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Altering the spark plug gap on your vehicle can have a dramatic effect on it’s overall performance. If your engine isn’t running like it should, or if you’re curious about the importance of spark plug gapping, explore the primary reasons why spark plugs need to be gapped. Use a VIN lookup free tool to find out more about your particular spark plugs and other essential vehicle maintenance information.

Proper Air/Fuel Ratio

A spark plug uses a precise gap between two electrodes on its tip to produce a spark. An extra-large gap may prevent the spark plug from working effectively. A small gap can have similar issues. A minor gap issue will affect your fuel economy and horsepower, but a major gap change can cause your engine to stop running altogether.

Most spark plugs need maintained after roughly 70,000 miles. After this lifespan, you can expect spark plugs to increase their gap as they bend and warp through frequent use. Some spark plugs don’t last as long and need to be completely replaced after 30,000 miles.

Long-Lasting Spark Plug Performance

Without proper gapping, spark plugs can wear out quickly. Depending on the type of spark plug you have, some spark plug electrodes can be more fragile than others. Extreme bending or overwork due to a large gap can decrease the lifespan of your spark plug. Proper gapping maintenance steps prevent spark plug replacement.

Two Types of Spark Plugs

There are two basic types of spark plugs: copper electrode spark plugs and precious metal electrode spark plugs. Copper plugs are more traditional and have a more rugged electrode that’s more resistant to bending. Newer spark plugs typically have a coating of precious metal that’s slightly weaker and more prone to bending, but offers more efficient sparking.

Both types of spark plugs come in pre-gapped versions or versions without proper gapping. Either way, it’s important to invest in a spark plug gap tool to be confident you have the ideal spark plug gap. Review your owner’s manual to verify the correct gap for your particular make and model of vehicle. Spark plugs can be used in a number of engines, from motorcycles and ATVs to pickup trucks and sports cars, and every engine has its own ideal spark plug gap.

Learn How to Gap Spark Plugs

Adjusting the spark plug gap is surprisingly easy with the correct tools. Purchase a spark plug gap tool and, with some patience, you can effectively maintain this critical component in your vehicle. There are a number of spark plug tool types available. Coin-style tools are the most affordable, but a wire-type is typically more convenient and accurate. Compare affordable, professional gap tools at your local auto parts store to determine the best option for you.

Restore your fuel economy and horsepower with properly gapped spark plugs. So, why do spark plugs need to be gapped? So you can enjoy maximum horsepower, fuel economy and long-lasting performance from your favorite vehicle. Shop for spark plug tools or learn more about spark plug maintenance and replacement from your favorite auto parts store.

It has been something of a rollercoaster so far for Spurs fans in 2019, with a very disappointing domestic campaign which has seen them lose 1 in every 3 games, but arriving to their first ever Champions League final back in May, which of course they lost to Liverpool. Daniel Levy decided that Pochettino’s time was up in mid-November and brought in the ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho to shore things up. I was talking to my business partner and Spurs fan Stacey Tokunaga about this recently and she firmly believe that the Lilywhites can make the top 4. Stacey is convinced by this and whilst I’m not completely sold, she dd make some great points. So, can Spurs make the top 4?

Reasons They Won’t

Let’s start with some of the reasons why Spurs won’t able to make those Champions League places this year. The first thing to mention is that even with Mourinho at the helm, a man who knows exactly how to get his team to defend and a specialist in ‘parking the bus’ Spurs just don’t have the personnel at the back to stop conceding so many goals, and this will be their downfall. Aging center backs like Vertonghen and Alderweireld, Rose and Aurier are liabilities and their bench options look weak. Spurs will also face an uphill challenge because of how well Chelsea and Leicester are playing, and Spurs are already 6 points behind the top4.

Reasons Why They Will

A more optimistic look at the season could see continue with consecutive qualification to the Champions League and these are the reasons why they could well make it. What Jose has done already with the likes of Dele Alli and Lucas Moura are very positive and although there are weaknesses at the back, there is a very real feeling that Spurs can simply outscore the opposition. Kane and Son are now being benefitted by the improvement of others and the more service that they get, the more goals Spurs will score. Whilst Leicester and Chelsea have been romping away in the early stages of the season, both are filled with youth which may not have what it takes to see it out. In the case of Leicester they rely heavily on Jamie Vardy for goals, an injury to him and the Foxes could easily drop points. For Spurs, this is not their first rodeo and they have earned themselves a reputation of coming back from the death, in games and even in the CL groups, there is nothing to suggest they can’t come back again and clinch a top 4 position. Spurs still have plenty of games to play, and Chelsea, Spurs and Leicester all need to play each other again before the season is done, Spurs even play Chelsea twice which could cut that 6 point lead down to zero.

