Ron Hill Automatics

Ron Hill Automatics Founded in 1975, Ron Hill Automatics continues to provide quality service nationally

Ron Hills has been looking after Automatic Transmissions for over 45 years on the Sunshine Coast and won many Awards ... Specialising in Automatic Transmission Servicing / Repairs / Valvebody and Cooler Upgrades.

REAL CUSTOMER. REAL DATA. REAL RESULTS.We absolutely love when our customers send us information like this!One of our cu...
01/09/2026

REAL CUSTOMER. REAL DATA. REAL RESULTS.

We absolutely love when our customers send us information like this!

One of our customers recently had a transmission cooler upgrade installed by RHA and, being a self-confessed “data nerd” she wanted to see exactly what her transmission was doing.

Using an OBDII scanner and the Car Scanner app, she began recording her real-world transmission temperatures during normal family driving, including school runs, shops, sport and everyday driving.

Kym exported the data and compared the actual numbers.

The result? A clear reduction in transmission operating temperatures following the cooler upgrade. 📉

And this isn't even towing data yet!

Her setup includes “Milly”, a beautifully renovated 1980 Millard caravan weighing around 1.4T fully loaded. Once camping season starts again, she's planning to collect another round of data while towing so we can see exactly how the upgraded cooling system performs under additional load.

We can't wait to see those results!

This is exactly why we talk so much about transmission temperature. You may not see it on your factory dash, but transmission temperature can have a significant impact on transmission operation and longevity.

A massive thank you to our customer for taking the time to collect the data and allowing us to share it.

Do you actually know what temperature your transmission is running at? 🌡️

⚙️ Automatic Transmission Specialists Since 1975
📍 Sunshine Coast
📞 5443 4444

A Transmission Service Is More Than Just Changing the FluidRemoving the transmission sump is a vital part of a proper tr...
31/08/2026

A Transmission Service Is More Than Just Changing the Fluid

Removing the transmission sump is a vital part of a proper transmission service.

Once the sump is removed, our technicians can inspect the condition of the fluid, sump and any material or contamination present. This gives us a valuable health check of what is happening inside the transmission and can help identify early signs of wear before they develop into bigger problems.

During the service, we can also:

✔️ Remove and inspect the transmission sump
✔️ Check for excessive clutch material or metal contamination
✔️ Replace the transmission filter
✔️ Replace the pan gasket where applicable
✔️ Refill with the correct transmission fluid
✔️ Check fluid level and transmission operation

Simply dumping the old fluid and replacing it may give you fresh oil, but you're potentially leaving an old filter in place and missing one of the most important opportunities to assess the condition of the transmission.

That's why at RHA, we don't believe a transmission service should just be an oil change.

Preventative maintenance isn't only about replacing fluid. It's about knowing what's happening inside your transmission.

⚙️ Automatic Transmission Specialists Since 1975
📍 Sunshine Coast
📞 5443 4444

A customer towed his 3-tonne van from the Sunshine Coast to Darwin last January. His transmission ran at 112°C for three...
31/08/2026

A customer towed his 3-tonne van from the Sunshine Coast to Darwin last January. His transmission ran at 112°C for three days straight before it dropped into limp mode outside Mount Isa.

Nobody had told him to check operating temperature before he left. He'd had the fluid done. He thought he was ready.

Here's the thing most towing drivers never hear: a fluid top-up is not a pre-trip check. The healthy towing range is 60–85°C. Fluid starts breaking down at 110°C. Most utes and 4WDs don't even display real transmission temperature on the dash, so you'd never know until the damage is already done.

Before you hitch up these school holidays, you are allowed to walk into any workshop and ask these six questions:

Is my transmission fluid clean enough for a long tow? What temperature will it actually run at under load? Does my cooling system handle sustained highway towing? Can you check the torque converter condition before I leave? What's the heaviest load this transmission is truly set up for? And if something fails on the road, what does your warranty cover?

If a workshop can't answer those clearly, that's your answer.

Heading north this winter with a van behind you? Book a proper pre-trip transmission assessment with us before you leave the driveway. Sorting it in Maroochydore beats sorting it outside Mount Isa 🛻

"Valve body." It's a term you'll see on an upgrade quote, and most drivers nod along without really knowing what it does...
28/08/2026

"Valve body." It's a term you'll see on an upgrade quote, and most drivers nod along without really knowing what it does.

Here's the plain version: the valve body is the brain of your automatic transmission. It's a maze of channels, valves and solenoids that routes hydraulic fluid to the right clutch pack at the right moment. It decides when you shift, which gear you land in, and how firmly those clutches grab.

On a stock tow tune, those shifts are calibrated for average driving. Load up 3 tonnes of caravan, point it at a long climb, and the valve body is making thousands of tiny pressure decisions to keep your gearbox alive.

That's why an upgraded valve body sits on so many of our 4WD build quotes. Firmer, faster shifts mean less clutch slip, less heat, and a transmission that actually holds up to the work you're asking it to do.

