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"Pulse Plugs"

Nunyas

Yoda
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I got an email from a fellow car nut co-worker about some "new" technology in spark plugs.

https://www.pulstarplug.com/

They're making claims that you can get as much as 5 to 10% gains in fuel economy, torque, horse power, and 0-60 acceleration times.

From what I can gather, they've integrated a capacitor into the body of the spark plug to deliver a spark discharge that is very similar to what you get from a CDI (Capacitor Discharge Ignition) system. That is a "high energy" short duration discharge.

I noticed that they list MGB as one of the vehicles that they're making them for, but at $25 per plug, I'm very skeptical that it'll make a noticeable performance improvement.

I haven't been able to find any "independent" articles or reviews on these things, but then it's still new on the market. So ~maybe~ one of the hot rod or tuner type mags might check them out and post before and after dyno results.

It might all be just snake oil, but hard to know until someone actually 'scientifically' checks them out.
 
Shore is a purty website them fellas got.

I figure once the flamefront is started, it's gonna progress as the nature of the fuel and chamber conditions will allow. Can't see a plug making it any "hotter" or more "powerful". It may start the explosion more easily under less-than optimal circumstances, i.e. lower compression, poor mixture adjustment, etc.

Dunno.

Dyno figures under controlled conditions would be interesting.
 
Yeah, me too.

I think a few of us at the office are gonna pitch in and by 1 plug and stick it in a moped to see what happens. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
Someone is always trying a new marketing ploy. Same old stuff with new exotic descriptions, explanations, & high prices. Something about one being born every minute?

Plugs are already available with this sort of technology. Champion calls it "Auxilliary Gap", NGK calls it "Booster Gap", others call it "Secondary Gap".

The real theory is that a wide internal gap inside the plug causes the coil voltage to rise higher to jump this "booster gap". Once it has built enough voltage to jump this internal gap it will then easily jump the smaller plug gap.

Some folks think it works better, some don't. In reality, if the existing plug is working well, there is not likely to be any noticeable gain.
D
 
Dave Russell said:
... In reality, if the existing plug is working well, there is not likely to be any noticeable gain.
D

And that sums up my reasons for being skeptical /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Seems to me it would overwork your coil and cause it to fail long before it would otherwise.
Personally, if I want "pulse" type firing, I'm gonna install an MSD (Multiple Spark Discharge)ignition system.
That setup actually fires the plug several times in a row during each compression stroke (at lower engine speeds) and with a much hotter flame than stock ignitions.
And for what the system costs, It's got my vote.
 
Shore is a purty website them fellas got.
 
DrEntropy said:
Shore is a purty website them fellas got.
That's twice you've said that... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif


Banjo said:
Personally, if I want "pulse" type firing, I'm gonna install an MSD (Multiple Spark Discharge)ignition system. That setup actually fires the plug several times in a row during each compression stroke (at lower engine speeds) and with a much hotter flame than stock ignitions.
And for what the system costs, It's got my vote.
Funny that you mention that, I've been ~toying~ with the idea of installing a Pertronix Second Strike system in my B. Based on Second Strikes' stated iggy compatibility list, I think it'll be a while before I do such a thing, if at all.
 
Uh-huh. 'bout all there needs BE said. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
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