opinions about newfangled pulstar

bob9646 · 01-13-2008, 09:34 PM

has anyone heard of these things? http://www.pulstarplug.com/howtheywork.html
what does anyone think? looks awefully complicated for a spark plug

ClintD · 01-13-2008, 11:08 PM

I've seen this subject motioned here before, but I don't think anybody here has tried them yet.

$200.00 for eight plugs is a little steep.

bob9646 · 01-13-2008, 11:13 PM

jEEzahs thats ridiculous

SignofTheCat94 · 01-13-2008, 11:19 PM

I don't like the odds of that bet for $200; I'd try it if it was about half that much.

GreenBird · 01-13-2008, 11:50 PM

Junk. Chances are your engine will run worse.

bob9646 · 01-14-2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenBird

Junk. Chances are your engine will run worse.

thats was my theory. unless you got some kind of tune

ClintD · 01-14-2008, 11:44 AM

If I was going to spend another $200.00 on my ignition system I would through in 8 autolite plug's and THIS MSD BOX.

94 Daily Driven 4.6L · 01-14-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pulstarplug

the incoming voltage (which has nowhere to go) heats up ignition components including the spark plug

The last time I checked voltage does not heat up anything.... heat is only generated by resistance to current flow...

And I usually shy away from places that say, "Tests at an independent laboratory"... give me a name or take a walk.

Complete BS (IMHO). It looks like all they did was make COP into CIP (Coil in Plug).

guitar maestro · 01-14-2008, 03:48 PM

exactly....only actual current-flow will heat up components.....just like a car audio amplifier.....disconnect a speaker, and then crank up the source signal....the voltage at the speaker output terminals will increase accordingly, but no power will be generated since no current is flowing...therefore the amp will not heat up anymore than what it normally does when it is idling

bob9646 · 01-15-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitar maestro

therefore the amp will not heat up anymore than what it normally does when it is idling

my amp had a wicked cam in it you shoulda heard its idle. it was mean.

Grog6 · 01-15-2008, 09:29 PM

But only at the point the spark is hitting the electrode. Think TIG welder; the tungsten tips wear out in the same way; plasma erosion of the electrode.

The heat there is the big reason for both platinum and copper core plugs.

The platinum resists the plasma from the 'Ballistic Electrons' being driven across the gap at 100kV+. The copper core makes sure the thin platinum plating doesn't get vaporized. Non plated plugs get replaced a lot in our cars.

Ever notice the two plugs original to our cars?

One has platinum plating on the ground electrode, one on the tip. Is F*rd cheap or what?

These plugs are BS; adding another coil in series is going to stretch the spark out, but adding spark duration to our systems really isn't needed. It shouldn't hurt anything...but that plug also looks like it has pieces that make an additional gap in series, which our systems already have. (our other plug firing on the exhaust stroke.) If you have massive oil fouling, this would probably make it work until it breaks the rest of the way...

The extra gap thing is how tasers work as well...

IMHO our coils are pretty good... I've built some cool things from ones that were partially bad. Amazing what you can blow up with a 555 timer chip, a car battery, and one of these coils... The coils break at about 20W of power; that makes this wild looking purple plasma. (DTTAH!) The chevy ones are cool too, but break easier.

If our coils won't light it, it can't be lit, AFAIK.

They go bad, but I wouldn't run my hand down one of the wires to look for a leaky spot! (I bet they don't teach that trick in auto mech anymore...)

bob9646 · 01-15-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grog6

IMHO our coils are pretty good... I've built some cool things from ones that were partially bad. Amazing what you can blow up with a 555 timer chip, a car battery, and one of these coils... The coils break at about 20W of power; that makes this wild looking purple plasma. (DTTAH!) The chevy ones are cool too, but break easier.

)

wow. i thought i was crazy for screwing around with AA batteries and disposable camera flash coils. lol. im a *****.

OK so my theory on these things seems to be a popular one. thanks for the opinions.

Grog6 · 01-17-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob9646

wow. i thought i was crazy for screwing around with AA batteries and disposable camera flash coils. lol. im a *****.

