Pulstar plugs

[agdaniels]

I decided to give those pulstar spark plugs a shot, ordered them off of amazon.com for $90 shipped ($10 off right now and free shipping)

There was an extensive discussion
http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26908&highlight=pulstar
here

so I don't care to argue the mechanics behind it, this is just to report what I find.


My initial thoughts are, others have tested it and seen positive results. I hope to find enough of a mpg increase to justify the $45 extra dollars I spent on these over iridium's.

[SilverElantra]

let me know how these work out, mpg and performance wise, i have been debating these now since modified mag tested them on the 350z and got an 11hp gain over iridium plugs.

[Matrixloader]

11hp on the Z? holy crap thats alot for just plugs, even if the XD just gets 1hp it would be still worth the extra $45

I been looking into buying these too on my next tune-up, hope the results are good.

[agdaniels]

well the idea is that they will pay for themselves.. with the price of gas now, it's not too far-fetched a notion. an extra 3 mpg over 10 gallons means one less gallon i have to refill (assuming 30 mpg). means just 10ish tanks of gas to pay off that 40 dollar difference.

any hp gained would make this one of the cheapest hp/$ mods we can do.

[KeWLKaT]

Well, let us know how it goes.

[CornbreadXD]

i coulda sworn i read on one of the Z forums that these plugs don't do anything special but i guess you'll have to see what it does on our engines.

[Pete03GLS]

the cheapest mod would be an intake. besides all the free mods.

but anyways, let us know how they work out for ya.

[agdaniels]

the cheapest mod would be an intake. besides all the free mods.

but anyways, let us know how they work out for ya.

if they pay for themselves in efficiency savings then they'll be free. hence making them cheapest ;)



I'll definitely let everyone know.. i'm skeptical but hoping for something positive.

[Pete03GLS]

well, if u dont have a heavy foot... the intake will increase mileage... :)

[agdaniels]

oh but the intake sounds so delicious, hard not too! plugs will be out of sight out of mind.. i kinda doubt i'll feel enough of a gain to want to get on the throttle more

[joph09]

It would be great to have definite statistics on your results. Like before and after dyno's. But that's just too much money to test plugs. But then again if the plugs provide some kind of gain you'll have proof.

[agdaniels]

the best i'll be able to do is mpg stats. i'll try and record a video of 0-60 before and after, that way you dont have to take my word for it.

[r55nls2002]

I hope you get some return on those expensive plugs. Looks a little to much like hocus pocus to me.

[agdaniels]

Just shipped, hope to have it by this weekend, but we'll see. I've never heard of 'A-1 Courier Services'


And i've read enough independent tests to believe it's not entirely hocus pocus, we'll see how it does with our car though. Some mazda guys are seeing good results with them, even had a group buy (50 somethin people i think) and they got all four for $70

[2003GT]

If they work that might be a good idea. We would need more than 50 people because 70 is still steep. Search around for Dynos. There is one in my area for 60 bucks a run.

[agdaniels]

Well I got them yesterday and installed them today

Before installing, i checked the gaps, ranged from .35 to .45 so i set them all to .40 (.44 is the max for the plugs so if you get em, definitely check the gap beforehand)

Install was straightforward, the plugs are a little tall so the rubber seal doesn't clip on all the way. Started fine and my initial impression was that it was louder.

Took it for a drive, it ran more smoothly then it had originally, but that could have been to new plugs in general. Can't really quantify this, it just felt like it ran better.

When I got to the main road and ran 0-60 i was impressed. As i said it was smoother, but when i got past 3-4k it climbed the rpm band noticeably faster then it did before.


My initial impression is very positive. We'll see if any problems arise and i'll top off my tank and see if mpg increases

[Pete03GLS]

sweet. this might be a possible mod for me. lets see how yours goes.

[2003GT]

Like I said man lets get a group buy going. Dont you also have to buy there wire sets to make it complete.

[agdaniels]

Like I said man lets get a group buy going. Dont you also have to buy there wire sets to make it complete.

They already offered us a group buy, %10 off. Right now on amazon you can get $10 off and free shipping, thats probably the best we can do.

No, new wires aren't required. All the dyno results I've seen have just been replacing the plugs

[2003GT]

Maybe I was thinking of a different brand that had a Pulsar coil in the wires. Hows she driving.

[agdaniels]

well it's still running well and im definitely getting better gas mileage. i'll post up numbers when i can

[2003GT]

Any increase in power.

[agdaniels]

Well I got them yesterday and installed them today

Before installing, i checked the gaps, ranged from .35 to .45 so i set them all to .40 (.44 is the max for the plugs so if you get em, definitely check the gap beforehand)

Install was straightforward, the plugs are a little tall so the rubber seal doesn't clip on all the way. Started fine and my initial impression was that it was louder.

