Honda Civic (2006 - 2015) 2006 - 2015 Civic Forums

ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 07:25 PM
  #1  
i-VTEC_DOHC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,773
Likes: 1
From: killafornia
Default ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

just like the title said. i know i said that they are great and all that before, but i take all that back. they are fine for the first 10k miles lol

holy crap i was shi*ting bricks when this happened!

well i was on my way home from a job interview today and i was on the freeway doing 111 km/h with cruise control. there was a semi truck in front of me, so i moved over and hit the button to speed up, well when i started to speed up my car hesitated very bad and the next thing i know i saw smoke coming out from under my hood. my first thought was "no way i blew my motor on cruise control.... how embarrassing..." so i pulled over and popped my hood and checked it out and i noticed smoke coming up from under my spark plug cover. i didnt have tools so i said screw it ill see if i can make it home. so i started it up and it sounded perfectly normal and idled fine, but when i would go more than half throttle, it would misfire real bad and it was weird cuz i didnt have a cel. but anyways i made it home, and took off the million pieces to get to my spark plugs. well the first thing i saw when i took off the caps was a brownish-red tint on all 4 of the spark plug holes. from this point on i just thought that they fouled real bad. when i got them out, i noticed the brown-ish red tint on all 4 plugs around where the plastic meets the metal thread. but i put my OEM Denso plugs back in it still misfired for a little bit, but i just disconnected my battery and reconnected it and its perfect again! im gonna call pulstar tomorrow about this.

so yea. watch out for them pulstars.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 07:31 PM
  #2  
av911's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 775
Likes: 16
From: San Francisco, CA, USA
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

How come you're changing it so early?? 100K already???
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 07:49 PM
  #3  
i-VTEC_DOHC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,773
Likes: 1
From: killafornia
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by av911
How come you're changing it so early?? 100K already???
they blew up at 10k miles dude.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 08:42 PM
  #4  
inkong's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere inbetween NV and NJ
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by av911
How come you're changing it so early?? 100K already???
how long would you wait till you change out your plugs???

Originally Posted by i-VTEC_DOHC
im gonna call pulstar tomorrow about this.
please update im very interested in these plugs but now i keep hearing problems left and right, oh and you had denso plugs stock or just had denso plugs around, cause i swear my stocks were ngks but that was a long time ago that i cant remember what was stock ... lol
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 09:10 PM
  #5  
i-VTEC_DOHC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,773
Likes: 1
From: killafornia
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by inkong
how long would you wait till you change out your plugs???



please update im very interested in these plugs but now i keep hearing problems left and right, oh and you had denso plugs stock or just had denso plugs around, cause i swear my stocks were ngks but that was a long time ago that i cant remember what was stock ... lol
my oem plugs are denso. my car is an 08, it might be different with other years
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 09:18 PM
  #6  
inkong's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere inbetween NV and NJ
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by i-VTEC_DOHC
my oem plugs are denso. my car is an 08, it might be different with other years
oh yeah i have a '06 DC5, my bad ... LOL
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 09:33 PM
  #7  
i-VTEC_DOHC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,773
Likes: 1
From: killafornia
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by inkong
oh yeah i have a '06 DC5, my bad ... LOL
you should be here then.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/acura-rsx-dc5-honda-civic-ep3-32/

hahaha jk jk dude.

i was really satisfied with the pulstars at first and i thought they were gonna last the 50k miles its claimed to last, but apparently not.
oh man u dont even know how bad i was shitting bricks cuz i thought my motor went out on me.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 09:44 PM
  #8  
NOFX's Avatar
H-T White Ops
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,603
Likes: 21
From: USA
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by inkong
oh and you had denso plugs stock or just had denso plugs around, cause i swear my stocks were ngks but that was a long time ago that i cant remember what was stock ... lol
Honda uses both NGK and Denso as stock spark plugs.

