Audi SQ5 alternatives?

[Lucas_R]

Bought a Catch Can for the old girl recently. I went straight into looking at the Provent due to its popularity but its quite large (lengthwise) and i couldnt find a suitable area in the busy engine bay to be able to fit it. Ended up finding the Catch Can Pro which is also German made with similar specs to the Provent, but a little smaller in overall size and i have made a mounting bracket to secure it behind the passenger side headlight.

Catch Can Pro - Genuine Flashlube™

The RRP is around the $280-300 mark but i got it via a special order from Supercheap Auto when they had a sale recently for just over $200. Its German made, nicely designed and has the 19mm inlet and outlet same as the Provent.

There are no kits (i have Googled extensively) to suit the 3.0TDI bi-turbo which i found weird, so i have purchased some 19mm oil hose and various fittings etc to be able to mount it onto the car. Only one of the cam covers has the breather/PCV mechanism with that accordion hose feeds back into the intake just before the primary turbo - so this is where i will be tapping in and letting the catch can clean the air.

Pics to come.

[Lucas_R]

Catch can install for the 3.0 V6 TDI bi-turbo engine (CGQB engine code).

Who doesnt like a OEM billet compressor wheel? You can see the spot where the PCV plumbs back in just before the turbo.




1st turbo up top, 2nd turbo hiding down below.




Tapping into the factory PCV accordion hose that goes between the valve cover and the turbo inlet pipe. I used the fittings but cut the hard plastic hose off.




Catch can location (had to make a custom bracket to mount it securely).




End result. I need to get half a dozen hose clamps which i will get this weekend but for now every connection has a zip tie holding everything together.

[Transporter]

It looks like pro job. Well done.

[Lucas_R]

It looks like pro job. Well done.

It will look a bit more professional once i get new hose clamps but otherwise it turned out quite well i think.

[Lucas_R]

Currently researching stage 1 tunes for the SQ5 (+25-30kw and +90-100nm) and was considering the following options:

- Superchips (on sale, very cheap - tune via hand controller)
- Celtic Tuning (via Zadtec Performance in Sydney). Remote tune or visit workshop in Sydney.
- Tarmac Engineering (tune via hand controller)
- Underground Performance (remote tune)
- Tunes that Transporter sells through MRL Automotive (unfortunately he cannot tune remotely, and seeing I am in NSW and he is in SA this option is not realistic)

I think I am going to end up going with the Underground Performance tune. I have spoken to all tuners listed above while weighing up options and pros/cons of each.

Also I have been looking into tightening up the "driveline slop" this car has, in particular the rough gear change from 1st to 2nd which i believe is caused by soft transmission and rear diff mounts which are full of voids that allow a lot of movement. There is also some feedback movement from the driveline on deceleration from 3rd to 2nd. All the SQ5's we test drove did a similar thing so it's not a problem with our car as such, just the way they are designed.

I purchased a 034 Motorsports transmission mount and rear diff carrier mounts. I believe it will be the rear diff carrier mounts that will make the biggest difference, but will report back once the parts arrive and i can install them and test the difference.

[asher2016]

I have the diesel SQ5 and i have to say it's been one of the most reliable and fantastic cars I've ever owned.
I sadly think the new one doesnt hit the same mark in terms of drive despite it being a little bit more flashy.

Have hit over 50 000kms in it and it's driving as well as the day we bought it. I dont think we'd part ways with it any time soon

My advice: Just buy one, you'll love the mileage from the diesel engine and it's reliability.

[Lucas_R]

I have the diesel SQ5 and i have to say it's been one of the most reliable and fantastic cars I've ever owned.
I sadly think the new one doesnt hit the same mark in terms of drive despite it being a little bit more flashy.

Have hit over 50 000kms in it and it's driving as well as the day we bought it. I dont think we'd part ways with it any time soon

My advice: Just buy one, you'll love the mileage from the diesel engine and it's reliability.