Took it for a drive, it ran more smoothly then it had originally, but that could have been to new plugs in general. Can't really quantify this, it just felt like it ran better.

When I got to the main road and ran 0-60 i was impressed. As i said it was smoother, but when i got past 3-4k it climbed the rpm band noticeably faster then it did before.


My initial impression is very positive. We'll see if any problems arise and i'll top off my tank and see if mpg increases

Yea, it felt like a bit more power. Kinda like when you go from panel filter to sri

[2003GT]

I didn't notice any difference when I switched so I probably wouldn't feel it anyways. If it increases your mpg by like 5-10 then i would defiantly jump all over that.

[KeWLKaT]

Looks like it's not worth it then!

[Pete03GLS]

more mpg isnt worth it?

[agdaniels]

10 mpg increase? lets be realistic. If it increases it 2-3 mpg it'll still pay for itself in less then a year, and i'll be very satisfied. I have noticed a mpg increase, it's an 04 so i dont have a trip computer, but i'll give you mileage info when it hits 3/4, 1/2 and E

[KeWLKaT]

I think a 2-3 MPG increase would be the same increase given to you by new plugs period.

[agdaniels]

I think a 2-3 MPG increase would be the same increase given to you by new plugs period.

my plugs were in decent shape, going from functional plugs to functional plugs won't give you 3 more mpg, thats why it would be steller if these did

[KeWLKaT]

my plugs were in decent shape, going from functional plugs to functional plugs won't give you 3 more mpg, thats why it would be steller if these did

I don't know, you did say this:

Took it for a drive, it ran more smoothly then it had originally, but that could have been to new plugs in general.

So to me your plugs must have been old or something.

Anyhow I am not calling you a liar. I know that even provided proof won't be proof, so I guess I'll still wait. If you inspire a lot of people to get these and it becomes a trend and everyone says that they do provide better gains, then perhaps I will one day consider it.

I don't like the fact that the plugs are taller though, this means you can get crap to enter the spark plug ''sleeve''.

[agdaniels]

The inner seal of the plug harness thing keeps crap from getting in, the outer seal doesn't click on all the way, but yea i was worried about that too

and i should have been more specific, i meant new plugs as in different brand. I dont know if say going from the autolites to ngk's would make it run smoother.


I do hope at least one other person gives them a shot. I'm trying to be as subjective as i can, but hearing someone elses experiences would definitely be beneficial to everyone.

If someone is willing to try them definitely definitely check the gap. I'd hate to see someone with a f'ed up motor because they didn't (remember two out of the 4 were too wide on mine)

[KeWLKaT]

Yeah I can't believe the gaps were that different! That's odd!

[jalmir]

yeah, I remember my NGK were all at .40 ...

It would be great if those plugs were that good but I seriously doubt it!

[Matrixloader]

I want to try these but my current plugs still give me 34-36mpg and they are less than 10k miles old so there is no sence for me to buy new plugs yet.

maybe next year or so, i will make these plugs my next set.

[quickfingerz]

Plugs matter very little with ignition systems today. Even with the ones on our XD, you can have your gaps range from .36 to .52 and your car won't even notice the difference.

Most cars now tell you not to touch your plugs for 100K miles. That's pretty conservative too.

[SilverElantra]

I want to try these but my current plugs still give me 34-36mpg and they are less than 10k miles old so there is no sence for me to buy new plugs yet.

maybe next year or so, i will make these plugs my next set.

jesus christ, right now with my CEL im getting 16-25 mpg...i ****ing hate it.

[Matrixloader]

why do you have a cel? get it fixed, 16mpg!! thats just horrible!

[agdaniels]

Plugs matter very little with ignition systems today. Even with the ones on our XD, you can have your gaps range from .36 to .52 and your car won't even notice the difference.

Most cars now tell you not to touch your plugs for 100K miles. That's pretty conservative too.

The maximum gap they recommend on the package is .44, i read on some other forums about engines cutting off and throwing cels due to varying gaps with these


well i just hit 3/4 tank today, my usual mileage there is ~100 (usually on the low side... a lot of city driving), today i hit it in 122 miles. Honestly i'm too skeptical to believe i got 22 more miles out of 4 gallons of gas (5 mpg if youre too slow to do the math) with these plugs, especially when part of the time i was wot racing a civic hatchback and it was the same city stop and go i'm normally in.

Maybe i subliminally drove more economically. Maybe it was just replacing the plugs altogether like felix said, i dunno. Maybe, these things actually do work though... But i'm very excited to see the mpg on the rest of this tank

[agdaniels]

Hit half tank today, got 208 miles

Before I swapped the plugs I consistently got around 170, mostly city driving.


I have noticed that I am driving a little more economically, so that probably is playing some part, but I am starting to believe these things actually work

[tharptroy]

you really need to take an average fuel economy over several tanks for your data to be worth anything.

