It's so easy to do ( change ) and takes about as long as pumping gas and going in to pay,.... so why not buy the cheapest ones money can buy and just change them more often, if necessary? It's quite possible you won't need to change the cheap ones all that often.

Changing the plugs is way easier than changing the oil!

 

For one thing, old good plugs perform better than new cheap plugs. Also, unnecessary changes runs contrary to the whole reduce, reuse, recycle mentality.

 

I just saw an ad in Pop. Mech. mag for Pulstar plugs. The graphic shows a 4.4 mpg increase on a 2007 Prius. www.pulstar.com it gives a cool explanation as to why its better. But then it says it's rated for 50k miles/4 yrs.
Anyone have good real world info on these?

 

My short answer is no, I don't have real world info on these. I tend to be skeptical, and am skeptical of these. But, I (very recently) bought some as an experiment, and am collecting data.

I have four tanks with the plugs, but don't feel that it's enough for any kind of definitive answer. Since I keep data on all tanks, I figure after a year I will have a concrete answer.

For now they do no harm. My tanks have been good, but it's hard to separate good from great, especially this time of year when the weather is warming up.

 

Thanks, that's kinda what I thought, if there were a way to get 4mpg, or even 6% (~2mp) improvment for $100 I think most of us would do it. But 2mpg improvment would be hard to track, at least for me. I can vary 2-4mpgs per tank, driving the same routes daily. Weather is a huge factor, fuel blends & e10 factor in, how hot/cold the wife wants to be, etc...

I'm not sure I get the theory tho, a plug explodes the fuel. Weather you use a cardboard match (oem) or a propane torch (pulstar), isn't the fuel gonna explode the same anyway (same force, same amount of combustion)? I can see it ignigting it faster, as in sooner than a traditional plug, but is that a good thing? You want the piston to be going back down, if it ignights sooner, couldn't it in thoery ignight too soon and try to push the piston in reverse, then what havoc would you have.

 

"Knock" is what they use to describe what you're referring to.

From their FAQ:
Q: Do Pulstar™ plugs work with older cars?
A: Pulstar™ plugs are compatible with carbureted engines and ignition systems that incorporate mechanical/vacuum advance distributors. In these engines, however, it is likely that ignition timing will need to be adjusted as a result of the installation of Pulstar™ plugs. While the plugs themselves do not change the duration or advancement of the timing, the increased spark causes a need to retard timing a few degrees if you are already running at the edge of knock.