New type Spark Plug

Does anyone use/have used "Pulstar" Spark Plugs (from Enerpulse) I'm thinking about trying them. Claimed to increase Fuel Economy, HP, Torque & Performance......Guaranteed.
Sounds too good to be true. Any info. will be appreciated!
Thanks.

Never heard of anyone having a good experience with them. A couple guys I know that used them in their colorados had to replace a couple coil packs on top of the problems with the truck running. The ignition system is something that usually doesn't benefit from upgrading unless you have some serious boost or internal mods. Those sorts of claims are usually based on a vehicle that is misfiring and running like crap, something that would guarantee spark plugs to fix the problem.

The only plugs that I have seen tested (on Horsepower TV (http://www.e3sparkplugs.com/mediacenter.php)) to show any improvement in performance, economy, and emissions are E3. The improvement is small (~5%) and they're pricey at $7 each, but it is an improvement.

Also bear in mind that improvements can vary from engine to engine AND even in different environments. The one tested has a high-power ignition system that might be more capable of taking advantage of the E3s design versus an OEM ignition. Thus, you may have to upgrade the ignition system as a whole to maximixe the benefits...which means more money you would have to recoup to realize the savings.

If you're referring to the same sales pitch, errr, episode that I saw, it was a pretty clear paid endorsement for E3, likely funded by the manufacturer. I've seen similar endorsements for air filters on those shows that speak to all the potential benefits (increased HP, fuel economy), but never the real world applications (only measureable improvements at HIGH rpms which will decrease economy).

-Rod

I concur those shows are usually more infomercial than information, so yes, certainly take it with a grain of salt...or 10-lb bag thereof. You don't know what happens in the footage that was cut or edited that shows all the "tweaking" they did to achieve the end results.

I tried to note the exceptions, but yes, there are many variables that are at work and simply changing to a pricier "super-turbo-triple-platinumized" plug may or may not make a difference. That's why I suggested a more complete ignition upgrade so that there is no weak link in the system...I'm just bad at conveying it in writing. Thanks.

..."super-turbo-triple-platinumized" plug may or may not make a difference. That's why I suggested a more complete ignition upgrade so that there is no weak link in the system...I'm just bad at conveying it in writing. Thanks.

You should market such a plug, just badge engineer an Bosch Platinum, triple the price (hence the "triple" part of the name) and make some money. I bet you'd sell the heck out of them.

You actually did a pretty good job of conveying possible reasons the show claimed an improvement, I did a poor job of reading that paragraph. :headshake

-Rod

Spark plug tech hasn't changed very much since the dawn of internal combustion due to one main, undeniable factor. A normal spark plug is the most efficient and refined design that leaves very little room for improvement. It is simple yet effective. To improve upon a normal spark plug would be similar to reinventing the wheel. Spark plugs will be the same until internal combustion is dead and gone. Getting it wrong is easy, just ask Bosch and their crappy platinum plugs.

Spark plug tech hasn't changed very much since the dawn of internal combustion due to one main, undeniable factor. A normal spark plug is the most efficient and refined design that leaves very little room for improvement. It is simple yet effective. To improve upon a normal spark plug would be similar to reinventing the wheel. Spark plugs will be the same until internal combustion is dead and gone. Getting it wrong is easy, just ask Bosch and their crappy platinum plugs.

Agreed. All those fancy plugs with slight engineering variences are following an old marketing technique called "product differentiation". This is seen mostly with products that are viewed as a price-sensitive commodity, with relatively little brand preference.

So, these slight differences result from a marketing move, not from any particular engineering breakthrough. Therefore, I have little confidence that there really is a worthwhile improvement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_differentiation

I don't care how many times it's "platinized", Bosch Pt plugs suck. Not even I would do that to the good people of Earth...well maybe Iran...or North Korea.

You want an innovation in spark plug tech? Get rid of the single-point ignition point in the cylinder. Try Ford's development of a laser ignition plug (http://www.climatebiz.com/blog/2009/07/14/ford-developing-laser-ignition-cut-exhaust-emissions). Imagine being able to focus a laser into multiple points inside a cylinder chamber for a faster burn by eliminating the single flame front. Many smaller wave fronts consuming the fuel/air at the same time, resulting in a faster, more complete combustion. Makes you think of the possibilities.

