Having a problem getting my car to go in to 4th gear until it is good and hot (about 30 minutes of driving). Based on searches of the archives, it sounds like low transmission fluid could be a cause. Although it shows no signs of leaking, I've only had the car a few months so I don't know what the transmission history has been.

Here's the question. After driving the car for about 20 minutes, I park it, slowly go through each gear on the shifter, then let it idle for a couple minutes. I then pull out the dipstick the initial time. The two times I have done this it has come out dry. Then I reinsert it and pull it out again. ATF fluid seems to be making it's way up to the normal range for on the dipstick for a hot engine.

Should I be concerned that it looks basically dry the first time a pull the stick out?

Thanks in advance for your help.