Real world Amarok tuning

[Darks RS]

Hi all, with purchasing a newish Amarok, looking to get it tuned as it could do with a bit more poke and some increase to fuel efficiency.

Question. Any Amarok owners actually done any tuning? Can you suggest anyone in particular
Viezu, Revo etc?

Cheers

Darko

[Sharkie]

You only have a few real options. Not Revo (no diesel maps) and also Viezu apparently not 1 of them ..... head over to Ausamarok forum and see some of the not so pleasant Viezu results.

Obviously Oettinger is an option, but theres also a guy doing some well regarded custom stuff. Have a look

[Darks RS]

Thanks Sharkie, oettinger soundd good, who's the custom guy?

[ViezuAustralia]

Hi all, with purchasing a newish Amarok, looking to get it tuned as it could do with a bit more poke and some increase to fuel efficiency.

Question. Any Amarok owners actually done any tuning? Can you suggest anyone in particular
Viezu, Revo etc?

Cheers

Darko

Hi Darko

Aside from one client on Aus Amarok who we unfortunately couldn't get in the happy-camp, I think all our clients are very happy with their Viezu tunes.

It's very dyno dependant as with anything - and we have dealers all over the country. However we're using SVS's dyno up in Cairns which is where most of teh data is coming from at the moment and has an unfortunate tendency to never show good power, much in the same way Motor Magazine's Hot Tuner dyno last year lost everyone there, massive power - well this dyno at SVS does the same thing. But regardless of some clients who obsess about numbers, the 0-100 times and drivability improvement on these is brilliant. It's not about what's achievable on these either - they have very sensitive DPF's - getting good power, safely, is what's key. The latest Amarok owner we tuned here ditched his old plug in chip (which was purporting to get massive gains) and much prefers our remap vPERF level of coding for eco, responses and performance.....

Eco is excellent, smoothness is perfect - responses are great.

If we can assist please let me know and we'll sort you out a deal. We also do 100% satisfaction money back guarantees so you really can't go wrong.

Cheers

Simon

simon@viezu.com.au

[Guy_H]

Dark RS,

Is your car the Manual or Auto (DSG)?

Here is a case study on a manual we did a while ago.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f177/case-study-amarok-tdi-400-oettinger-stage-1-a-76856.html

If its an Auto, then we will be releasing our new package late next month. The DSG HAS to be directly programmed to allow an increase in torque & this is why a lot of "tuners" can show no increase on a dyno (because there is none) rather than use excuses like dynos don't show gains.

We have a full money back guarantee, and one of our Canberra dealers has an AWD dyno to assist you as well.

P.S. The Motor Hot Tuner challenge tested all cars on a Mainline dyno, works well & didn't show "massive" losses for everyone, only certain tuners.

[Darks RS]

Hi Guy,

its a 420 Auto (8 speed), but i'm sure its not DSG.

I'll be giving Autotech a call in Hume and also CVWC as they pointed me in your direction when I had my CC TDI..

Dark RS,

Is your car the Manual or Auto (DSG)?

Here is a case study on a manual we did a while ago.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f177/case-study-amarok-tdi-400-oettinger-stage-1-a-76856.html

If its an Auto, then we will be releasing our new package late next month. The DSG HAS to be directly programmed to allow an increase in torque & this is why a lot of "tuners" can show no increase on a dyno (because there is none) rather than use excuses like dynos don't show gains.

We have a full money back guarantee, and one of our Canberra dealers has an AWD dyno to assist you as well.

P.S. The Motor Hot Tuner challenge tested all cars on a Mainline dyno, works well & didn't show "massive" losses for everyone, only certain tuners.

[Guy_H]

Hi Darks RS, - You are correct - the ZF AL450 Auto. Will update the thread when we get the testing finalised!

[parso_rex]

Hmm Did the mainline let down some cars at this years challenge again as well ?

[ViezuAustralia]

Dark RS,

Is your car the Manual or Auto (DSG)?

If its an Auto, then we will be releasing our new package late next month. The DSG HAS to be directly programmed to allow an increase in torque & this is why a lot of "tuners" can show no increase on a dyno (because there is none) rather than use excuses like dynos don't show gains.

Hi Dark RS

We had a brand new 2013 8 speed Auto on the 4x4 dyno up here we use for local testing in north QLD and it put out 40 odd Nm gains over the revs. Just off the custom Viezu tune file. That's low for us - we can see as much as 100Nm in the mid range even on the testing dyno we use locally with the older 'Rok's. But it drives brilliantly and we'll continue evolving files as ever and see if there's more to be safely had.

Our tune options are available now. 30 day money back guarantees, free upgrades, free updates etc etc as ever.

We mainly go for torque increases, throttle response and economy on these - certainly it's what owners want. We don't chase numbers.

Give me a shout if you'd like to discuss in more detail,

Cheers

Simon

[ViezuAustralia]

Hmm Did the mainline let down some cars at this years challenge again as well ?