That is a tricky feat though. Multiple mis-timed flame fronts can cause detonation like symptoms. Imagine those clacky balls on a handle. When you get them swinging right they clack perfectly, get one out of time with the other and you have a hard time gettin em back in unison. I dunno, probably one of those technologies you would have to see to believe lol. 90% of the crap out there with incredible claims all boil down to the same thing. If anyone can make a buck on a gimmick they will. Like P.T. Barnum said - "There is a sucker born every minute" Bosch platinums don't use a big enough electrode, it is the size of a clicker pencil lead, or smaller. They break off almost instantly and ANY amount of gas can foul the fking things out. When I worked at an independent shop I used to change those things all the time. The #1 complaint was that they cost like 4-5$ a plug.

the laser beam can be split into multiple focused beams at the plug using a multi-faceted lens, meaning multiple ignition points occurring simultaneously. I do wonder how to prevent fouling of the lens...guess I should stop worrying & let the braniacs figure it out.

As for the Bosch Pt's, as you said the electrode is very thin, and is surounded by the insulator such that only the very tip is exposed. When I used them once, the electrode eroded away into the insulator and I could not effectively re-gap it because the gap tool would touch the insulator instead of the worn down electrode. Sucky design. And their +2, +4, or however many there are are a joke. Bosch? Never again.
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I just tried the Pulstar plugs and I have to admit I was a skeptic especially with the cost. I was quite impressed with throttle response and gas mileage increase. Anyone can pay a celebrity to endorse a plug like many of the so called premium plugs do. This is the only new plug I have tried that really makes me feel any difference. Will keep you posted as time goes on. Oh yeah tried every Bosch made and none of them did anything but turn check engine light on. E3 did the same thing too.

I just tried the Pulstar plugs and I have to admit I was a skeptic especially with the cost. I was quite impressed with throttle response and gas mileage increase. Anyone can pay a celebrity to endorse a plug like many of the so called premium plugs do. This is the only new plug I have tried that really makes me feel any difference. Will keep you posted as time goes on. Oh yeah tried every Bosch made and none of them did anything but turn check engine light on. E3 did the same thing too.
I researched the Pulstar plug a couple years ago. I was told by 2 different automotive shops that they have had customers who had to have all the coil packs replaced due to Pulstar plugs burning them out! I have ran the E3 plugs with very good results, but I'm getting same results with NGK Iridium Plugs.

I researched the Pulstar plug a couple years ago. I was told by 2 different automotive shops that they have had customers who had to have all the coil packs replaced due to Pulstar plugs burning them out! I have ran the E3 plugs with very good results, but I'm getting same results with NGK Iridium Plugs.

I was told that Pulstar has changed complete configuration and gotten away from the precious metals game. 5 million watts vs 50 watts which is what all other plugs produce. They are using a capacitor to achieve this. I've tried every flavor of Bosch they are worst plug I have ever used. So far these are working and have much better throttle response.

I was told that Pulstar has changed complete configuration and gotten away from the precious metals game. 5 million watts vs 50 watts which is what all other plugs produce. They are using a capacitor to achieve this.

There must be some fine print involved there, like for off-road applications only on a non-computerized engine. I don't see any way they could get 5 megawatts, even for a fraction of a second, using a standard coil and resistance spark plug wires. Power is not free, so even with a capacitor they are not going to be producing energy.

-Rod

There must be some fine print involved there, like for off-road applications only on a non-computerized engine. I don't see any way they could get 5 megawatts, even for a fraction of a second, using a standard coil and resistance spark plug wires. Power is not free, so even with a capacitor they are not going to be producing energy.

-Rod

I questioned this too. Spoke to one of their engineers and he said it was some sort of co-venture with a company called Sandia labs. I have seen every sidewire configuration known to man. Splitfire, Bosch 2, 3, 4, Fusion, E3 they all were same performance. This plug seems to increase throttle response and torque.

Interesting. Sandia Labs is rather respected, I'm not sure why they wouldn't tout that if it were true.

Looking over their physical description of the plug, it doesn't look much different from a standard spark plug. Instead of a carbon resistor though they refer to a "solid copper gas seal." I have no idea what they are trying to refer to there. If it's solid copper, it's not a gas. If it's just a copper seal to hold a gas in, there's no way that gas is such a great conductor that it would support the 5 (or 1 as I read elsewhere) million watt claim.

