01tl4tl

good tech info here- one of the posters is a tech person with Pulsestar, start on page 2 then look at the pic on page1 of actual spark comparison in a sealed pressurized tube.
http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=6467&page=2

jdmspec333

they also tested it out in the d sport magazine. tested it on three engines (b18c5, vq35, 4g63) all made power. march 08 issue. chekka chekka check it out!

01tl4tl

the only results I care about are on the TL. Dont need more power really- but better gas mileage for non-sprited drives would be a great thing~

01tl4tl

Okay testers- whats the story so far. You should all have a few tanks thru and the results starting to show
Whats the word on PulseStar use in a TL?

Ni$h21

please post up your long run findings

JCL622

"NONE, despite the claims made in advertisements and other promotional literature, will increase horsepower. Independent tests, including a test performed by Circle Track Magazine (see May, 1996 issue) in the USA, show that NO "low-resistance" ignition wires for which a horsepower increase is claimed do in fact increase horsepower - the test also included comparisons with solid metal and carbon conductor ignition wires."

http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm

01tl4tl

JCL
you do realize we have coil for each spark plug right! and wires are not on the parts list of any TL after 1999

This thread is about Pulstar plugs as installed in a TL
We are waiting for the testing ziners to report back after a months use.
Did they work or get returned?

01tl4tl

not to mention citing a 1996 test- a full 12 years old--technology changes man~

Are you even driving a TL? Have you done the Seafoam? Do you think its good to run bosch 4 electrode plugs in the TL for better spark?

TLAdvanced

iTrader: (4)

What about Iridium plugs?? I know they have been proven to work great on forced induction. Anyone try those??? Or, maybe an igniton box such as MSD???

01tl4tl

Most of us already run NGK Iridium plugs, only those or the Platinum in ngk or Denso are approved for the TL - have a super fine wire from the side to the center piece
With individual coils on each spark plug- the old school spark box does not work like on a V8.
All we can really do is make the ground wire system better, use good plugs, and keep the combustion chamber/intake sysytem clean

Ni$h21

findings?!?!!?!?!?!??

apnorm

iTrader: (3)

Yes, any more feedback? I know some of the people are interested in mileage figures but I'd like to know about any HP increase, perceived or confirmed!

ohsixtl

Hello All,
Sorry! It has been a while since the last update, however I wanted to give these plugs a fair shake... After 3 full tanks and a little over 1000+ miles; I do not see any noticeable increases in hp nor fuel mileage.

As I claimed before its about 1 - 1.5 mpg on highway depending conditions. I am going to do another CPU reset and give it another try but for now that's the report.

I do not regret buying these plugs. Nevertheless, I think the company should do its own testing since it appears that the TL does not get the gains claimed on the G35... at least for my 06TL

Dave_B

350Z guys have tested these plugs and they do not make the gains as claimed. There is no power to be gained from these plugs.

JsL138

ohsixtl: Thanks for reporting back!

Hmmm...The magazines that dynoed the plugs also advertise the plugs...coincidence?

01tl4tl

So they do work- 1 to 1.5 mpg increase is a good thing with skyrocketing fuel prices.
With some quick math and round numbers thats 15-20 miles more per tank = $3
If you use 50 tanks a year- thats $150 savings in gas- thats a break even point!
If you drive more and gas prices keep going up....

You cannot expect any product maker to test every vehicle known to man. They test some and of course give the best examples. Read the fine print!
Some 350Z club test say 9HP others say none- you cant really on machines and controlled conditions.

OP- keep us posted as you get more miles on them- Did you Seafoam?
Thats a good start to better mileage

dmb4325

I am thinking I am in for it, maybe if there are enough people interested we could get a group buy in? since it is past march 1st maybe they will offer the sale price they had with the rebate code if we get enough people to order them? I cant take the rising gas prices anymore, near me I paid 3.61 for 93 octane yesterday

01tl4tl

You're able to buy 91 for less than 4 bucks a gallon- lucky bazturd!!!!
Come out west and see what the real world is like!
Do you really think 20 people is a mass purchase to the company- its not
Zine vendors sometimes do "group buy" in a pre-pay method so they can finance a large order at a discounted price

What was the coupon for 10-20 bucks off? big deal- thats half a tank of gas- just dont run around using vtec this week, and there is your own coupon code~

princekaleo

OK! Its time for the update and my opinion of the pulsestar plugs. After asking a few questions with the other ziner that bought and tested these plugs here are my final results and even partial his opinion (thanks mike) so overall.....I'm satisfied with the plugs.....however i feel its not worth the money spent on them.......not $25 a piece anyway......so i would recommend that waiting til the price comes down before anyone wants to get them. After a while the Iridium NGK's came down in price from like $15-$20 a piece. They are now like $8 a piece. I guess that is just the price we pay for prototype technology. From the other ziner he said he is satisfied but would not buy them at that price again to have little to no gains....... so i hope this gives some good information and paves the way for others........!

ohsixtl

I have no complaints with the plugs... but I agree with princekaleo "to much money for the plugs" what you get in performance(none) and MPG 1gal per mile I do not regret it just will not buy them again... not for the TL anyway

