Speak to the clerk at your local auto parts store to get help choosing the right spark plug for your engine.  Spark plugs burn at varying degrees of intensity and it’s important to choose one designed for use in your vehicle.  You can also find out what spark plug is right for your vehicle by referring to the service manual for its specific year, make and model. Make sure to disconnect the battery prior to moving on. Before installing the new spark plug, use compressed air from a can or air compressor to clean out any dirt or debris that may be in the hole you are inserting the plug into.  This will prevent any of it from falling into the engine and damaging it.  Be extremely careful not to drop any debris or small tools into the hole for the spark plug. A shop vacuum may be a better choice if debris has already fallen into the hole. The gap on the spark plug’s sparking surface dictates the length of the spark that is used to ignite the air and fuel within the engine.  Use a spark plug gapping tool to create the correct gap in the spark plugs before installing them.  Most spark plug gapping tools are shaped in a circle.  Insert the edge of the circle into the gap between the plug and its sparking surface, then turn it until it reaches the gap for your vehicle. Find the appropriate gap size for your engine by referring to your vehicle’s service manual. Insert the spark plug into the rubber boot in the spark plug socket, then attach the socket to a socket extension that’s at least a few inches long.  This will allow you to screw the plug in like you might screw in a screw with a screw driver.  Make sure the extension is long enough for you to be able to screw the plug into place with it. Most spark plug tools use a 3/8 inch drive, so use an extension for the same size ratchet. Rotate the plug and extension clockwise without placing too much downward pressure on it.  If you force the plug to screw in, you may cross the threads in the engine block, which will result in expensive repairs.  Turn the extension clockwise until the plug threads into place inside the engine. If it suddenly becomes hard and then easy again to screw in the spark plug, remove it and start over to avoid cross threading it. Once the plug is hand tight inside the engine, connect a ratchet to the extension and tighten the plug slightly to ensure it will not vibrate out of place.  You will not need to put too much pressure on the spark plug to ensure it’s tight.  Do not overtighten the plug as it may break the spark plug or make it very difficult to remove. If you break a spark plug, you will need a professional to remove it. Take the plug wire you disconnected from the previous spark plug and press it firmly onto the back end of the now secured spark plug.  The plug wire should pop into place on the spark plug when you know it is firmly connected.  You may choose to apply a small amount of electrical grease to the spark plug or wire to ensure a strong connection. Reconnect the battery once you’re done.
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One-sentence summary -- Purchase the correct type of spark plug. Use compressed air to clean out the plug hole. Ensure the new spark plug has the correct gap. Insert the plug into the spark plug socket. Screw the plug in by hand. Tighten the spark plug with a ratchet. Reconnect the plug wire.


For minor cuts and scrapes, the purpose of the bandage is to prevent infection and promote healing. For more serious injuries, the bandage can help to prevent infection and provide protection for the injury while it heals. A finger or a toe injury can involve damage to the skin, the nail, the nail bed, sprained ligaments and tendons, or broken bones.  For injuries that only need protection from infection, simple dressings and regular band-aids will work fine. If the skin is broken, then properly dressing the area will prevent infection and control further bleeding. Use sterile pads, sterile gauze (Telfa works best), or very clean materials to cover the entire wound. Try not to touch the sterile part of the dressing that will be directly in contact with the wound. The risk of infection is increased with injuries that involve cuts, scrapes, or torn areas of the skin. Applying the antibiotic cream or ointment directly to the dressing is a good way to help prevent infection without directly touching the wound. Bandages are to be applied not too tightly, but tight enough to keep the dressing in place. Bandages that are too tight can interfere with blood flow. Be sure to cut or secure any loose ends from dressing material, bandages, or tape. This can cause pain, and possibly further damage, if the loose ends get caught or snagged on something. Unless the tip is part of the injury, leaving it exposed helps to watch for changes that might indicate problems in circulation. Plus, if medical attention is needed, leaving the ends of fingers and toes exposed helps doctors to evaluate for nerve damage. The fingers and toes can present challenges when they need to be bandaged. Gather materials that are larger than the area, so you can cut the large gauze, sterile dressing pads, and medical tape, in sizes suited to the area. Cutting the material this way helps to securely cover the tips of the injured finger or toe. The cut pieces should be designed to be twice the length of the finger or toe. Apply the bandage along the length of the finger or toe first, then down the other side. Wrap the other ends around the area. Use additional pieces of tape as need to secure the bandage in place. Also take care to cover all areas of broken skin with dressing materials, before applying the final bandage, in order to prevent infection. The bandage you apply may need to provide protection, prevent infection, promote healing, act like a splint, and prevent further damage to the injured area. A splint helps to immobilize the injury and prevent further, accidental injury. Select a splint that is the proper size for the injured digit. In some cases, a regular popsicle stick can be used as a splint. Try to immobilize the joint above and below the injury site with the splint. If the injury is to the first joint of the finger, this means try to immobilize the wrist and joints above the injury. This keeps the surrounding muscles and tendons from straining the injury or becoming damaged themselves. Carefully folded pieces of dressing material can be used between the injured digit and the splint to provide some cushion and prevent irritation. Use medical or paper tape to secure the splint, taking care not to wrap the area too tightly. Apply the medical or paper tape lengthwise first, with the digit on one side and the splint on the other, then wrap around the injured digit and the splint to keep it in place. Take caution not to wrap the area too tightly, but tight enough so the splint does not slide off. An adjacent finger or toe works just as well as a splint in most cases. Buddy taping helps to prevent free movement of the injured digit to allow the area to heal properly. Most commonly, fingers and toes 1 and 2, or 3 and 4, are paired or taped together. Always place small sections of gauze between the digits being paired to prevent irritation. Cut or tear 2 sections of non-stretch, white, medical tape. Wrap each piece around the areas just above and below the injured joint or break in the bone, including the buddy digit in the wrapping. Be careful to wrap securely but not too tightly. Once the digits are anchored to each other, proceed with wrapping additional sections of tape around both digits to secure them to each other. This method allows for the digits to bend together, but side to side movement will be restricted.
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One-sentence summary --
Select a bandage that fits the injury. Use basic dressings to prevent infection. Dress the wound with sterile material. Use antibiotic creams as a part of the dressing. Secure the dressing in place with a bandage. Avoid loose ends from the bandage. Leave the tip of the finger or toe exposed. Tailor your bandage to properly cover the tip if it is injured. Cut the bandage into a “T shape”, “X shape”, or “crisscross” shape. Take caution not to wrap the area too tightly. Provide support for a sprain or broken bone. Use a splint for sprains or broken bones. Place gauze or folded dressing pads along the area for cushion. Secure the splint in place. Bandage the area using buddy taping. Start by applying tape above and below the injury. Wrap additional sections of tape.