-Rod

Interesting. Sandia Labs is rather respected, I'm not sure why they wouldn't tout that if it were true.

Looking over their physical description of the plug, it doesn't look much different from a standard spark plug. Instead of a carbon resistor though they refer to a "solid copper gas seal." I have no idea what they are trying to refer to there. If it's solid copper, it's not a gas. If it's just a copper seal to hold a gas in, there's no way that gas is such a great conductor that it would support the 5 (or 1 as I read elsewhere) million watt claim.

-Rod

Please keep in mind I am certainly not an engineer but have over thirty years experience in automotive aftermarket and performance industry. The plug with 1 million watts looks to be there old platinum and iridium designs. I saw those same claims. I have read everything I can find about this 5 million watt claim and it seems that they have abandoned the precious metals game and gone to a copper core plug which is a much better conductor of electricity than platinum and iridium. I will find the information I read that Sandia labs was involved in their development. I believe they are both in Albuquerque. If and I say if they have harnessed this type of power it should make a monumental difference in performance. I am not sold yet but I do know that I have played the special metals game, multiple side wires, v cut in sidewise (Splitfire) so I am a skeptic. I tried because the concept makes sense and I actually feel throttle response and bottom end torque. Can't find any consumer who has put their car on a Dyno and has no bias or connection to Pulstar. I saw the Stacy David E3 testing. Surely a paid endorsement. Rod I am posting only to get input not to be argumentative. I find it quite interesting that we can build cars that can park themselves yet use spark plugs that look exactly like the one in original patent registry. Will keep you posted. Hopefully they will last longer than 200 miles like the E3 plugs I used. David

Nope, I'm not interpreting your comments as argumentative. I just have a difficult time understanding the math that Pulstar claims their device accomplishes. And, as you point out, the general concept of the spark plug has not changed significantly in the last 100+ years, and there may be a good reason for that. It's quite possible that the design is pretty well optimized already. The auto manufacturers spend a lot of time and money developing ways to meet the difficult emissions standards already, especially as they are required to add more an more weight to their vehicles for safety reasons. If the solution were as simple as using a new spark plug technology, especially one that has already been developed, why wouldn't they?

As for Pulstar's claims, I can find reviews that claim improvements, but there are also several claims of no appreciable change, or even a decline in fuel economy and/or performance. If they are claiming the plug dissipates 5 MegaWatts (MW), even for a (practically) instantaneous discharge, that's nearly impossible in a typical production ignition system. Even if they incorporate a capacitor, the capacitor is only getting charged by the ignition coil secondary winding. They are not claiming any means of stepping up the voltage.

The ignition system is a closed loop and includes the ignition coil secondary winding, the spark plug wire, and spark plug to ground. Power is equal to voltage(squared) divided by resistance. The resistance of the circuit needs to be considered here, so if we assume 5 MW and 40 kV from a very healthy ignition coil and system, then solve for R, that means the total circuit resistance from secondary winding to ground needs to be no more than 320 ohms. Since a typical resistor wire is is on the order of 3,000 to 12,000 ohms per foot, and the air gap is not a very good conductor, even under compression of a stoichiometrically perfect fuel mixture, that makes it VERY difficult to validate that 5MW claim.

-Rod

Nope, I'm not interpreting your comments as argumentative. I just have a difficult time understanding the math that Pulstar claims their device accomplishes. And, as you point out, the general concept of the spark plug has not changed significantly in the last 100+ years, and there may be a good reason for that. It's quite possible that the design is pretty well optimized already. The auto manufacturers spend a lot of time and money developing ways to meet the difficult emissions standards already, especially as they are required to add more an more weight to their vehicles for safety reasons. If the solution were as simple as using a new spark plug technology, especially one that has already been developed, why wouldn't they?

As for Pulstar's claims, I can find reviews that claim improvements, but there are also several claims of no appreciable change, or even a decline in fuel economy and/or performance. If they are claiming the plug dissipates 5 MegaWatts (MW), even for a (practically) instantaneous discharge, that's nearly impossible in a typical production ignition system. Even if they incorporate a capacitor, the capacitor is only getting charged by the ignition coil secondary winding. They are not claiming any means of stepping up the voltage.

