Pulstar Plugs

[NorCal Boater]

I saw an ad in the latest Road & Track magazine about a new type of spark plug called a Pulse Plug. They claim to have a spark 10 times the power of conventional plugs.

Has anyone out there tried these?

If the claims are true the fuel savings could be worth the investment. They aren't cheap at $24.95 but could pay for themselves in fuel savings. Their site is www.pulstarplug.com

 

[Ididntdoit]

I have not heard of these but remember "Split Fire" plugs - I think there was a class action settlement a few years back due to unrealistic claims. Like many on here say "you can't go wrong with OEM"

 

[capz]

Here's a lengthy thread, lots of info, including an independent test that shows they're worth looking into. But I don't believe most of what I read on the internet. Somewhere in there, it states you may have to adjust timing as the plugs increase cylinder pressure. That's a red flag in my book. I'm waiting to see more tests on more vehicles.

http://www.my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=288837

 

[fc3]

Sounds like BS.

Considering GM, Ford, Chrysler, etc all spend millions of dollars, sometimes paying "gas guzzler taxes" on meeting CAFE, don't you think these things would be standard equipment if they really saved fuel?

Either a spark plug lights the fires or it doesn't. It can't light it "better."

Best regards,
Frank C.

 

[NorCal Boater]

WOW. Don't kill the messenger! I just saw the ad and asked for a comment. I figured it was probably BS as well but you never know. The people with wood boats probably thought fiberglass was BS the first time it was poured into a mold for a boat.

 

[fc3]

No one killed the messenger. Just sounds like BS to us. On the other hand, they claim a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. Put a Flowscan on the engines and meter your fuel burn, then swap in a set of these things. If there's no benefit, return them.

A pair of 7.4s/454s burn about 30 GPH at 3500 RPM giving about 26 knots on my 330DA. So if these things work and provide the 10% extra economy, that 30 GPH at 3500 RPM should give my 330 nearly 29 knots. Or by backing down to approximately 3100 RPM the 10% improvement should give me the same 26 knots as before, but burn only 28 GPH. You boat's speed may vary, but the burn@RPM should be close.

At 100 hours/yr and $3.50/gal it's 100hr * 30 gal/hr * 3.5 $/gal = $10,500/yr. Of course not all 100 hours are at planing speeds, but I'm grossly simplifying. Or factoring in the improvement we get 100 hr/yr * 28 gal/hr * 3.5 $/gal = $9,800/yr, a $700 savings. If they work, they could pay for themselves in less than a year.


Best regards,
Frank C.

 

[NorCal Boater]

My boat is an '89 340 so it's older, wider and I think heavier than your 330. I do not have flow meters and really haven't calculated the burn but I would assume it's worse than yours. I usually cruise a about 28-2900 rpms and that gives me 24 mph on the GPS depending on load. However, I haven't paid less than $4.00/gallon in almost a year and the current price is $4.10 in our marina. I am doing all I can to improve fuel economy and it was just something that caught my eye.

Thanks for the thoughtful response Frank. I am going to keep looking into this. The messenger is alive and well.

Shawn

 

[capz]

The theory makes sense. More fuel burned, hotter burn, more pressure on piston = better horsepower and efficiency.
But as Frank said, that isn't a result of "better" spark. It's more a result of fuel quality. Other than that, a good quality plug has less misfires. In the testing I've read, NGK is better in that regard, so I pay slightly more for that peace of mind.
Their website claims the EPA tested these with good results. The results and details are nowhere to be found. They claim 8 US patents. I searched USPTO and found nothing for Enerpulse.
I'd close the book on these things until a major automaker starts using using plasma technology as their stock plugs. They are fairly new. Wait and see.

 

[fc3]

Well that's my one thoughtful and responsible post for the month. Now returning to our regular programming...

Best regards,
Frank C.