OEM vs. Aftermarket sparkplugs

[Will]

I have been wondering there are a wide variety of new sparkplugs out from the Bosch x4 to the new e3 and the Pulstar pulse plugs. Has anyone done any real-world testing with Metros? Some of these things offer the world, and seem too good to be true....

[SVOboy]

It would be interesting to see someone really go out there and try to do a comprehensive test of spark plugs, but I haven't seen anyone do it yet.

[truckncycle]

I have the Bosch plugs in my Ford Ranger. I was hoping to get slightly better power and mileage but I have seen no improvement. I may even have had a slight decrease in gas mileage. It is hard to tell especially since I wasn't tracking gas mileage very carefully. I have been thinking about changing to a more conventional style plug and indexing them as described somewhere on this site. My plugs are a pain to get to so I am in no hurry.

[Will]

That is interesting. I have been in doubt for sometime that the newer ones coming out are really any better. Anyone else tried any of the new ones?

[whatthe]

The pulstar is based on sound principles (I'm pretty sure that I came accross an SAE article out there proposing similar technology).

There are a couple of problems... one is that your really not likely to feel 3 lb ft of torque and the cost.

I saw a dyno test showing better average torque out of the iridiums than the Pulstars... not that I can find that now. I picked up some iridiums only because they were 30% off when I happened to need some.

I didn't notice a difference in power on the road and wasn't looking for economy at the time.

[Frank Lee]

I've been running Pulstars for a few months; can't say there's a noticeable difference in how the engine runs, or power, or fe either. But they work OK.