My '98 Civic EX actually has both listed in the parts catalog. The '08 Civic Si has the Densos listed. The '06 RSX Type-S lists both also.

Last edited by NOFX; Mar 11, 2009 at 09:51 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 09:50 PM
  #9  
i-VTEC_DOHC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,773
Likes: 1
From: killafornia
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

NOFX you're very friendly
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 09:53 PM
  #10  
NOFX's Avatar
H-T White Ops
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,603
Likes: 21
From: USA
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by i-VTEC_DOHC
NOFX you're very friendly
lol

Thanks. I put that there after having a lot of trouble with a few members. It was nice to see someone who thought I was helpful.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 10:18 PM
  #11  
Zeusone's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
From: Mexico, CA, spain
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

oem plugs last 100k.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 10:33 PM
  #12  
inkong's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere inbetween NV and NJ
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by Zeusone
oem plugs last 100k.
although true, especially with platinum, you should still always check to make sure they arent fouled, sometimes with cars arent maintained properly and that could lead to a shorter lifespan, or if you run higher octane when your not tuned for it, or whatever else since most of us here are modifying our cars for track or drag use can also shorten the lifespan of your plugs, i doesnt hurt to change them out even before their expected lifespan if you find them fouled, misfiring, etc., or even simply for performance and emissions upgrading ... in this case i would figure the reason for changing them to pulsestar was performance ... do you wait for 100k before checking your spark plugs???
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 10:51 PM
  #13  
i-VTEC_DOHC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,773
Likes: 1
From: killafornia
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by inkong
although true, especially with platinum, you should still always check to make sure they arent fouled, sometimes with cars arent maintained properly and that could lead to a shorter lifespan, or if you run higher octane when your not tuned for it, or whatever else since most of us here are modifying our cars for track or drag use can also shorten the lifespan of your plugs, i doesnt hurt to change them out even before their expected lifespan if you find them fouled, misfiring, etc., or even simply for performance and emissions upgrading ... in this case i would figure the reason for changing them to pulsestar was performance ... do you wait for 100k before checking your spark plugs???
yea the pulstars seemed like the ultimate plug. but that was the case for 10k miles lol i check mine when i do every oil change.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 10:56 PM
  #14  
inkong's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere inbetween NV and NJ
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by i-VTEC_DOHC
yea the pulstars seemed like the ultimate plug. but that was the case for 10k miles lol i check mine when i do every oil change.
i feel you on that, i read a lot the articles on them and looked at the dyno graphs, but on some forums i find people saying that they are over rated, and now your thread may even prove they arent worth trying out at all now ...

do you think NGKs or Densos are better for racing performance?
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 11:00 PM
  #15  
i-VTEC_DOHC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,773
Likes: 1
From: killafornia
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by inkong
i feel you on that, i read a lot the articles on them and looked at the dyno graphs, but on some forums i find people saying that they are over rated, and now your thread may even prove they arent worth trying out at all now ...

do you think NGKs or Densos are better for racing performance?
yea. dont get me wrong, they're really good plugs while they last. but its warranty for 50k miles and i only put 10k and they blew up in my head.

ngk's and denso's are very similar in design so i cant really say which is better. on my dirtbike, i wont put anything but ngk cuz thats what it came with. and im gonna do the same on this car. it came with denso so im gonna stick with denso. and besides, the whole ignition is pretty much denso so why not run denso plugs? makes sense?
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 11:12 PM
  #16  
inkong's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere inbetween NV and NJ
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by i-VTEC_DOHC
it came with denso so im gonna stick with denso. and besides, the whole ignition is pretty much denso so why not run denso plugs? makes sense?
yeah it does so i guess i should stick with NGKs ... LOL ... anyway i hope to hear what you get from Pulsestar as a response to what happened to your set ...

