I feel like an idiot - Don't buy Pulstar Pulse Plugs

thsmith

July 2008 I had a 100K service performed on my 2001 Ford Expedition 5.4L.

Gas was still pretty high at that point and the mechanic told me about these new plugs that would help with gas milage. Now before you start slamming me I have been around motors all my life and NEVER buy into this kind of crap but this day I had a lapse of judgement and said ok.

Well, 19 months later and about 18K miles I have a burned piston.

My NEW mechanic said he had never heard of them but you should stick with OEM plugs, which I already knew(stupid again).

I have searched to find if others have had a problem with these plugs and have not found anything.

Just be aware that it seems they caused my problem.

That motor should have seem over 200K easily.

Oh, and there goes my audio upgrades for a while, still kicking my self.

shadowofnight

If you stayed with the exact same heat range plug it should not have been a factor with your burnt piston. Check to see if the old mechanic installed the correct plug for your application.

disneyjoe7

I feel something coming back and bitting the old Mechanic if he or she put a hotter plug in.

thsmith

That is what my NEW mechanic is checking for me but since OLD mechanic has closed his business I doubt there is anything that can be done.

He showed me the burnt piston and crack using a Snap on cameria that goes into the plug hole.

Polkersince85

Timing and lean air/fuel may have more to do with it than plugs, provided they were not so hot they hit the piston.

thsmith

No check engine lights or rough running untill all of the sudden there was a big time miss.

raidersrule76

That sucks bro!!!! I have a 01 F-150 with about 190000 on it and have had no problems. I had the plugs replaced with about 110,000 and used the autolite factory specs and it seems to be working well so far. Oh I guess reading this its about time to to replace them again. Good luck with the repairs.


Mark

thsmith

Yeah, it just makes me sick. I know better than buy into that kind of crap.

Oh well, thats how it goes.

Going to put in a Ford reman and move on.

disneyjoe7

I always liked GM plugs for GM, Ford plugs for Ford, **** plugs for ****, other words don't mix plug to different engines. NGK for ****, Autolite for Ford, ACDelco for GM they just work better that way. Just my $.02

pitdogg2

thsmith wrote: »

July 2008 I had a 100K service performed on my 2001 Ford Expedition 5.4L.

Gas was still pretty high at that point and the mechanic told me about these new plugs that would help with gas milage. Now before you start slamming me I have been around motors all my life and NEVER buy into this kind of crap but this day I had a lapse of judgement and said ok.

Well, 19 months later and about 18K miles I have a burned piston.

My NEW mechanic said he had never heard of them but you should stick with OEM plugs, which I already knew(stupid again).

I have searched to find if others have had a problem with these plugs and have not found anything.

Just be aware that it seems they caused my problem.

That motor should have seem over 200K easily.

Oh, and there goes my audio upgrades for a while, still kicking my self.

So what was the plug? You should at least give us that. Brand and type my friend

pitdogg2

sorry didn't read the fine print:)

I feel like an idiot - Don't buy Pulstar Pulse Plugs

pitdogg2

It’s called a pulse plug – and here’s why its technology should be in your engine.

Until now, every gallon of gas you bought was ignited by a simple spark plug- an outdated technology that has barely changed in 100 years. But now you can change to a new eco-friendly pulse plug that uses an advanced technology to make every drop of gas burn better and cleaner.

Here’s how it works: Electrical energy from the engine’s ignition coil is stored in the built-in capacitor. At the exact moment needed, that energy is released in an amazingly powerful and quick (two nanosecond) high-energy pulse.

The result: The improved combustion efficiency burns fuel sooner and more effectively, which equals improved mpg, less CO2 based emissions, and better overall drivability. Even the green get greener! For example, in this EPA US06 fuel consumption lab test, even the icon of fuel economy and eco-friendliness- the Toyota Prius- saw notable improvements in mpg.

This new technology is based on plasma research supported by the world famous Sandia National Laboratories – and yes, that’s definitely rocket science

http://www.pulstar.com/

TNTsTunes

A lean condition most likely caused the problem.

concealer404

I just use the cheapest copper plugs i can find.