Seen "valve body" on a quote from us and wondered what you were paying for? Ask us. We'll walk you through exactly what's changing inside your gearbox and why it matters for the way you drive. 🔧

Your caravan is hooked up, the highway is long, and your transmission is quietly cooking.Once transmission temperature c...
26/08/2026

Your caravan is hooked up, the highway is long, and your transmission is quietly cooking.

Once transmission temperature climbs past 100°C, it's officially hot. And it's not the short spikes that do the damage. It's sustained heat that breaks the fluid down and wears the gearbox out from the inside.

The tricky bit? Most vehicles don't show actual transmission temperature on the dash. By the time a warning light comes on, things are already serious.

Swipe through for 3 signs your transmission is overheating while towing, and what to do the moment you spot them 🚙

Towing regularly this season? Have a chat to us about a transmission temp monitor or a pre-tow check. Better to catch the heat early than rebuild the box later.

Knowledge. Experience. Family.Some things simply can't be taught from a textbook.Nearly 50 years ago, Ron Hill built Ron...
16/07/2026

Knowledge. Experience. Family.

Some things simply can't be taught from a textbook.

Nearly 50 years ago, Ron Hill built Ron Hill Automatics on a simple philosophy: do the job properly, stand behind your work and never stop learning.

This photo captures something we're incredibly proud of. Bill Olah passing on decades of knowledge to his son, Tim, in the workshop. Today, Bill and Tim proudly own Ron Hill Automatics together, continuing the values and reputation that Ron established all those years ago.

Every transmission we service, repair or upgrade benefits from generations of hands-on experience. That knowledge isn't kept to ourselves it's shared with every member of our team, ensuring the same high standard of workmanship continues into the future.

For us, it's never just been about fixing transmissions. It's about preserving a trade, mentoring the next generation and honouring the legacy of the man who started it all.

Thank you, Ron, for building something worth carrying forward.

And thank you to all of our customers who have trusted our family to look after yours for almost 50 years.

❤️ The Ron Hill Automatics Team

Your van's within the tow rating. The engine sounds fine. The transmission is quietly cooking.That's the trap with towin...
09/07/2026

Your van's within the tow rating. The engine sounds fine. The transmission is quietly cooking.

That's the trap with towing heat. By the time the dash light comes on, the fluid has already crossed 110°C and the internal wear is underway. A healthy towing transmission runs between 60 and 85°C. Most factory dashboards won't say a word until you're well past that.

There are earlier signs, and they show up in how the vehicle drives long before any warning appears. Gear hunting on a long climb. A sluggish recovery 10 to 15 minutes after the hill flattens out. Shifts that feel softer than they did an hour ago.

Swipe through for the three signs to watch for on your next big tow, and the temperature range every caravan owner should know.

Heading north or up the range these school holidays? Book a pre-trip transmission check with us in Maroochydore before you hitch up. Better to sort it in the driveway than on the Bruce. 🛻

08/07/2026

Halfway through the week here at RHA, and the workshop has been flat out!

From reconditioning and repairs to upgrades and routine servicing, it's been a week full of variety. And lots… and lots… of remaps from the pro, Pete!

The workshop's also been divided this week not over transmissions, but over **Queensland vs NSW!** 🏉💙❤️

The friendly banter has been in full swing, but no matter which side you're on, quality workmanship is something we can all get behind.

Who are you backing tonight… **QLD or NSW?** 👇

Oldie but a Goldie. Havn't aged a day since 2009 :)
08/07/2026

Oldie but a Goldie.

Havn't aged a day since 2009 :)

A customer towed 3.5 tonne for three summers straight, well within his vehicle's rated capacity. By the time the ute rol...
07/07/2026

A customer towed 3.5 tonne for three summers straight, well within his vehicle's rated capacity. By the time the ute rolled into our workshop, the fluid was black and the clutch packs were glazed.

The rating stamped on the towbar doesn't tell you anything about heat.

Tow capacity is a compliance figure. It's measured under controlled test conditions, on a dyno, in a lab. It says nothing about a July run up the Bruce Highway, fully loaded, sitting behind a caravan on a long climb in 35°C heat.

Your factory cooling system was built with a thermal margin for occasional towing. Regular towing eats into that margin fast. Healthy transmission fluid sits between 60 and 85°C. It starts breaking down at 110°C. Most tow vehicles cross that line on a long highway run without a single warning light showing on the dash.

Capacity tells you what the vehicle is allowed to pull. Temperature tells you what it can actually sustain. Two very different numbers.

Heading north these school holidays with a van on the back? Book a transmission and cooler check with us before you hitch up. We've been sorting Sunshine Coast tow rigs since 1975, and we'd rather see it in the driveway than on the side of the highway 🛻

Address

Ron Hill Automatics 44 Kayleigh Drive
Maroochydore, QLD
4558

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 7am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 7am - 4:30pm
Thursday 7am - 4:30pm
Friday 7am - 12pm

Telephone

+61754434444

Website

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