01tl4tl

Lets do some math!!- everyone have their #2 pencil?
Gas is 4 dollars a gallon, actually 4.19 this morning for me
You get one extra Mile per gallon, so thats 15 extra miles on a fillup
Lets call that 3 dollars worth of ~free~ miles
Average 1 tank per week- thats 150 dollars and leaves out 2 weeks of driving from the year- for the time your on that well deserved vacation
So in 1 year/50 tanks, they have reached `payback status`of their cost vs result
and all the ~extra~ miles from then on are total bonus
Many of us drive way more than that- so the payoff would be sooner
Do the math at 5 dollars and 6 and see the payback shorten considerably.

sidenote- PKs car is having problems and may be running rich according to the codes.
Actual numbers from the plugs is still open to improvement,
but 1mpg beats the --poke with a sharp stick-- I get every time at the gas station now!!!
last week 55 to fill it- this week 58....a year ago 40

What is the actual mileage gain from a CAI or thermospacers or UR pulley, all in the same price range of each other- do we think twice about that when those mods purchase is being considered-will they give me an mpg? not me~
thats my opinion- I want to see what PK gets for mileage after the car is running right- or discover its the plugs making it throw codes- stranger things have happened

twigglius

iTrader: (6)

$40 a tank just a year ago? Where the fuck do you live? On an oil drilling field? I have had my TL for almost 3 years and I Don't ever remember a tank being only $40 to fill. $45 maybe, but not $40.

princekaleo

01tl4tl is right! i didn't think of it that way. My car is not running rich anymore, so i just need to get the speed sensor fixed so it will tell me how fast i'm goin which should make my ECU work again. Once that happens i will be able to get accurate readings..... so disregard my last post and stay tuned for more updated info........!

don5504

So do they in fact pay for themselves in gas savings over time? That is the true question.

D

01tl4tl

PrinceKaleo found his pulsestar plugs to be incorrectly gapped for the TL
He was getting misfire codes- and already had for sure 1 mpg fuel improvement.
Last weekend he got the plug situation fixed and seafoamed the engine.
His speedo is not working -needs part- so latest actual miles is not yet available.
He told me the other day that even at 1mpg they do payback their cost-
and that was with us thinking direct cost of the pulse--$125-
forgetting that stock plugs are $45- subtract that and the payback- continued improvement is worth the initial cost.

When gas at 5 bucks a gallon is a fond memory- I bet more of us make the change

01tl4tl

don they dont make big hp increase or amazing gas mpg for the TL because we already have hi energy ignitions with coil on plug.
Some is better than a poke from OPEC,,, is my feeling.

Cars that have cap rotor and wires- those will surely get higher results- the spark gets to be what it should at the cylinder~ might revive the gusto to my old chevy

Ni$h21

i've heard that if you buy these you need to reset your ECU so it delivers less fuel to the engine -dude was telling me that it burns more impurities and that the sensors in the exhaust which read impurity levels will read a lower impurity level thus interpret that less gas is being burned and tell the ECU to deliver more gas into the cylinders - Sounds some what out there but i just want to make sure that this dude was full of crap

the other thing i've read is that you need to reset your ECU ohsixtl did which i don't know how to do or why.... please do explain

01tl4tl

Thats Funny-
the directions included with the Pulseplugs specifically state RESET THE ECU- they suggest remove neg battery cable before plug install - since that guarantees a reboot.
There are certain mods on the engine that require an ecu reset- its no big deal to do.
The cars brains-- Engine Control Unit- ECU- needs to be cleared with a forced reboot- remove battery neg cable or pull a certain fuse on the TL -#12 in the passenger footwell marked CLOCK that supplies power to the ecu- and that will force the reset.

NOW the system takes all the NEW info from the 2, O2 sensors- and the various temp sensors and makes millions of calculations and adjust the fuel settings and ignition timing as needed
You need to clear the memory so it can relearn its new performace parameters

so your DUDE has either failed to read the install instructions- doesnt know how to reset an ecu, or is just a storyteller who never used pulseplugs

princekaleo is getting more improvement since he checked the pulseplugs and found the gap to be off on several of them- once fixed- the codes that said he was runing rich on both banks of cylinders cleared-- and were false to begin with!!
Once his speedo-odometer part arrives, he can update us on real miles per gallon now

I did the savings math based on full price of the plugs- and it took a year to pay back in saving of gas-then the extra miles per tank are essentially free for the next few years,
but if you subtract the $45 for regular plugs- now it pays back in months.
5 bucks a gallon is a sign change away at the gas stations!!

RobxMcCarthy

Does anyone know if there's a new coupon code out yet? At the reduced price it's acceptable I guess.

Here's the problem:

Most people who replaced their spark plugs with the new Pulsar plugs had run >50k miles with the old ones... Has ANYONE simply changed to new stock plugs and seen the same difference? I know you guys are obsessed with that 1mpg upgrade... But as of now there's NO evidence that these are better than (NEW) stock.

slippry

how bout if u use factory spec ngk iridium plugs instead of the 1 degree colder denso plugs on the supercharged tls. do u think it could have a detetition problem?