No - Hot Tuner has been cancelled last minute by Motor this year...

But they were not going to be using a Mainline dyno this year as I understand it anyway

[Euro Car Upgrades]

Hey mate,
We do V-Tech Tunes - leader in Europe - VW is a EU car.
They work really well , we have done about 20 for the last 2 months and clients are pretty happy.
Forum Special at $1399 including GST

Have a read through:
Cost?

RRP: $1500+GST
Watercooled member discounted price: $1399 inc GST

Tunes available:

Stage 1 with emphasis on power
Stage 1 with emphasis on fuel economy

Stage 2 with emphasis on power
Stage 2 with emphasis on fuel economy

Stage 3 with emphasis on power

Why choose ecu chip tuning over plug-in modules??


1.
Because rail pressure modules/pulse width modules can only increase and decrease fueling.
To make more power using a chip, you need to inject more fuel, which means increase fuel use.
Pulse width can also modify injectors delay, but they cannot advance injection correctly.

2.
Rail chips cannot overcome ANY torque limiters in the ECU. Period.
Increase fuel as much as you like, they will meet a "brick wall" which they cannot get around.

3.
ECU tuning actually can reduce your fuel use substantially and is backed up by ACTUAL dyno figures and real world figures.

4.
We edit over 800 cells in the ecu. The maps are 3 dimensional. This is why we can actually make the car feel completely different with an ECU tune. We all have heard the stories of how "chips" don't even make a noticeable difference in performance but will increase fuel consumption. Not all "chips" are the same, but most do the same thing. ECU tuning is completely different. We do not trick the ECU.

Why does ECU tuning tend to make a more driveable vehicle and make more power and save fuel at the same time?

This depends on how you drive too. The engine management is a flowing 4d canvas with lots of variables. We edit the ECU logic for as many situations as we can envision. Overall you should feel a completely fluid transition from power to cruise and back.


What do we change?:

-Drive-by-wire pedal feel
-Injection angles
-Fuel rail pressure (Never more than 2% increase over stock, unlike plug-in chips)
-Torque limiter for 1st and 2nd gear
-Torque limiter for remaining gears
-Torque governor
-Torque request warm
-Torque request cruise
-Torque request non-cruise
-EGR (Exhaust gas re-circ) (We can switch this off for Off-road/track cars)
-DPF management (We can switch this off for Off-road/track cars)
-Boost levels (We usually keep the boost around stock unless requested)
-Gearbox controls (Auto)
-Turbo dynamics
-Warm up fueling (Usually leave stock settings)

Physical changes?

We do our best to keep the engine bay looking stock.

Can we remove the tune? What if I lose my tune due to VW ecm update?

We re-instate lost tunes usually at no cost. Tunes are only lost if VW make an update to engine management. This usually happens only in the first 1-2years of releasing an engine setup. This period has passed and I don't expect further updates to engine management from VW.

How safe are the tunes?

The Amarok uses a bosch 4.9 wideband air fuel sensor for onboard tuning. The Amarok pulls/adds up to 25% fueling to keep in the pre-determined fueling we set. We aim to keep AFR's above 18:1 to stop overheating issues of the piston crowns.

The Amarok also self-monitors EGT's (Exhaust gas temps) if they get high, power/fuel is reduced to keep the engine safe.

What this means is, the engine management should never let the engine get into a dangerous situation as long as all sensors work correctly. This engine has been tested to over 30psi boost by us and we are confident that keeping to our low targets of boost for stage 1 and stage 2 tunes will keep engines safe.

What are common problems with tunes?

Increased clutch wear
Increased engine mount wear
Increased tire wear

Why do some tuners have issues tuning the Amarok?

These fall into 3 categories,
1. Those who treat a Bosch ecu logic with say Japanese style tuning. (Does not work!)
2. Those who don't edit the ecu correctly, due to the variable firmware from vehicle to vehicle. (There's about 60 different versions of the Amarok ECU so far! - Get it wrong and you could cause damage or get no tuning result!)
3. Those who don't edit the torque limiters and just add a heap of boost/fuel but make bugger all power/difference to stock.

We don't have these issues as we actually write some of the files for Bosch OEM ecu's aswell! We have bosch motorsport heritage and experience.

Its one of the hardest ECU's to edit and only a handful of companies can see the entire ECU contents for values.


Do you offer a trial of the tune?

We offer a 14 day money back if you want your ECU returned to stock in that period.

[parso_rex]

So like Superchips then?

[Euro Car Upgrades]

No mate, proper Engine Re-Map without any additional Hardware

So like Superchips then?

[parso_rex]

No mate, proper Engine Re-Map without any additional Hardware

I don't think they use hardware http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?m...1&variant=2724

[Euro Car Upgrades]

Price suggests they do mate
They dont take the ECU out, open it and re-flash the software as its impossible at this price.

I don't think they use hardware http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?m...1&variant=2724