Tech Question #1

[ntboozer]

Read a 'Rok' article in a 4x4 mag on Friday. Towards the end was a comment regarding VW's stance on pedestrian safety and bullbar fitment - reason why VW aren't offering a factory bullbar option. It went on to say that VW acknowledge that bullbars will be designed and fitted aftermarket in Aust (as has started) however that was followed by a statement about ensuring the radiator airflow wasn't restricted in any way. Now with a bar fitted with winch and a couple of driving lights the airflow will be 'restricted' to some degree.

My question is just how marginal is the cooling system in the Rok? Has it been designed to be just adequate for a standard vehicle only? Are those who plan on fitting bars etc (like me) going to see cooling issues through our long hot summers (or slow low range beach / desert sand work (it took me 5 days to cross the Simpson from east to west (Birdsville to Mt Dare) in Jun, all in low 3rd and it had been very dry so sand was very soft - still a real test on the cooling system even though it was the middle of winter)? Another example would be a standard Xmas holiday for me and the missus - heading across to Perth, towing a 2t off road camper. Last year Ceduna to Esperance in a day with outside temps at 44°C+ for more than 6hrs of the day travelling at 110km/h with aircon at a pleasant 22°C in a Kluger with no front bar. Water temp remained stable with no hint of cooling issues. Will the cooling system in a 'Rok' with bar work etc handle these scenarios?
Cheers
nt

[ntboozer]

Tech question #2

Any ideas as to the boost pressure being run on the 'Rok'?
Are there factory provisions to run a boost line post intercooler or will a fitting need to be welded to the intake?
Is there a factory provision to fit a pyro (thermocoupler) or will the exhaust need to be dropped and a fitting welded into the dump pipe?
Are there factory provisions to run (mechanical) water temp sensor from thermostat housing or oil pressure sensor from the block? I'm guessing the factory temp and pressure sensors would all link back into the onboard computer so replacement or piggy backing wouldn't be an option.
Cheers
nt

[gavs]

In regards to the radiator issues, VW are kidding themselves in regard to this being true. If they have truly engineered an "off road" vehicle that is that delicate in it's cooling capacity, then the vehicle will be a failure. This will most likely be a call along the lines of "if you fit a bullbar, it instanlty voids your warranty" which is actually illegal for them to claim, nearly all manufacturers say the same thing, until they release an OE bar to which point it changes to "if you don't fit teh OE bullbar, you will void your warranty" which again, they cannot do.

A well engineered bar won't hinder the cooling capacity of the car 1 bit but you're right, start adding restrictions into the radiator's path will. If VW keep blowing so much smoke up their own ar*e about how brilliant the Amarok is and it fails, even after they harp on about it's credentials after Dakar 2 years running and it fails due to poor engineering, that is a fall they will never, ever get back up from, it will have the same effect that the "unbreakable" mantra of the hilux. hilux is a piece of crap in it's latest guise, always has been since 2005, yet people still buy them due to the stigma attached to it.

[ntboozer]

G'day Gav,
Thanks for the comment re bar fitment etc. I've always had ARB deluxe bars fitted to my past 4x4's (with IPF900's and Warn winch) and have never had an issue with cooling - the quality of bar engineering was never in question. The drama is I guess that being a new vehicle here in Aust the first round of buyers are really the pioneers where modifications are concerned. I always planned on waiting until 2012 to purchase but now find myself almost ready to place an order. I want to fit the Rok up like I had my old school Hilux - pre 2005 model - and my GU and I want to trick up the interior and play with power upgrades - ah the joys and frustrations of a new vehicle and the limitations that lay ahead.
Cheers
nt

[landdog]

Hi nt first towing 2t caravan or camper tailer at 110km is asking for a big disaster, I run a scanguage on my jeep wrangler 4 door with arb lightforce warn and when it is hot the car temp never moves but the scanguage which reads ecu data it will get to 105 from 85 when towing 2t caravan so you have to slow down but god help you if you never have a tyre go at 110km with a 2t load behind your car. Cheers Craig
Ps I am waiting for the auto

[h100vw]

nt, that information would be available off the ECU if you ha lead and laptop, not practical in the field I would think. Or you can buy bluetooth/wireless OBD adapters and an iphone/pod to display the information.

The water temp on the dash is well damped and rarely moves despite actual temps changes. You can see the output into the ECU though which is at the same point. There are EGT probes in the exhaust, if it's anything like the other diesels I have experience with. There's pre turbo and pre/post DPF if it has one of those too.

Oil pressure would be doable, there'll be sensors near the filter you could fit adapter to, to fit a gauge sender.

Gavin