01tl4tl

I degree or 1 step in heat range???

slippry

i think the denso IK22 supercharger plugs are 1 degree colder not 100% sure

SporkLover

Hmmm interesting reads to say nonetheless.

I myself am keeping my opnions reserved until more objective testing is available.

I have read where folks have read that they see increases after a plugchange, but I wonder how much of that is that they actually have bad /worn plugs. I would like to see some testing that includes a fresh spark plug change (stock) vs these ones.

Some of the reading I have done indicates that the technology is similar to timing trickers or nology spark plug wires. Not sure yet.

Waiting to see if this belongs on the shelf with the tornado intakes or not.....

01tl4tl

hey now- the tornado does work on my old carbed V8 truck- it just doesnt work on cars with vtec or vortech systems- like we have

As for plug test- the dyno shop test were done with fresh plugs- 3 runs made- engine cooled then pulse installed and 3 runs done on the dyno
How much more of a heads up test do you want.???
Of course they work better/bigger gains on cars with lousy old school plug wires and weak igntions- the TL has a very hi powered setup so gains are less... but still happening

SporkLover

What Dyno runs? All I have seen so far is a link to a thread with the manufacturers explanation on the plug tested in a sealed tube.

What I have read thus far from other forums, mainly honda forums, is that there wasn't any dyno gains or MPG gains.

And I am not talking about a high power ignition vs low power..... I am talking plain worn plugs vs good ones.

01tl4tl

i have seen several dyno run sheets and real videos for pulseplugs on engines-the plastic tube is a cool way to demostrate the differance in plugs thats for sure
saw on spike or one of those national tv car shows, video and show of the dyno test on a modified- well breathing 350 chevy - or was it a big block? with the host present
they didnt even go old plug new plug- they installed brand new OE spark plugs and did the dyno run 3 times in a row. then cooled it off and installed pulse plugs.
On that particular engine it netted 11 hp and some nice midrange torque on an engine pushing 400hp to start with
That would directly be related to the plugs in a head to head test- all conditions, temps, operator of eqiupment all the same
Nissan clubs did a 350z and got 8 hp- I dont imagine the type of people who even know what a dyno is - are showing up on worn plugs.
I may go to the local dyno and see where I am at, my NGK Iridium ix are low miles and should be a basic guage of whatever I do next

All I am really trying to make a point of- if you have not personally tested something- you have no standing to discuss its merits or value
PrinceKaleo now believes it was worth it when doing the math on gas prices

For those out of the news loop- oil hit another record high today- try to look surprised, and OPEC told Geedub same thing they said in January when he asked them to increase production to ease the prices on usa-- their reply:
If prices were due to an actual shortage of gasoline- they would CONSIDER upping the flow, but since the prices are NOT due to shortage they see no reason to change the agreement they made years ago- f u usa

SporkLover

This is a great re-cap of my original post. I stated I am reserving opinions until I can find more definitive information on this product. I have read plenty of posts on various forums with folks making claims both ways. No offense to anyone or their own personal research, but I feel more comfortable taking the word from a reputable magazine / blog / etc. I try to look for a source that is as objective as possible, and I try to avoid forming opinions solely on what the manufacturer puts out.

I am trying to make an informed consumer decision and doing my research that is all. You have referenced plenty of stuff you have read / seen, if you could share it would be greatly appreciated. I like to be meticulous as possible as to not be suckered in by some of the snake oil products that are hocked out there, and I am especially looking closely at this product because of the similar in-line capacitor spark plug wires that promised similar benefits that didn't materialize.

01tl4tl

they are not going to be 8 mpg better in a TL- tested and proven by TL owners, who are far more likely to be testing a product on a TL-
which we all know,, Is all I care about- the car I drive-
Magazines I mistrust- advertising revenues and all~ and certain tv shows?? -nope
Mythbusters are 2 of the biggest idiots I have ever seen- they dont know squat and prove it every week-- gee if you shoot a penny at my ass at 300mph will it damage anything??

SporkLover

I understand the narrow scope of your interest in these items. Same here... I am just trying to find reputable sources of information from someone who has done objective testing.

I am also not convinced that anything has been proven in this thread WRT the effectiveness of the plugs. PK said he was at the 100k mark and in desperate need of a tune up. Who knows if his stock plugs were just that terrible, and if a regular set of stock NGK's would have had the same effect. Similar for ohsixtl.... if I am not mistaken his car is also a few years old, so who knows if the increase is from the Pulsar plugs or if the same gains would have been made from OEM replacements.

That is what I would like to see and hear about.

apnorm

iTrader: (3)

Too much money IMO ESPECIALLY with only a 1 mpg different. There too many unknowns. Like Robx mentioned above, new OE spark plugs might also give you a 1 mpg increase. Also the testing conditions may not have been the same. It kills me to admit this but I actually started slowing down on the Hwy to save on gas and I've seen an increase of about 5-6 mpg!