Today I got in my 94 Aerostar and went to take off towards the local grocery store, however when I put it in Drive there was a pause for about a second before it shifted into gear and was ready to go.
Immediately I became suspicious, I've had the van for about 2 months and am not very familiar with it yet but this was a first.

I put it back in Park and let it warm up for a while and then I checked the trans fluid.

No fluid on the dipstick. (maybe just a little wet near the bottom)

So I went around the corner to my local hardware store and got a couple quarts of Valvoline Mercon tranny fluid.

It took about 1 and a third quarts to bring it up to normal.

A test drive and all was back to normal, however I am a little worried for a couple reasons.

1. was any permanent damage done

2. I don't see any leakage, I will watch more closly now but if it's not dripping anywhere then where is this fluid going?

Unfortunately I don't remember checking this fluid when I bought the vehicle, other than pulling the stick out when it was sitting on the lot (not running). The fluid on the stick was clean both then and now after adding a quart to an idling, warmed up system.

There's about 160K miles on this van, I expect a few problems. It really is a good runner though.

 

If that is the only time you had the problem the transmission should not have been hurt. The big problem is it is leaking somewhere or being sucked into the engine through a vacum line and burned. Park it over night again on top of some clean papers & check for leaks in the morning. Look around the tranny for wet spots. I have a 93 Aerostar with 123 k and 89 Bronco II with 160 K and they never use transmission fluid. I do have a 1974 Ford that leaks a pint a year and I have to add. This has been going on for 10 years, if I get below two pints it does not want to go. Otherwise it runs great.