Which way do you think things will go? Will Jose do it? Let us know in the comments.

 

I began working for Interdependence Public Relations 4 years ago after completely switching careers. I was previously working for a small tech company but the truth was that I just wasn’t happy and the time had come to once again put a smile on my face. I stayed in that job for 4 years too long and I just wish someone had given me a nudge in the right direction when I was first unhappy. Interdependence is a brilliant firm which has given me everything that I could’ve hoped for, so too has the industry of public relations. It can be hard to see the wood for the tress when you are unhappy in your career, but looking back I can now see the signs that I missed. Here are 5 signs that you may be unhappy and need a change of career.

Mornings

Currently I wake up, clear the fog and then feel happy that I am coming to my job, this doesn’t happen daily of course, but in the main I am always looking forward to getting to the office. In the past however things weren’t like this and the morning test is the best way to identify just how miserable you are in your job. If you wake up day after day and dread going to work, it may be time to change.

Friday and Sunday

To build on that morning feeling, I also used to count down the days until Friday and then hate Sunday nights, knowing that I was going back to work again the next day. This is an awful way to live and if you feel this way week after week then you have to take ownership and change jobs, or career.

Personal Life

With the exception of Friday night I must admit that I was unbearable to live with and each night I would come home cranky and with a complete lack of desire to do anything at all. The job literally sucked out all of my energy and my happiness during the day, which meant that my wife and I had miserable nights together because of me. Now that I am happy in my job I have so much more energy and I pack my evenings with activities and I have never been happier.

No Feelings

It got to the point at work where I just no longer cared and even when I made mistakes they didn’t bother me, as long as I could still have a job. If you get to this point where you just don’t care about what you are doing then you most certainly have to make a change. This is not healthy for you and it is the last thing that a business needs.

Health

This didn’t happen to me thankfully but I have spoken to people who’s health actually suffered as a result of their misery. Mental health in particular is a very important thing to take care of and if yours is suffering because of the job, get out and go find some happiness.

 

 

Bharat Bhise HNA analyst and expert in the field of cybersecurity gave a speech at a tech convention which I visited last week. Bharat was speaking specifically about the number of small businesses who aren’t protected with cybersecurity software, and the importance of having solid security software in place. I was astonished by the incredibly low percentage of small business which have cybersecurity in place, and the high volume of owners who don’t have it or who have outdated software.

I got to thinking about the reasons as to why so many business owners wouldn’t look to secure themselves in this way, and these are the myths which I think that many believe when considering investing cybersecurity.

Failure to Understand

I certainly think that there is a large percentage of business owners who just don’t understand the risks that are posed by cyberattacks. To clear this up, the damage can be untold and it can involve theft of information, massive damage to the reputation of the business, a ruined online reputation and lost finances as a result of the attack. Any company which uses computers or operates online must ensure that they are secured.

Too Expensive

I also believe that many business owners will look at the cost of software and decide that it is just too expensive for them. I understand that small businesses must be incredible frugal with their capital but in this case you have to think about the big picture. High level security software may cost around $100-200 per year for the business, perhaps slightly more for larger companies. The cost of an attack to a small business could easily register in the thousands and when you consider that, it is vital that you understand the need for security software. When you compare the two costs you can see that making the choice to buy software is certainly the best idea in terms of cost effectiveness. There is further damage which an attack can cause which can’t be given a figure and that is the damage to the reputation once customers learn that they can’t trust your business.

Already Have It

When Bharat talked about the number of business owners who have outdated software it dawned on me that a great many of these owners probably think that they only need to buy and install the software once. The reason why having outdated software is dangerous is because every time that software is created to protect your systems, the hackers and cybercriminals are working on ways to get around it. This game of cat and mouse goes on every year and there are only so many updates which a security provider can perform to keep you secure, before they need to build anew suite entirely. This is why having the 2016 suite in 2019 is tantamount to not having any cybersecurity at all.

