1950-1966 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
"Kansas, My intent about the plugs was if any one has tried them in a vintage Saab or any other car. Your opinions have merit,because chances are they do not perform as advertised. And if they did a large company might buy them out take it off the market.
I don't understand the intensity of your response. The commment about the cowbell was out of line. I must have touched on a tender subject."
Hi Jerry, I only intend to be helpful and informative by my lights, but grant that I am sometimes intense. Let me try to put things in context.
First to the cowbell (cow magnet actually): I was smiling when I wrote it, but you can't see that over the net. Magnets to align the fuel molecules have been sold for many years and still are, just google "gasoline magnet" or "fuel magnet" and you can find lots of places to buy them. Whatever intensity I have on this matter is my customary dislike of bogus ripoff schemes of which this is one.
Second to the pulse plugs: I have not tried them and probably won't. Numerous miracle spark plugs have come and gone over the years, this is just the latest. Splitfire plugs are a popular current manifestation of the fad, just for an example, different from pulse plugs. Numerous vehicles have had misfire/poor running complaints repaired by replacement of Splitfire plugs with correct plugs as specified by the mfr. I have myself repaired problems in this way. Splitfires are physically different from the plugs tested by mfrs to work optimally in various engine configurations, and I consider it demonstrated that in many cases they cause poor performance.
Ditto pulse plugs: they are not what the engine was designed to use. There is no way that five numbers can replace the hundreds required for best performance in hundreds of engine designs.
I have been fixing vehicles for 30+ years and have my own shop, Kansas Garage in Chico CA. I belong to iATN, International Automotive Technician's Network, you can google and visit the public side. The bulletin boards are restricted to members in the trade so I cannot direct you to our discussion there of pulse plugs, but I can summarize recent discussion. A member recently asked basically the same question as you and so far there has been heavy discussion with well over 100 posts. These from practicing techs with probably well over 1000 combined years in the trade, a manufacturer of sophisticated automotive test equipment, a technical representative from an oil company, highly regarded automotive trainers, just to name a few.
NOT ONE HAS RECOMMENDED PULSE PLUGS OR HAD ANYTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT THEM. Some have, in highly technical posts, suggested ways in which they might theoretically be advantageous. The vast majority have agreed with me that they carry no benefit and some have suggested with me that they may do harm. To be fair, short of reviewing the entire discussion I cannot say that any respondents have ever tried them. They don't need to, it's a gimmick like the 100MPG carburetor.
If you look carefully at the Pulstar site you will find that their coverage only goes back to 1976, so unless you have a Euro import V4 they are not making a recommendation for your Saab.
It looks like you are in Portland. If you need service I suggest you look up Jim Houser at Hawthorne Auto Clinic, SE 38th & Hawthorne. Tell him I sent you and take him a copy of this. He drives a Peugeot, so I don't think he will be too proud to work on a vintage SAAB.
posted by 208.53.85...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
