Automatic transmission shifting when it's cold

[Ballyhoo]

I was told by a couple of guys that shifting a transmission into reverse first when it is cold is bad for the transmission. I have a 2013 F150. I have auto start so it usually runs anywhere from 5-15 min before I get into it. Where I park at home and at work I have to shift to reverse to back out of the spot before I can shift to drive.

Is this really bad for the transmission? I have never heard this before. I looked at the transmission temp this morning after the pickup was plugged in and idled for 15 min. It was 5 deg F this morning and the trans temp was 55 deg.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

My step dad would tell me that if the first gear you're going to engage from a cold start is reverse to put the gear into reverse but keep your foot on the brake. Let it sit in reverse for 10 seconds or so before letting it go under power for the fluid to circulate about the gears.

Old wives tale or not, always do that, or back into the spot so my first tranny shift is D

[huntnfish]

Whenever I drive my pickup I always shift into neutral for 30 seconds or so to let the fluid circulate. I'm not sure if this really helps anything but it makes me feel better.

[CAMAN]

It sounds like an issue that caused problems when auto transmissions were new on the market. I doubt it's a problem anymore otherwise manufacturers would warn you about it or prevent you from going into reverse on startup.

[expl]

I allways put it in R and put my foot on the brake for 10-20 seconds before I move.Dont know if it helps or not,but at least I tried.

[JOHNBIGDOG]

If shifting into reverse is bad, then shifting into drive is bad too? How about just don't drive. Its tooooooooo COLD!

When its this cold out I have noticed the atf (mercon LV) tends to cavatate a little (pulled in a ecoboost f150 to perform a transmission repair,) but have not felt any engagement concerns yet. I will tell you that its not bad to start your truck put it in gear, feel it engage, and drive, a vehicle will warm up faster when loaded. Then engine will make more heat loaded, and the trans will change shifting strategy to warm itself up faster.

What IS bad is if you put your vehicle in gear, step on the throttle pedal and the car doesn't move. Then you step on it more, then it slowly engages. At this point the fluid is to cold/thick and is not being pumped, flowing and applying the correct clutches. The transmission is slipping and IS causing damage.