[Darryl]

OK, all you engine gurus...this is liable to stir up some intersting conversations. Anybody try a set of these? They had a big thing back in the June or July 2007 issue of PopSci.



http://www.pulstarplug.com/



I know the website probably has some typical marketing type claims, BUT, I've done quite a bit of reading, and I know a good bit about electrical stuff, had enough physics and chemistry classes, and this seems legit.



My mechanic buddy just put a set in his 96 E320 MB and I rode with him yesterday and it definitely has more torque...he has also seen an improvement in fuel economy...hopefully he'll chime in on this topic as he now has a username here. Here is a snippet of his e-mail to me:



Hi, Darryl !

My 1996 320 never get any better in city drive than 14 miles/gallon.After I put the spark plugs in (since last Friday) I experimenting 3.4 mpg increase just with the plugs alone.I just filled up at gas station

at 77 miles/4.42 gallons = 17.42 mpg from less than 14 mpg. But what shocking is that since last Friday( I was enjoying the extra horse powers so much I was not easy with the gas pedal at all as you experienced today in DC. up hill acceleration etc.



He can't stop talking about them...found other car forums who are mixed. Most tech types seem to think it's legit...most tuner types think it's bunk. Talk amongst yourselves...



- Darryl

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[RS Barn]

Darryl,

A set in my sweaty palms waiting to be tested on dyno

Pete



BTW-They sure are heavy!!!

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[SILVY968]

I have a set on the way. I'll post a seat-of-the-pants review when I get them installed.



If I replace the OEM wires, is there a favorite that is better than OEM?



Brian

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[gryphon]

I'm predicting no significant improvements in controlled conditions. Sceptic I am for now.



Tom

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[Darryl]

[quote name='RS Barn' post='49131' date='Mar 12 2008, 10:47 PM']Darryl,

A set in my sweaty palms waiting to be tested on dyno

Pete



BTW-They sure are heavy!!![/quote]



I know they have some dyno tests on their website from a number of different cars...awaiting your results!

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[SpeedRacer64]

The web-site is awesome.



Same effect as an MSD unit...should work as claimed.



Order up!

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[Ryan]

$100.00 for a set of spark plugs!!!!!

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[rxter]

We are talking about exploding gasoline here. I am not a physicist by any means, but can a 'more powerful' spark plug really make any difference? If your plugs are clean and there is a spark, the gas explodes all the same right??

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[Anchorman]

Not to defend this "gadget" (? - maybe it's not a gadget, but a real step forward) - the first conceptual flaw in rxter's post is that the fuel doesn't "explode" - and , when it does, that's called "detonation", or "knock" - something you certainly want to avoid.



The fuel in a cylinder burns - and, based on what the Pulstar website says, the more rapid discharge of a higher energy "spark" causes more rapid combustion, resulting in higher cylinder pressures, and higher performance. I don't know if it works or not - Pete, we're awaiting with anticipation - but there does seem to be some logic to it.

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[Renalicious]

So this stores the charge and releases it in a more powerful, but shorter duration? Isn't that the same as those capacitor spark plug wires or whatever. I've that the whole point of how spark plugs operate is to actually have a sustained spark in order to ignite the fuel more, so those instant super powerful sparks don't do much. And any test done whether a spark plug really does add more power needs to be done against a fresh set of plugs, not old ones.



I'm skeptical until I see credible results.

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[Cloud9...68]

Strikes me as a bunch of hooey. Given the incredible competition in the auto industry these days, if these things delivered the claimed fuel economy improvements, they would be under the hood of every new car in every showroom in America. I have to believe modern ignition systems are tuned to the nth degree to provide absolute optimal spark performance to eek out every last possible horsepower and mile per gallon. Maybe in an old car with a weak coil, these things may make a difference, but in a newer car, with its ignition components in reasonable shape, I'm extremely skeptical. I'd like to be proven wrong, though, as it sure would be cool to see signficant gains just from twisting in a new set of plugs...



[quote name='SILVY968' post='49136' date='Mar 12 2008, 11:03 PM']If I replace the OEM wires, is there a favorite that is better than OEM?



Brian[/quote]

Don't know if there's anything better than stock. Definitely stay away from Nology - bad news!

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[SILVY968]

Just got the plugs.

OEM wires on the way.



Just wanted to confirm install info:



1- torque to 20 ft pounds?

2- use anti seize on plug threads?

3- use .028 for gap?

4- use dielectric goop between plug and boot?



Brian

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[Ryan]

Any word on these things yet. Seat of pants or dyno????

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[Simuse]

[quote name='SILVY968' post='49460' date='Mar 18 2008, 11:18 PM']1- torque to 20 ft pounds?[/quote]



And is this the correct torque?

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[SILVY968]

checked the shop manual after I posted the question and it is .028 and 20 ft lbs.



going in when I get new plug wire set next week.



Literature says give the computer 1-2 tanks of fuel/time to "learn" before optimum results are going to be evident. Faster learning if battery is disconnected when plugs are installed.



Brian

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[SILVY968]

Just couldn't wait!

Put them in tonight.

I have the RS stage one chip and the airbox mod.

When I pulled the Bosch plugs they seemed darker to me than I thought they should be. The color is not a coffee dark brown as I expected it to be. No oil on the plug ends.

Is it the chip that is adding fuel for more power or should the plugs be darker normally or do I have a problem.

If so where might it be?



Brian

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[Cloud9...68]

Hmm... The last time I looked at my plugs, they were a light tan - no hint of any coloring I would consider "dark." I have a Racer-X chip in my car. Do you have an old Haynes manual, for any car, lying around? They usually have a page full of pictures of different spark plugs and the engine conditions likely to cause the appearances shown. Or you could probably google this type of spark plug diagnostic page. Good luck...

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[rhudeboye]

[quote name='SILVY968' post='49583' date='Mar 21 2008, 09:12 PM']When I pulled the Bosch plugs they seemed darker to me than I thought they should be. The color is not a coffee dark brown as I expected it to be. No oil on the plug ends.

Brian[/quote]



Can you provide a pic? How many miles are on those plugs?



Thanx

David

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[EEZATOY]

Ok. its about time to replace my spark plugs - so are there any update on these? Worth the extra costs?



Thanks Sam

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[SILVY968]

Pulled mine out to see if that helped my "knocking" issue. Also got a knock sensor fault on the DME. I'll swap plugs back after I replace the bad knock sensor, but I'd wait if I were you. I'll report what happens.

Brian

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