Alright, so I have a S4 N/A that had actuators that didn't function properly. The backpressure from my hi flow wasn't enough to open the ports. So I said screw it and went with a presilencer with no airpump.

I've been aching to pull the sleeves out so I can just run with all 6 ports opened. After consulting people on this forum, the general opinion is that it is NOT the way to go. I will lose all my power low end, no gain top end, bla bla bla. You guys know what I'm talking about.

I TOTALLY understand that I should never modify a stock 6 port system because it is perfect and that's how the motor should operate. I understand that, but my 6PI isn't working. I was really curious as to what kind of top end power I have been missing out on. (I never had the 6port working properly before). So I took a couple of bungee cords, and force the actuators down.

Started up the car, and it was fine. Idle was actually better. I must have a leak in the actuators or something. I hopped in, and I put it in first gear thinking that I'll struggle to get out of 1000rpm. But to my surprise it felt normal. First gear, 3k, Second gear, and it pulled to 3k again just fine. So I was curious, and I took it to 5k this time and WOW, I was pinned to my seat. This is what I've been missing!

I got onto the freeway cruising at about 3k in 4th gear. I applied a little bit more throttle and to my surprise the car pulled, and it pulled hard. I was going about 120 before I even knew it.(this was early in the morning, no traffic, leave your street racing flaming in the West section :P)

I decided the leave the bungee cords on. I know this isn't the proper way to do it, but it worked.

I went to a Z meet today, and we went up a local mountain road. We were going uphill. I've always had trouble pulling uphill, but now as long as I stayed at around 3k rpm, I could pull just fine.

Freeway cruising at around 60mph felt the same. Street driving felt the same (since I'm always at around 3k rpm anyways).

There is a small drop in low end power, but to be able to have a top end of a working 6PI system is DEFINITELY worth it. I'll be properly pulling the sleeves as soon as possible.

Here is the mods I have on my car:
S4 N/A motor:
-No airpump
-No A/C
-RB 2-1 header
-RB presilencer
-stock catback
-K&N Intake

So I'm done typing. Please give me your opinion on this subject.

AND I DO KNOW THAT A WORKING 6PI SYSTEM IS BETTER THAN THIS AND GIVES ME SAME TOP END! I don't have a working 6pi system kthxbye

 

On a bet with a friend, I actually timed the 0-60 time on my car and got the following:

ports inactive (line disconnected): 9.2 sec
ports wired open (zip ties): 9.8 sec
ports functioning properly: 8.6 sec

This car was BONE STOCK at the time. The high end is definately better, but you would not have noticed as marked of an improvement if your system was less modified.

Still, I liked the way the car acted with the ports tied open, it was almost like having boost.

 

I can see why the 0-60 was slower, you probably need the low end to get the car going. But the pull above 3.5k is definitely better than when it wasn't functioning, and that is pretty useful when I'm driving hard(above 3k rpm).

My supporting mods like taking the AC and Airpump off plus the exhaust probably helped lessen the stress at low end. It would probably not be as good on a stock setup.

 

What is new about this? A bunch of people have done this with similar results. You notice the loss of torque when driving uphill in 5th the most. Or at least I did. I have mine working electronically now and love it. I also have an S5 though. Wired is better than non working though. Get em working properly and you will be even more happy.

 

+1 on that.^ After I got mine working properly, I felt much more power. It actually felt like a boost when they kicked in. I've never wired mine open, but I've never had the need to. Carb cleaner does the trick on unsticking them. Mine work great now.