Are these worth it?!?!?! (these = pulstarplug)
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 0
From: ~626~ S.G.V
Are these worth it?!?!?! (these = pulstarplug)
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,318
Likes: 203
From: Miami, Florida
I have written this a few times already, but will add my commentary again and some more analysis.
This appears to be quite similar to what Nology HotWires do, which are quite popular where I live, where we have bad gas and high altitude (I should also add that the smoggy air isn't that clean for good combustion either). As a result, HC (hydrocarbon or unburnt gas) counts are higher on emission tests than they would be at sea level and better burning American gasoline. In such an environment, I could see these plugs doing some good. Nology HotWires in Mexico go for at least $300 USD, usually $400 USD if bought locally (importing is difficult for most) and at $25 USD a plug, might not be too bad for most of the 4 cyl vehicles here, even if the price were doubled.
However, I considered trying them, but then realized I probably wouldn't show that much benefit since my HC counts are already in the teens. My cousin has a 1995 VW Golf VR6 with HotWires and he gets a HC count of 5 (plus he uses TorqueMaster spark plugs like I do). The lower the HC count the better of course.
Perhaps maybe for older vehicles there might be a market for this in the U.S.
I do think this is a pretty neat invention since there are vehicles that can't use HotWires due to using ignition coils (though there are some HotWire versions for some vehicles). Probably just better to use regular plugs for the price, but then advantage would be that most don't change their plugs that often.
This is the link to Nology's HotWires, http://www.nology.com/hot.html
However, my opinion on the Nology HotWires is much the same, great for Mexico City, but for a sea level and U.S. gasoline, I don't think there would be much improvement either.
This is TorqueMaster's site (FYI, their plugs are available though are CL sponsor L-Tuned parts, www.l-tunedparts.com, ran about $12.50 USD per plug for my RX300), http://www.extremespark.com/
On the TorqueMasters, I used them once on my RX300 a few years back when it was stock and I didn't notice much difference, but after I made air and exhaust modifications and put them back in again, I noticed a little more oomph, which I didn't notice going between Denso and NGK plugs.
This appears to be quite similar to what Nology HotWires do, which are quite popular where I live, where we have bad gas and high altitude (I should also add that the smoggy air isn't that clean for good combustion either). As a result, HC (hydrocarbon or unburnt gas) counts are higher on emission tests than they would be at sea level and better burning American gasoline. In such an environment, I could see these plugs doing some good. Nology HotWires in Mexico go for at least $300 USD, usually $400 USD if bought locally (importing is difficult for most) and at $25 USD a plug, might not be too bad for most of the 4 cyl vehicles here, even if the price were doubled.
However, I considered trying them, but then realized I probably wouldn't show that much benefit since my HC counts are already in the teens. My cousin has a 1995 VW Golf VR6 with HotWires and he gets a HC count of 5 (plus he uses TorqueMaster spark plugs like I do). The lower the HC count the better of course.
Perhaps maybe for older vehicles there might be a market for this in the U.S.
I do think this is a pretty neat invention since there are vehicles that can't use HotWires due to using ignition coils (though there are some HotWire versions for some vehicles). Probably just better to use regular plugs for the price, but then advantage would be that most don't change their plugs that often.
This is the link to Nology's HotWires, http://www.nology.com/hot.html
However, my opinion on the Nology HotWires is much the same, great for Mexico City, but for a sea level and U.S. gasoline, I don't think there would be much improvement either.
This is TorqueMaster's site (FYI, their plugs are available though are CL sponsor L-Tuned parts, www.l-tunedparts.com, ran about $12.50 USD per plug for my RX300), http://www.extremespark.com/
On the TorqueMasters, I used them once on my RX300 a few years back when it was stock and I didn't notice much difference, but after I made air and exhaust modifications and put them back in again, I noticed a little more oomph, which I didn't notice going between Denso and NGK plugs.
Personally I kind of doubt these "pulse plugs" mainly because of the lack of some (in my opinion) correct information. It says conventional plugs are only 50 watts, that means half the power of an average lightbulb? I don't think so.
Normally watts is calculated as the multiplication of voltage and amperage. A typical alternator is about 150 amps, multiply that by 12 volts, meaning 1800 watts. So we all know that energy cannot just come out of nowhere...so where the hell does the pulse plug get the remaining 998,200 watts?
Also, how in the world does it hold the charge? There is no capacitor. And to hold 1MW, you would require a massive capacitor near the size of a house!
It also mentions that there was a 10% decrease in 0-60 times for a 2006 Corolla. Stock is 7.6 seconds, 10% decrease means it decreased time by 0.76 seconds, giving it a 0-60 time of 6.84 seconds? Lets take a 1996 SC400 and a 1999 SC400, they differ in about 40HP (at the crank). '96 runs 0-60 in 6.8 sec, '99 runs 0-60 in 6.3 sec. 40HP yields about 0.5 seconds. So using that ratio of 0.5 sec and 0.76 sec, it would mean that the pulse plugs gives about 60.8 HP to yield that a 0.76 second decrease in 0-60 time, ridiculous! I know I'm using different cars and everything, but basically what I'm trying to say is that there is no way in this physical world that thing can work like that.
Also, they mention they are a 10 year old company...how come someone hasn't bought them out? Why hasn't any other car company used the same or similar technology? Why hasn't another car company decided to put these plugs into their cars from factory?
Normally watts is calculated as the multiplication of voltage and amperage. A typical alternator is about 150 amps, multiply that by 12 volts, meaning 1800 watts. So we all know that energy cannot just come out of nowhere...so where the hell does the pulse plug get the remaining 998,200 watts?
Also, how in the world does it hold the charge? There is no capacitor. And to hold 1MW, you would require a massive capacitor near the size of a house!
It also mentions that there was a 10% decrease in 0-60 times for a 2006 Corolla. Stock is 7.6 seconds, 10% decrease means it decreased time by 0.76 seconds, giving it a 0-60 time of 6.84 seconds? Lets take a 1996 SC400 and a 1999 SC400, they differ in about 40HP (at the crank). '96 runs 0-60 in 6.8 sec, '99 runs 0-60 in 6.3 sec. 40HP yields about 0.5 seconds. So using that ratio of 0.5 sec and 0.76 sec, it would mean that the pulse plugs gives about 60.8 HP to yield that a 0.76 second decrease in 0-60 time, ridiculous! I know I'm using different cars and everything, but basically what I'm trying to say is that there is no way in this physical world that thing can work like that.
Also, they mention they are a 10 year old company...how come someone hasn't bought them out? Why hasn't any other car company used the same or similar technology? Why hasn't another car company decided to put these plugs into their cars from factory?
Last edited by greyBLITZ; Oct 4, 2007 at 08:52 AM.
Trending Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