Those just hurt like heck...

a coil running from a car battery will melt stainless!

Look up a 'Jacobs Ladder' ; the GM coils have towers with exposed electrodes, and you can make a JL just by wrapping wire around the posts, and fanning it out to about 12" at the top...

As you crank the frequency up, the spark will travel up the wires, until it runs out of power, and extinguishes...then it will start over from the bottom.

I used stainless wire from a broken antenna...when I hit the coils sweet spot, it went all the way to the top, turns purple, about half an inch wide, and started melting the wire. (Did not extinguish!) It ran down the side of the wire, as I'm trying to shut it down...

It blew the coil about then, but at least I know how far it will go...

BTW, DTTAH is don't try this at home; I'm used to working with HV...

KewlBird · 02-09-2008, 07:39 PM

Anyone try these out yet? They seem interesting....Here's some test results I found http://sparkplugs.com/sparkplug411.a...Results&mfid=0
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1827136 (read well into the thread)

guitar maestro · 02-09-2008, 08:33 PM

tests are skewed because on blown applications, smaller gaps are beneficial to producing power.....do that on an N/A car, and use proper gaps, and viola, behold the truth

T-BIRD 90 · 02-11-2008, 10:42 PM

i will tell my ricer freind about them and he will probably bye them

guitar maestro · 02-11-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-BIRD 90

i will tell my ricer freind about them and he will probably bye them

yea, he may even "buy" them ....take that

01-13-2008, 09:34 PM	#1
bob9646 6th Gear Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: rochester mn Car: 96 Thunderbird Engine: pi top end swapped Age: 25 Posts: 655	opinions about newfangled pulstar has anyone heard of these things? http://www.pulstarplug.com/howtheywork.html what does anyone think? looks awefully complicated for a spark plug __________________ Shipping out to basic training for the army on april 12th! Bird is on serious down time

01-13-2008, 11:08 PM	#2
ClintD JENIUS *Membership Expired* Join Date: May 2007 Location: Parlin, New Jersey Car: 1989 cougar Engine: 5.0ooo Yeah (306) Age: 36 Posts: 1,124 View Photo Gallery	I've seen this subject motioned here before, but I don't think anybody here has tried them yet. $200.00 for eight plugs is a little steep. __________________ I've come into this world with nothing and still manage to have some of it left. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2902509/1

01-13-2008, 11:13 PM	#3
bob9646 6th Gear Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: rochester mn Car: 96 Thunderbird Engine: pi top end swapped Age: 25 Posts: 655	jEEzahs thats ridiculous __________________ Shipping out to basic training for the army on april 12th! Bird is on serious down time

01-13-2008, 11:19 PM	#4
SignofTheCat94 PostWhore TCCoA Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hammond, IN Car: 1994 Cougar Engine: 4.6SOHC Age: 35 Posts: 1,144 View Photo Gallery Challenge SignofTheCat94!	I don't like the odds of that bet for $200; I'd try it if it was about half that much. __________________ Some people know the price of everything but the value of nothing.

01-13-2008, 11:50 PM	#5
GreenBird Refrigerator Raider Hater TCCoA Member Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Vermont Car: 96 LX Engine: 281.3130969939CI Age: 26 Posts: 11,660	Junk. Chances are your engine will run worse. __________________ Matt "Looks Like Egon" Davis 96 Alpine Green V8 ~~98 Audi A8 4.2Q in Racing Green~~ Totalled 02 Audi A8L 4.2Q in Black I buy my OEM Ford parts at 10% over dealer cost from Steve in White Bear Lake, MN. You drive "like a man possessed"... by a woman!