Well, in the MX6 i use NGK V-Powers, but even those, i'm lucky to have them last 5,000 miles, but that's a whole 'nother story altogether.


The thing that pisses me off about the Pulstars is that every car magazine has their stupid ad where they show a dyno of like a 7hp gain on a G35 using these things. And they're expensive as hell.

thsmith

TNTsTunes wrote: »

A lean condition most likely caused the problem.

Yreah, the plug burns hotter. Jury is still out if the right heat range was used but I am betting it was.

YMMV

concealer404

thsmith wrote: »

Yreah, the plug burns hotter. Jury is still out if the right heat range was used but I am betting it was.

YMMV

Ehhh... detonation and lean aren't necessarily the same things. Hotter plugs may cause detonation, but not necessarily a lean condition, because the plugs really don't have a big impact on a/f ratios.

I think what we're seeing here is detonation, not necessarily leaning out causing the crack.

mmadden28

I use Cardas spark plugs

bigaudiofanatic

From our 96 Honda to our newest Honda's we do not use the factory recommended plugs. Instead we use Bosch iridium's never had a problem.

concealer404

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

From our 96 Honda to our newest Honda's we do not use the factory recommended plugs. Instead we use Bosch iridium's never had a problem.

Surprising.... Hondas and Toyotas tend to hate Bosch plugs. My Toyota will misfire on brand new Bosch plugs, no matter the gap.

Consider yourself lucky.

Face

I'm also a fan of No Good Kind.

Tracy, I'm having a hard time believing that the plugs are at fault. I would lean more towards a faulty injector or knock sensor.

Serendipity

Face wrote: »

I'm also a fan of No Good Kind.

Tracy, I'm having a hard time believing that the plugs are at fault. I would lean more towards a faulty injector or knock sensor.

I use NGK too.

concealer404

Lasareath wrote: »

I always put in the best sparks I can buy and the best wires. Just like how I try to use the best wires in my stereo system

Do you notice a difference? What makes them the best?

gdb

I always use Champion spark plugs on my fishing boat.





















I use em for sinkers !!:D

concealer404

gdb wrote: »

I always use Champion spark plugs on my fishing boat.



I use em for sinkers !!:D

Don't laugh, but that's what i run in the Celica i race with. :eek: The 90-91s came with Champion coppers as OE, and i use them in my 92 with great results. They might not last QUITE as long as the NGK coppers, but at 79 cents apiece, who cares? I replace them every season at least once anyways.

thsmith

Face wrote: »

I'm also a fan of No Good Kind.

Tracy, I'm having a hard time believing that the plugs are at fault. I would lean more towards a faulty injector or knock sensor.

I guess it could be but I would have thought a knock sensor would cause a check engine light.

In any case the motor was smooth and ran normal temps up to the point when all of the sudden the miss started to happen.

sucks2beme

There seem to be some odd problems with these plugs. A combination of poor quality control, and some computer glitches caused by the different design.
Either way, something went horribly wrong to whack the pistons.
It could have nothing to do with them, either. That's the problem with
sudden failures with no warnings or codes.

virtualdean

thsmith wrote: »

July 2008 I had a 100K service performed on my 2001 Ford Expedition 5.4L.

Gas was still pretty high at that point and the mechanic told me about these new plugs that would help with gas milage. Now before you start slamming me I have been around motors all my life and NEVER buy into this kind of crap but this day I had a lapse of judgement and said ok.

Well, 19 months later and about 18K miles I have a burned piston.

My NEW mechanic said he had never heard of them but you should stick with OEM plugs, which I already knew(stupid again).

I have searched to find if others have had a problem with these plugs and have not found anything.

Just be aware that it seems they caused my problem.

That motor should have seem over 200K easily.

Oh, and there goes my audio upgrades for a while, still kicking my self.

I feel for you...Ford truck motors are bulletproof. That snake-oil plug sounds like they are way too hot. What will it cost you to replace the motor?
Can you load the huckster plugs into a blackpowder musket and shoot the old mechnanics car?:biggrin: