Don't even idle a motor if the trans stick doesn't say full. If the tube is down in the case a little, or the stick cap is loose and the stick goes down too far, the read can be off far enough for the pump to suck just air and then nothing in the trans gets lubed. The pump bushing scores the converter and every bushing, thrust washer and gear gets starved of oil and starts to fry. Transmissions should have oil pressure gauges; or at least an idiot light just like a motor.