01-14-2008, 11:44 AM	#7
ClintD JENIUS *Membership Expired* Join Date: May 2007 Location: Parlin, New Jersey Car: 1989 cougar Engine: 5.0ooo Yeah (306) Age: 36 Posts: 1,124 View Photo Gallery	If I was going to spend another $200.00 on my ignition system I would through in 8 autolite plug's and THIS MSD BOX. __________________ I've come into this world with nothing and still manage to have some of it left. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2902509/1

01-14-2008, 03:48 PM	#9
guitar maestro Moderator & Teksid Whore *Lifetime Member* Administrator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Laredo, Texas Car: 1997 Cougar XR7 Sport Engine: SOHC 4.6L V8 Age: 31 Posts: 6,257	exactly....only actual current-flow will heat up components.....just like a car audio amplifier.....disconnect a speaker, and then crank up the source signal....the voltage at the speaker output terminals will increase accordingly, but no power will be generated since no current is flowing...therefore the amp will not heat up anymore than what it normally does when it is idling __________________

01-15-2008, 09:29 PM	#11
Grog6 Time is the fire in which we burn..." *Lifetime Member* Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Harriman, TN Car: 1996 Cougar XR-7 Engine: 4.6l Age: 47 Posts: 3,229 View Photo Gallery	The plug does heat up a lot... But only at the point the spark is hitting the electrode. Think TIG welder; the tungsten tips wear out in the same way; plasma erosion of the electrode. The heat there is the big reason for both platinum and copper core plugs. The platinum resists the plasma from the 'Ballistic Electrons' being driven across the gap at 100kV+. The copper core makes sure the thin platinum plating doesn't get vaporized. Non plated plugs get replaced a lot in our cars. Ever notice the two plugs original to our cars? One has platinum plating on the ground electrode, one on the tip. Is Frd cheap or what? These plugs are BS; adding another coil in series is going to stretch the spark out, but adding spark duration to our systems really isn't needed. It shouldn't hurt anything...but that plug also looks like it has pieces that make an additional gap in series, which our systems already have. (our other plug firing on the exhaust stroke.) If you have massive oil fouling, this would probably make it work until it breaks the rest of the way... The extra gap thing is how tasers work as well... IMHO our coils are pretty good... I've built some cool things from ones that were partially bad. Amazing what you can blow up with a 555 timer chip, a car battery, and one of these coils... The coils break at about 20W of power; that makes this wild looking purple plasma. (DTTAH!) The chevy ones are cool too, but break easier. If our coils won't light it, it can't be lit, AFAIK. They go bad, but I wouldn't run my hand down one of the wires to look for a leaky spot! (I bet they don't teach that trick in auto mech anymore...) __________________ Red '96 Cougar XR-7 240k mi. '02 GM 4R70W PST DS : Empty, awaiting 03 PI engine and friends. Black '96 Cougar XR-7 (Lazarus) 160k mi Black '97 Tbird Limited Edition 95555k Bent, not broken. One man's Mystery is another man's Misery... No matter how good she looks; someone, somewhere, is tired of her sht. The truth is out there, its a big pile of green paper covered with dead presidents.

02-09-2008, 07:39 PM	#14
KewlBird Not Blinking Anymore *Membership Expired* Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Car: 1996 LX Engine: 4.6L Age: 28 Posts: 940	Anyone try these out yet? They seem interesting....Here's some test results I found http://sparkplugs.com/sparkplug411.a...Results&mfid=0 http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1827136 (read well into the thread) __________________ ~~1996 Ford Thunderbird LX 4.6L -~~ ~~1994 Ford Thunderbird LX 3.8L~~ ~~2002 Chevrolet Blazer 4D 4WD~~ 2002 Chevrolet Impala http://members.tccoa.com/kewlbird/

02-09-2008, 08:33 PM	#15
guitar maestro Moderator & Teksid Whore *Lifetime Member* Administrator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Laredo, Texas Car: 1997 Cougar XR7 Sport Engine: SOHC 4.6L V8 Age: 31 Posts: 6,257	tests are skewed because on blown applications, smaller gaps are beneficial to producing power.....do that on an N/A car, and use proper gaps, and viola, behold the truth __________________

02-11-2008, 10:42 PM	#16
T-BIRD 90 thread killer *Membership Expired* Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TENNESSEE Car: 94 THUNDERBIRD Engine: 4.6L SOHC Posts: 792	i will tell my ricer freind about them and he will probably bye them

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)