Pulse type spark plugs vs standard

[Cowman85]

anybody used these plugs before or know somebody who has? i read an ad and it looked interesting, it has theory behind it but in a med performance truck (w/ carb) would it actually do any good?

[VileZambonie]

I've heard the claims but don't know anyone who's used them. Sounds like a sucker scam to me.

[Lt.Del]

A spark plug is a spark plug--just that some are more money.  There are so many advertising gimmicks out there and the average consumer sees something and goes out on impulse and buys the newest thing out there.

If you wanna spend money, go with a MSD coil--that'll throw a healthy spark out there.

[78 Chevyrado]

I'd keep the regular plugs and spring for a good capacitive discharge ingition box like an MSD 6A.  the ignition box will make a big difference in all aspects of driving.  those plugs would cost $200 for a V8 and I think an ignition box costs about that much, plus they are proven.
Also if you want better mileage, you can open up the plug gaps .010 or .015.  it will lose a little bit of top end HP but that's the compromise.

[choptop]

A few years ago, at a shop I worked at, we had a 94 jeep come in that ran aweful. After doing a quick inspection, the boss ( who was brilliant on any auto) told the guy that it sounded like it needed a tuneup. The guy quickly stated that he had just put new plugs and wires on it. He had used the "hi-dollar" dual electrode plugs. ( I dont want say a name brand, may offed someone) We rechecked the firing order on the plug wires, non were crossed. Checked the timing, no problems there. The, my boss told him we needed to change the plugs because he had gone through this before. The customer was furious, and griped for about 5 minutes. When he settled down, my boss went to the shelf, got some stcok autolite plugs, and proceded to put them in. The customer said he wasnt paying for the labor or the plugs because that wasnt the problem. My boss siad if it didnt work, then he agreed, it was free. He changed all 6 plugs, hit the key switch, and it purred like a kitten. We took the plugs and put it on a ingition tester he had. We put 60000volts to the plugs, never saw the spark split in two as advertised, and didnt even get a good blue spark.
  My advice since this experience, get quality plugs, platinum tipped maybe, and spend the rest on upgrading the rest of the system like SgtDel said.You'll be happier

[Skunksmash]

There are so many plug gimmicks out there. A recent one that has me wondering though, is iridium plugs. Supposed to be a better metal than platinum. (for this job, anyway) This is one that can actually be disproved though. Either it is better for the job than platinum, or it isn't. Not really any middle ground there.

[rockable]

There's been more snake oil sold in ignition components than just about anything else on an auto or truck.  There ain't no 50 mpg carburetor and their ain't no magic spark plugs.  Period.  Buy good quality plugs, select the right one for your application, gap them correctly and put them in.  If they foul, you've got other problems.

[Lt.Del]

There's a simple way to gain more horsepower- even more than high-priced sparkplugs.  Push harder on your accelerator. 

[Cowman85]

not really surprised i have to say, i figured it was a gimmick.
I had already changed the plugs to ngk and they run just fine.

[Skunksmash]

Well they may be better, then again they may not be. But i ain't going to be the one who guinea pigs em to find out lol. They probly are a little better, but it's probly like a 9% gain or something over regular platinum plugs, or something like that. Not enough to be worth the money. There must be some kind of website somewhere where they have done extensive testing on a bunch of different plug gimmicks...

[Jay2D2]

I go through this a dozen times a day at the counter... why should i buy the 15 dollar platinum plugs when you have regular plugs for 3 bucks?
Well the horsepower and fuel mileage gains are at best negligable when upgrading to platinum or irridium plugs.  The difference is in how long they last, an irridium plug could easily last up to 5x longer than a standard plug.  However these precious metal plugs are designed to work around todays more advanced ignition system. An irridium plug needs a certain voltage to fire at the proper temperature to keep it from fouling. Using an irridium plug on say an HEI system could actually foul the plug faster than using a regular plug.  So unless you are upgrading the rest of your ignition ie: coil, wires, spark box etc... Then you should use the same AC Delco plugs your truck came with. Or NGK plugs will be just as good since they make the plugs for ACD anyway. Stay away from champion and bosh... especially the plus 4 crap.
Hope to help

[choptop]

The one we tested was one of the multi electrode type plugs. As an electronics tech, I dont see how they would work anyway. Electricity goes the path of least resistance, and the plug spark is a lighting fast burst of electricity that will make its jump across the gap, and wait for the next time. The only way I could see a possible multispark condition would be if the voltage were applied constant, even then, I think it would only appear to be multispark, because the human eye couldnt register it that fast. I have run the Bosch platinum plugs before, only problem I had was the center cathode coming out. All I run now are A/C Delco or Autolite, and I have never had any problems with them.