[Matrixloader]

any update on the MPG?

[agdaniels]

you really need to take an average fuel economy over several tanks for your data to be worth anything.

i'll certainly report in when i have gone through multiple tanks, but that'll take months. these are just my initial findings for whoever is interested

[joph09]

Hit half tank today, got 208 miles

Before I swapped the plugs I consistently got around 170, mostly city driving.


I have noticed that I am driving a little more economically, so that probably is playing some part, but I am starting to believe these things actually work

Well if you want a proper test then you have to:
-do a blind test (where you don't know if you have pulsar plugs or your old ones etc)

-drive the same route (exact same for the whole test) while not changing your driving habits

-use multiple samples ie-use multiples tanks of gas

when all of that is done you can average your mpg

[agdaniels]

Well if you want a proper test then you have to:
-do a blind test (where you don't know if you have pulsar plugs or your old ones etc)

-drive the same route (exact same for the whole test) while not changing your driving habits

-use multiple samples ie-use multiples tanks of gas

when all of that is done you can average your mpg

I agree, something like that would be useful to all of us, but with my work and personal schedule its not really a possibility.

Though not scientific, I can honestly say I believe the improvement is partially or entirely due to the plugs. Before swapping them out, I was disappointed with my mpg around the city so I tried driving more economically and only saw a marginal improvement. After installing these I see a significant improvement.


When I go back to school I may put my old plugs in and get my mpg there, its more highway/mixed driving there and would be much easier to conduct a more scientific test

[RotaMan99]

jesus christ, right now with my CEL im getting 16-25 mpg...i ****ing hate it.
__________________

It depends on the type of drive. City/ rural / highway. I get up to 53mpg :) Usually between 34-44mpg

[SilverElantra]

you dont have a CEL though do you?^^^

[RotaMan99]

I just wanted to get you more jelous :)

[Matrixloader]

what cel number is it giving you? do you already know what it is?

[SilverElantra]

ya its the high flow cat on a california car. that and i blew my front o2 sensor.

[Matrixloader]

oh, i would at least get that o2 replaced ASAP, im not sure how much they go for but i seen o2's go for as much as $200, you could also just get one of from a junk yard, but i would rather buy it brand new. that bad o2 would def give you bad gas mileage so replace it asap.

[agdaniels]

Just finished the tank with 355 miles on the clock, up from the 310 i was getting before.

I'll post here again after I finish my next tank of gas

[2003GT]

I need to stop matting it to hear my intake I am wasting so much gas.

[quickfingerz]

... OR instead of comparing them directly to your old/worn out plugs. Compare them to a good standard plug. Use the pulsars for ~3 months then compare them to some NGK Laser Iridium's used for 3 months as well.

[agdaniels]

... OR instead of comparing them directly to your old/worn out plugs. Compare them to a good standard plug. Use the pulsars for ~3 months then compare them to some NGK Laser Iridium's used for 3 months as well.

Sounds good! I'll go ahead and spend another $45 on plugs and report back in 6 months

[SilverElantra]

^^^ you are joking right? cause **** if you got money to throw around throw some my way.

[kwk39018]

you what to buy me new plugs too.?

[agdaniels]

^^^ you are joking right? cause **** if you got money to throw around throw some my way.

apparently sarcasm is difficult to convey over the internet. I'll go ahead and put more !!!!! next time

[D_rain]

I brought Pulstar plugs in the beginning of June. I change my plugs every year, or 25k miles. I used to have NGK Ir plugs before, and I get about 70MPH@315 Miles per tank. I was weary at first getting pulstar, but after 3k miles driving, and 9 trips to the gas station later, I now get about 350 miles per tank. My driving skills have not been changed since then.

I noticed a big difference using pulstar. My car feels faster than before, and I asked several of my friends to test the car before and after I installed them. They said that my car feels faster than before. I even recorded my gas in a log book. If you guys want the data, let me know.

[Whipper]

i think i will be getting these when i need new plugs. keep up the good work being the guinea pigs guys. thanks for the info

[2003GT]

Cool. Might have to give them a try.

[agdaniels]

Gone through 2 more tanks of gas, got 365 miles and then this last time 360 on only 13 gallons. Same mixed driving, mostly city

This is coming from ~310 miles per tank before I started using them

[themarin8r]

i actually saw a commercial for these on tv the other day

[2003GT]

What channel.

[themarin8r]

dont remember but it was short

[OPZ]

I think I'll get some when I get the 240 back up and running with the turbo...

[agdaniels]

I think I'll get some when I get the 240 back up and running with the turbo...

They say not to use them with f/i. need colder plugs or something

[OPZ]

Hmmm, well maybe for the elantra then if I'm keeping it that long.