The print advertisement for Pulstar pulse plugs claims they are “an alternative to spark plugs that are scientifically proven to improve your car’s fuel economy.” Pulstar’s website states that the pulse plugs represent “the technological advancement in spark plug design in the past 100 years.” Rather big claims for a product that costs $25 a piece ($50 for a pair).

What is so different about Pulstar’s pulse plugs? According to Offroaders.com they use a pulse circuit that stores electrical energy from the ignition and then release that energy in a “powerful pulse of power.” The plugs deliver up to a million watts of peak power instead of the 50 watts that spark plugs deliver.

The website spark-plugs.org describes the plugs as increasing “fuel economy, horsepower and torque by burning fuel more efficiently.” It also claimed that the plugs reduce greenhouse gases “by as much as 10 percent, based on fuel-savings estimate.”

Still at $50 do they really improve fuel economy? To find out let’s see what reviewers think. Jerry Willis at
peswiki.com raves about the plugs:

We have since traveled 21,000 miles across the US with these plugs installed. Our fuel savings are remarkable! Since installing these plugs our average mileage is between 3 and 5 mpg greater. Our mileage dropped to 12.75mpg/ 13.25mpg during these times, which is a gain from our previously recorded mileage (without the plugs installed) of 9.35mpg/ 10.16mpg. However, we have plenty of power as we climb through the slopes. With the Pulstar plugs installed (@ apx 15.75mpg) we would have used 1524 gallons. The difference is 876 gallons. At an average of $2.96 per gallon we have saved $2592.96.

Greg Taylor at amcyclopedia.org also raves about the plugs:

I installed a set on Thursday in my 2000 Ford Focus SOHC 2.0L. Typical mileage on the car is 28-29 city and 31 highway. Best mileage ever was 33.5 & 34.3 on two tanks about 2 years ago, but not seen that since.

Daniel P. at sustainlane.com had a positive experience with the plugs after installing them in his Acura:

I have installed Pulstar pulse plugs in my 2000 Acura RL (95,000 miles) and amazingly they did what the manufacturer actually said they would...they increased my fuel economy nearly 6%. Not only that but my car performs better too.

Richard Mueller at amazon.com said his Subaru Outback as more “pick up” after he installed the plugs:

I installed the Pulstar plugs in my 2008 Subaru Outback. I had been getting 27 - 27.2 MPG. The plugs have about 700 miles on them and the MPG has increased to 28.5 under the same conditions. The instructions say that you should give it a couple of tanks of gas before the computer recognizes the plugs and appears that this is true. The car seems to have more "Pick Up". At the present MPG it will take about 15000 miles before pay back is achieved.

Another amazon.com reviewer, David Griffeth, did not have a good experience with the plugs:

I put these plugs in and my Honda Ridgeline barely ran. I followed all the instructions, unplugged the battery to reset the computer, properly gaped them etc. I ended up putting my old plugs back in and shipping them back. There were no issues returning them and being refunded.

A reviewer at autopartswarehouse.com wrote that his vehicle did not have better fuel economy:

"My butt dyno says a slight increase in power and the quick starts and smooth idle are nice too. I haven't seen the better fuel economy yet, but it's still early. Down side is that I broke two of these things installing them, and at $25 a piece."

If you have installed Pulsestar’s pulse plugs, has your vehicle’s fuel economy improved? Or has there been no improvement? Let us know about your experience with the plugs by leaving comments.

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