Nice to hear asher2016. Although i started this thread as a "SQ5 Alternatives" thread, i have since bought one in August 2018 and I am now starting to document my story with this car and also any tweaks/improvements I am making as time goes on.

[Sharkie]

I'd probably also consider Guy Harding's tuning offers if I were you, Lucas.

Harding Performance ECU Software - 3.0BiTDI SQ5/A6 - Harding Performance

Arguably the best VAG tuner in Australia .... multiple wins at Motor's Hot Tuner shootouts to back that up.

[Lucas_R]

I'd probably also consider Guy Harding's tuning offers if I were you, Lucas.

Harding Performance ECU Software - 3.0BiTDI SQ5/A6 - Harding Performance

Arguably the best VAG tuner in Australia .... multiple wins at Motor's Hot Tuner shootouts to back that up.

I did Sharkie - but apart from the high cost, the main reason I did not choose the HP tune was the fact that are not flexible at all in giving me the ability to disable the EGR system, which is something i would like to do in addition to a stage 1 tune.

I have decided to go with a stage 1 tune from Alex @ Underground Performance in Melbourne, who can tune the car remotely and can disable the EGR in the software. Then i just need to buy a blanking plate to physically block off the EGR. Underground have tuned other SQ5's so it's nothing new for them.

[Lucas_R]

034Motorsports rear differential cradle inserts installed last weekend and they have made a considerable difference in reducing the drive line "slop" that these cars have from factory. Very happy with this little mod, and best of all it was a super easy and quick install and totally reversible. Anyone with a B8 series A4/S4/A5/S5//Q5/SQ5 etc should install these.

Also the car is being tuned this week remotely by Alex and the team at Underground Performance and the EGR will be coded out too. Very much looking forward to the tune. Did some pre-tune logs and the old girl runs 32PSI stock.

[ZR36]

So i finally pulled the trigger on one!





i really wanted an MY16 Plus, but they are pretty rare and i was sick of looking.

this one has everything but the black out package and the B&O.

[Lucas_R]

So i finally pulled the trigger on one!

Apologies - i missed this. Nice one!! Looks great in that blue. Has the most sought after options too. Hope you are enjoying it.

[Lucas_R]

Update - so finally got the SQ5 tuned last weekend at Pacortech in Sydney. So it's a stage 1 tune from Underground Performance + EGR coded out. I am yet to re-fit my EGR blanking plate but will get to that over the next few days as time permits (it's not super quick or easy to do).

The tune has most certainly given this heavy old girl some extra oomph, and my GPS accelerometer app is showing a 0.5-0.6 second improvement in the 0-100kph times. The extra torque is certainly noticeable - especially in the 2,000-3,500rpm range.

Stock: 5.5 - 5.6 seconds 0-100 kph
Tuned: 5.0 - 5.1 seconds 0-100 kph

These times were achieved with the same iOS app and stalling the car up to around 2,000rpm each time (could probably stall higher but don't want to risk damaging anything). The tune is supposed to give an additional 20-30kw and around 100-110nm.

Also recently purchased and installed some Spulen (15mm front and 20mm rear) wheel spacers and new bolts which give the car a much nicer stance on the road and push the wheels out. SPULEN Audi Q5/SQ5 Flush Kit - WSKT-Q5F - 6928

Will have to get some photos and upload.

Car is booked in for a service next week at Newcastle VW Centre.

[Transporter]

Should also upgrade your PCV catch can to bigger one, since the Flashlube could struggle a bit now.

[Lucas_R]

Should also upgrade your PCV catch can to bigger one, since the Flashlube could struggle a bit now.

I cant find anything else that will fit in the tight engine bay of the SQ5 and flows more so im kind of stuck. I specifically purchased the Flashlube because of its dimensions and i knew i could make it fit.

The only real options are Flashlube, Provent (too big) and the new Ryco (looks too big also) that I am aware of. Suggestions on others?