Pulse plugs... anothing fuel-saving device scam?

[mg1942]

http://www.pulstarplug.com/
http://www.funtoo.org/Pulstar_DSport.pdf

I am really really really skeptical about pulse plugs.  The technology seems too good to be true because it claims it will increase power/mpg and decrease CO2 pollutants.

Gasoline is already at $4/gallon and this is a good time to come up with new gimmicks.  If pulse plug is THAT goood I hope it does not end up like the Tornado Fuel Saver scam of the early 2000s.

[SD67]

Snake oil.

[Sox62]

Get you a set of platinums and be done with it.

Those plugs you're looking at are a gimmick.

[Vulcan]

get rid of spark plugs altogether, I did 

[DiabloTX]

I think the pulstar strategy is seriously flawed. Their commercial hype that claims great benefit assumes the ignition is driven by a 1950 coil with points and condensor or basic electronic switching distributor with primitive "as-is" waveform output.

Waveform shaping occurs in the ignition module these days and it can be tailored or shaped as desired. High speed, high amplitude pulse output is totally feasible and modern coilpacks can easily multiply this waveform without distortion.

Special in-plug circuitry to alter waveform is not helpful or beneficial, IMO. It's just something else to fail.

The mixture either ignites or it doesn't (misfire that can be felt). Combustion energy is not a function of spark energy, so greater horsepower does not result from stronger spark. Once adequate ignition performance is achieved, greater spark energy or magnitude will not provide significant benefit. This is especially true if the car is normally aspirated because the spark is not subject to pressure blowout.

[Jackal1]

When you get those plugs I have one of the 700mpg carbs laying around if you`re interested.








 

[john9001]

When you get those plugs I have one of the 700mpg carbs laying around if you`re interested.
 

i thought that big oil bought up and destroyed all the 700mpg carbs? 

[GtoRA2]

Do they only work on Ricerockets?

[Bones]

On the surface, the idea is to increase the points of fuel ignition in the cylinder.  Theoretically, by increasing the number of simultaneous points of ignition, the fuel/air mixture will have time to burn in a more complete manner.

Example.  Take a globe about 3 feet in diameter.  Fill it with a fuel air mixture.  Ignite the mixture in one point of the globe.  It will take X amount of time to burn to the opposite side of the globe.

Now, fill it again.  Set another point opposite the original one and ignite it.  The burn process will complete in approximately half the time.

That is the jest of these things.  Now, they only have a chance of working in an engine where the burn cycle is not reaching 100%.  In an engine turning 8,000 RPM, you might get an improvement.  In an engine turning 500 RPM, it is doubtful there would be any improvement.

It is all about the burn time.  Making it faster may help with some engines, and not so much with others.  However, the real question is; Do plugs like these actually help decrease the burn cycle time?

[hubsonfire]

It will take more to save significant amounts of money, and gain noticeable power, than just a slightly hotter spark.

[Bones]

True.  The only thing a 'hotter' spark might do is to cause a worn plug to wear faster while still firing.

As long as it is a single point of ignition, then no gains will ever be noticed.

People are getting desperate though and reaching out for whatever the snake oil folks will promise to make them a better life.

[CAP1]

On the surface, the idea is to increase the points of fuel ignition in the cylinder.  Theoretically, by increasing the number of simultaneous points of ignition, the fuel/air mixture will have time to burn in a more complete manner.

Example.  Take a globe about 3 feet in diameter.  Fill it with a fuel air mixture.  Ignite the mixture in one point of the globe.  It will take X amount of time to burn to the opposite side of the globe.

Now, fill it again.  Set another point opposite the original one and ignite it.  The burn process will complete in approximately half the time.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LIGHTING OFF THE MIXTURE FROM both sides simultaneously, that my friend is detonation. ever seen what that does to pistons, bearings, etc?

[Bones]

I was not talking about that at all.  I know precisely what detonation is.

I only mentioned that multiple points of ignition, such as dual plugs (as an example) is the only way to improve the burn cycle times of the fuel/air mixture.  Once the plug ignites the mixture, the faster it can burn, the more efficient the engine is.   That is not detonation.

Detonation occurs out of the normal cycle of the combustion process primarily due to excess heat in the cylinder.

[mg1942]

Do they only work on Ricerockets?

I did in-dept search on pulse plugs.  They seem to work well with hi-compression DOCH engines (Honda VTECs)
http://forums.s2kca.com/showpost.php?p=308951&postcount=1

http://bp2.blogger.com/_5MDMbp3lxPg/R8xwZz6hN3I/AAAAAAAAABM/u4y0AgDpT-s/s1600-h/2005+Honda+S2000+Dyno.jpg

I would love to see 3rd party tests.

[CAP1]

I was not talking about that at all.  I know precisely what detonation is.

I only mentioned that multiple points of ignition, such as dual plugs (as an example) is the only way to improve the burn cycle times of the fuel/air mixture.  Once the plug ignites the mixture, the faster it can burn, the more efficient the engine is.   That is not detonation.

Detonation occurs out of the normal cycle of the combustion process primarily due to excess heat in the cylinder.

correct..detonation occurs when there's 2 flame fronts travelign at each other, and theymeet in the middle.
i simply misunderstood what i read in your post, that's all.

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