagement", i couldn't figure out how to change the title after I submitted.

We are going to switch to a Mopar filter/gasket when he drops the pan on Monday.
I will try the procedure you described this evening for the cold level check and see what it reads.
Thanks!

[RustyPW]

A while back. This was a big issue with using aftermarket non-Mopar tranny filters. The one filter gets pushed up into the tranny. The o-ring that comes with the filter is the wrong size, and lets the filter drop down after a period of time. It's best to use the Mopar tranny filter to eliminate this problem.

[DamageWagon]

Just like Rusty said, first thing that comes to my mind is the flat-style filter’s O-ring. If that O-ring is lost during the filter change and not replaced it could be bad news, as you’re getting bypass of air sucked in instead of purely oil.

[JackSprat]

Ok, I checked the fluid level "cold" after I started it up and put it in neutral. The temp was approx 90 degrees. It was a 1/16 of an inch below the third indicator.
I warned it up to approx 150 degrees and checked the level, it was covering the third indicator and leaving the 4th hole empty as it did last night.
The owner of the shop is going to send a team member to pick up a Mopar filter kit in the morning and change it out again.
If it fixes the issue, lesson learned.
Thank you Rusty and Pit Slave for the information, I hope its as easy a solution as to stick with the Mopar brand kit.

[JackSprat]

Thanks "DamageWagon", it kinda makes sense what yinz are describing as the possible issue. Seeing how three of you guys all lit up on the same "solve", it makes me feel pretty secure that this is what is happening (the timing of events helps point to this).
The shop used "CarQuest" product, so this very well could be the issue.
It'll be changed out tomorrow with a Mopar filter kit.
If I experience it again after this, I'll be back to bounce ideas off you guys again.

[olyelr]

My '06 Dodge 2500 always did this. After it sat a few hours or more, as soon as I started it up I would have to wait 10-15 seconds before I put it in gear, otherwise it would just sit there like it was in neutral and then eventually slowly slide into gear. All the reading up I did on it lead me to the filter in the trans pan like the others have stated.

[Colibri]

I’m late to the party, but with the same advice lol.

[RustyPW]

Thanks "DamageWagon", it kinda makes sense what yinz are describing as the possible issue. Seeing how three of you guys all lit up on the same "solve", it makes me feel pretty secure that this is what is happening (the timing of events helps point to this).
The shop used "CarQuest" product, so this very well could be the issue.
It'll be changed out tomorrow with a Mopar filter kit.
If I experience it again after this, I'll be back to bounce ideas off you guys again.

"Yinz". You from Pittsburgh? That is the only area that uses that word.

Years ago on the DodgeTalk forum. Around 2009 ~2010. Almost everyone who changed their tranny filters with aftermarket filters had problems. This was about the time when the 3G's had enough mileage on them to do a tranny service. It was a big deal then with people bitching.

[DamageWagon]

I’m late to the party, but with the same advice lol.

Showing up to a party with the same kind of beer isn’t unwelcome

[Reloaderguy]

You guys know how to party.

[JackSprat]

So the "swap" to a Mopar kit happened today (yea)!
If it happens again I'll know something is up.
The tech that performed the swap said the instruction in the Mopar kit were very explicit and described that the O-ring must be inserted first before the filter (no "stacking"). He thinks the last tech probably did not insert it in that fashion (although it was an aftermarket kit). Regardless, the proper kit and installation process was followed to a "T"!
Thanks for all the information, I feel pretty good this should nip it in the butt.

RustyPW ---> You got it!

Party on

[RustyPW]

So the "swap" to a Mopar kit happened today (yea)!
If it happens again I'll know something is up.
The tech that performed the swap said the instruction in the Mopar kit were very explicit and described that the O-ring must be inserted first before the filter (no "stacking"). He thinks the last tech probably did not insert it in that fashion (although it was an aftermarket kit). Regardless, the proper kit and installation process was followed to a "T"!
Thanks for all the information, I feel pretty good this should nip it in the butt.

RustyPW ---> You got it!

Party on

Good to here.

Steelers fan?