http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

Last edited by inkong; Mar 11, 2009 at 11:14 PM. Reason: something odd to add
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2009 | 11:29 PM
  #17  
i-VTEC_DOHC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,773
Likes: 1
From: killafornia
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

yea ill post up whats crackin when i contact them tomorrow
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2009 | 02:19 AM
  #18  
jdmeg9's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 0
From: my wife has a voluptuous backside, usa
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

pix before they ask you to send them back
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2009 | 06:13 AM
  #19  
kine462's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 146
Likes: 1
From: Youngstown, OHIO, USA
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by inkong
although true, especially with platinum, you should still always check to make sure they arent fouled, sometimes with cars arent maintained properly and that could lead to a shorter lifespan, or if you run higher octane when your not tuned for it, or whatever else since most of us here are modifying our cars for track or drag use can also shorten the lifespan of your plugs, i doesnt hurt to change them out even before their expected lifespan if you find them fouled, misfiring, etc., or even simply for performance and emissions upgrading ... In this case i would figure the reason for changing them to pulsestar was performance ... Do you wait for 100k before checking your spark plugs???
that's funny!!! Check ur plugs....... I can understand that on a heavily modified motor not stock. Unless u have nothing better to do.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2009 | 07:37 AM
  #20  
Caveman74's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
From: Woodstock, Ga
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by Zeusone
oem plugs last 100k.
Thats what they say. I would change them at 50k. My friend changed his at 60k at they were shot. Made his car run so much better
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2009 | 11:42 AM
  #21  
Alex_G's Avatar
Occupy GDD
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

They may last 100k but performance and fuel mileage may suffer.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2009 | 12:00 PM
  #22  
nowentaquit's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Thats brutal man, Keep us posted with what Pulstar has to say
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2009 | 07:14 PM
  #23  
vladd's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,502
Likes: 0
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by inkong
although true, especially with platinum, you should still always check to make sure they arent fouled, sometimes with cars arent maintained properly and that could lead to a shorter lifespan, or if you run higher octane when your not tuned for it, or whatever else since most of us here are modifying our cars for track or drag use can also shorten the lifespan of your plugs, i doesnt hurt to change them out even before their expected lifespan if you find them fouled, misfiring, etc., or even simply for performance and emissions upgrading ... in this case i would figure the reason for changing them to pulsestar was performance ... do you wait for 100k before checking your spark plugs???
did you know that people with built turbo motors still run ngk spark plugs? they just change the temp range and gapping. there is NO reason to ever change the brand of spark plugs. if your motor is stock or near stock, there's NO reason to ever change the plugs from what originally came in the car. don't give to the hype about some super awesome spark plugs; oem is best.

also, putting a few periods in that jumble of words would make it a lot easier to understand what you're trying to say. just sayin'.
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2009 | 07:19 PM
  #24  
inkong's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere inbetween NV and NJ
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Originally Posted by vladd
did you know that people with built turbo motors still run ngk spark plugs? they just change the temp range and gapping. there is NO reason to ever change the brand of spark plugs. if your motor is stock or near stock, there's NO reason to ever change the plugs from what originally came in the car. don't give to the hype about some super awesome spark plugs; oem is best.

also, putting a few periods in that jumble of words would make it a lot easier to understand what you're trying to say. just sayin'.
thanks for the lesson ... lol ... i thought it made some difference but i believe what your saying ... as for my writing, im sorry i guess i should put some periods here and there ... my bad ...
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2009 | 07:44 PM
  #25  
borat's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Central Texas
Default Re: ohh my goodness. beware of pulstar pulse plugs

Honda's stock ignition systems are very good. Unless you're doing something drastic to the motor, there's really no reason to change any of it. It's just asking for trouble.

Edit: Personal example: on my old Prelude VTEC, I went in to do maintenance on the cap/rotor of my distributor, using Autozone parts. Afterwords, my radar detector's laser function kept going crazy when I'd rev past 4k RPM. Bought an OEM dist. cap, and everything went back to normal. Just that one non-OEM part was causing all kinds of extra EMF.
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:17 AM.