Make sure that you have software in place and that it is up to date for maximum protection.

 

When I was at college my roommate at the time Bharat Bhise introduced me to a wild new sport called mixed martial arts and the first event that I ever saw was UFC 3. At that time this was a sport that was widely ridiculed by fight fans, much of this was down its brutal and strangeness of watching a karate expert take on a wrestler, or other mixed styles. Over the years however the UFC has grown into a global power in terms of the sports world and it is currently one of the most watched events around the world. So how did the UFC come all this way and end up taking over from boxing as the fight game’s biggest hitter?

Cleaning Up Their Act

In the early days of the UFC there were almost no rules, fighters could eye gouge, groin kick, downward elbow people on the ground and even power slam onto the opponents head, not to mention that gloves weren’t mandatory. Over the years however the UFC have really cleaned up their acts and they have special gloves which must be worn and tight rules which prevent fighters from using the tactics mentioned above. Whilst the sport may appear brutal at the moment given the amount of blood we see, it is actually a far safer sport than boxing and the UFC has never had a fighter die because of injuries.

Multiple Styles

Fighters now offer a range of styles in terms of mixed martial arts and that has contributed towards a more entertaining and a more watchable fight. Styles differ of course, but there is not as big a gap between styles as there was in the past, which made fights look strange and unappealing.

So Many Spectacles

The UFC has fighters who fight regularly and they have a big roster which means that there are multiple main events each year. In boxing we used to see fighters throw down at least twice per year, now that is more like once per year as boxers look to preserve their legacies. In the UFC however there are always big events happening and most fighters will fight twice or 3 times a year if they are permitted.

The Big Fights

Because of the fact that fighters are under contract with the UFC, they end up with the right fights and the fights that the fans want to see. How many times have we waited for two boxers to reach an agreement and fight? This doesn’t happen in the UFC and it is one of the biggest reasons why this sport has taken over from boxing.

Entertaining

The UFC incentivizes its fighters with knockout and fight of the night bonuses which encourage them to really go for the kill. This, combined with the fact that fighters face 5 minute rounds, ensures that almost every fight is a battle, rather than a safe and disciplined defensive fight where opponents are just looking to score points.

I am very lucky to have the wonderful Richard Soper MD as my physician and he has been our family doctor for decades. With a friendly family doctor like Richard, you get a different experience because of the familiarity that you have and he is often telling me off for certain things which I do in terms of my lifestyle. Something which I am often scolded for is using Google to check my symptoms, something which a great many people do of course. Dr. Richard often reminds me that this is not a smart idea and that I should stop using ‘Dr. Google’ when I am feeling unwell, and here are the reasons why he thinks it is a bad idea.

Hypochondriac Paradise

Looking online can very quickly result in that little sniffle you have turning into some kind of brain tumor or disease which means that you only have days to live. When you consider the number of things that a simple symptom could mean, you are going to pretty much have your pick of diseases to choose from. A headache could mean you are stressed or it could indeed mean that you have a brain tumor, regardless of what the issue is, you aren’t going to find out by Googling.

Reliability of a Site

There are some fantastic medical websites out there such as WebMD which features a plethora of high quality medical information which has been provided by doctors, there are also some terrible sites out there with incorrect and downright wrong information. The point is that you never really know just how accurate the information is or how reliable the website may be.

You Could Really Worry Yourself

Sometimes we can feel as though we have symptoms just because they have been suggested and when seeking out your symptoms it can be very easy to freak out. It is very easy to convince yourself that you have a major problem and when you discover this you can guarantee that your anxiety and your stress levels are going to go through the roof. Even if you do get worried like this, you will have to make an appointment with the real doctor anyway, which means that you’ll be worrying unnecessarily based on what you have read.

You May Have an Issue

We have focused a lot on the fact that you may believe that you have something which you don’t, but there is also a very real concern that you do have something wrong, but based on what you have read online you pass it off as nothing, if you do this then you may need help and not go to get it because you have read online that everything is going to be fine.

AS Dr. Soper regularly reminds me, if you feel unwell, just go and see your local doctor and find out for sure whether or not there is something wrong with you at all.