The ignition system is a closed loop and includes the ignition coil secondary winding, the spark plug wire, and spark plug to ground. Power is equal to voltage(squared) divided by resistance. The resistance of the circuit needs to be considered here, so if we assume 5 MW and 40 kV from a very healthy ignition coil and system, then solve for R, that means the total circuit resistance from secondary winding to ground needs to be no more than 320 ohms. Since a typical resistor wire is is on the order of 3,000 to 12,000 ohms per foot, and the air gap is not a very good conductor, even under compression of a stoichiometrically perfect fuel mixture, that makes it VERY difficult to validate that 5MW claim.

-Rod

This is a reply that I got regarding the 5 million watts from the folks at Pulstar.

The formula for power is:
P=I*V
P is Power in watts
I is current in amperes
V is voltage

Our measured current is 500 A
Breakdown voltage is 10kV, so:
P = 500 * 10,000 = 5,000,000 watts or 5 MW

Our circuitry places the capacitor directly attached to the center wire in parallel with the coil having minimal inductance to the spark gap. The capacitor stores energy during the rise time of the coil (10’s of μs) and discharges in less than 1ns which peaks the current and the power of the breakdown spark

I still struggle with this. They would almost need to be measuring the current internal to the spark plug, where virtually no resistance is involved, to accurately measure 500A. Accurately being a key here. Using their numbers then, and Ohm's Law, P=I^2 * R. Solving for R = P / I^2 = 5E6 / 0.25E6, so there needs to be 20 ohms or less total resistance when they are measuring the current. I don't think they're going to get there in any real world application.

Not that any of this really matters. Heck, political candidates stretch the truth (and maybe even tell some lies) all throughout their campaigns and still get elected. Some people are even pleased with the results from certain candidates. Why can't the same go for spark plugs?

I'm not suggesting that these plugs can't make an improvement in some applications. I just like to be able to rationalize the claims a product makes before I purchase it. That being said, I have been known to use some products that I couldn't justify the claims, yet they seemed to work for me....

-Rod

I still struggle with this. They would almost need to be measuring the current internal to the spark plug, where virtually no resistance is involved, to accurately measure 500A. Accurately being a key here. Using their numbers then, and Ohm's Law, P=I^2 * R. Solving for R = P / I^2 = 5E6 / 0.25E6, so there needs to be 20 ohms or less total resistance when they are measuring the current. I don't think they're going to get there in any real world application.

Not that any of this really matters. Heck, political candidates stretch the truth (and maybe even tell some lies) all throughout their campaigns and still get elected. Some people are even pleased with the results from certain candidates. Why can't the same go for spark plugs?

I'm not suggesting that these plugs can't make an improvement in some applications. I just like to be able to rationalize the claims a product makes before I purchase it. That being said, I have been known to use some products that I couldn't justify the claims, yet they seemed to work for me....

-Rod

I was told by the inventor and Chief technical officer the following:

That they do have less than 20ohms resistance!
Impedance is the square root of inductance divided by capacitance, we have 10 nanohenries and 30 Pico farads
So:
Z=ÖL/C = 18.2ohms Ö 10nH/30pF
So assuming the spark occurs at 20kV then:
Current (I) = V/R
1098 amps = 20kV/18.2 ohms
Since the voltage is falling when the current is rising there is a crossing point about ½ way
So then V=10kV and I=500A so peak power is 5MW
We do not use any current sensing device that could affect the spark.
The measurement uses a B-Dot sensor that measures the B field of the arc itself
Yes, we know how to accurately measure 1000A rising in 1nS
James

It's been too long since I exercised my electrical engineering math, but when they're talking pico farads, they're not talking much capacitance at all. Granted it doesn't take a lot of current at high voltage to breakdown the air and cause an arc (ie: static electricity) but I'm still not buying the 500 A in a real world application with resistor plug wires.

-Rod

It's been too long since I exercised my electrical engineering math, but when they're talking pico farads, they're not talking much capacitance at all. Granted it doesn't take a lot of current at high voltage to breakdown the air and cause an arc (ie: static electricity) but I'm still not buying the 500 A in a real world application with resistor plug wires.

-Rod

Between them validating the technology and the results I am seeing in my car I am inclined to believe their technology is real. Have a buddy in suburb of Atlanta with a dyno. For now I believe they are better than any of the platinum, iridiums, double platinums and the E3 chinese made plugs by far. Keep you posted. Who knows they may foul like E3.

Sounds really good,i think some brand's products are really good like which is mentioned you in it and other is Bosch Automotive parts.