Now on the market there are many different types of car batteries. Experts divide them into several categories, which have their pros and cons.

Types of car batteries

Acid batteries

Classic acid batteries are available on the market in the following versions.

Serviced – these are the same batteries with plugs in the lid, through which you can check the density of the electrolyte and add boiled water to the level. It should be noted that the presence of plugs is due precisely to the tendency of this type of battery to boil away, this is due to the high content of antimony in the composition of their lead plates.

Maintenance free / low maintenance – these batteries are now the majority of those on the market. They have a significantly reduced antimony content, as a result of which the water does not boil away so intensively, and during their operation there is no need to add it.

Ca / Ca technology is a battery in which calcium is added to the lead alloy instead of antimony. This replacement was another step to reduce the rate of water boiling off. Also, the change of the element had a positive effect on the efficiency of the battery and its energy intensity.

But these batteries are not on the market in such a volume as those listed above, and this is primarily due to their high price compared to their antimony counterparts, as well as their hypersensitivity to overdischarge (it is enough to forget to turn off the headlights five or six times for a long time, and the battery can be thrown away, it will not restore its energy intensity).

Hybrid is a mixture of the previous types: antimony is applied to the positive electrodes, and calcium is applied to the negative ones. This decision made it possible to find a golden mean: water does not boil away as much as antimony ones, but at the same time they are not as sensitive to overdischarge as calcium ones.

Gel batteries

The next type is gel batteries (AMG). As their name implies, they do not have a liquid electrolyte, as in the classic ones, here it is presented in the form of a gel. This type has a lot of advantages: there is no boiling of water and, as a result, the plates do not crumble, it is airtight, which is important in various motorcycle and water equipment, their service life is about ten years. Of the minuses, this, again, is the high price and poor electrical conductivity of the gel at strong sub-zero temperatures.

Alkaline batteries

Alkaline batteries – again, the name speaks for itself: instead of an acid solution, alkaline batteries are used in such batteries. These batteries are insensitive to overdischarge, work perfectly in severe frost and accumulate energy better. But almost all these pluses overlap with one minus: they are very bulky, because. they require more sections to achieve the same voltage as the acid ones.

The current motor experts are trying to give the satisfactory answer for how to and when to change spark plugs

How to change spark plugs?

Replacement of candles is recommended to be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s regulations and, of course, based on the variety of candles. To do this, insert a candle key and unscrew the candle. The main thing is that there is no o-ring left in the candle well, which should be located on the base of the candle.

When to change spark plugs?

If ordinary nickel candles have a resource of 20 thousand km, then iridium ones easily “nourish” up to 100 thousand km – this is about five years of operation.

It is important to consider that the following factors affect the performance and service life of spark plugs: the condition of the power unit, driving style and fuel quality. Drivers are advised to check the spark plugs at each MOT.

This will help keep the engine running properly and also avoid major repairs. A lot can be said by the condition of the spark plug – both about the state of the engine itself (whether there is oil consumption), or about the state of the power supply system. Diagnostics will allow timely maintenance and avoid costly car repairs.

Spark plugs can be removed both on a warm and cold engine. There are no temperature recommendations from any manufacturer.

What rules must be observed when replacing?

When replacing spark plugs, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommended tightening torque. Compliance with the tightening torque is possible only with the use of a special tool – a torque wrench. Failure to tighten the torque, as a rule, leads to damage to the candle itself and a reduction in its service life. It can also lead to damage to the components of the ignition system and even serious engine damage.

best cars for drifting: Drifting is one of the most incendiary disciplines of motorsport. And one of the most democratic. But, as always, there is not enough room at the top for everyone. We offer our selection of top drift cars

What is Drift

Drifting (drifting) is a motorsport discipline in which pilots compete on winding roads in the ability to quickly drive a car in a controlled skid. It is believed that drifting originated among the youth of Japan in the 1970s, although Enzo Ferrari called the founder of this style the great racer Tazio Nuvolari, who practiced drifting in the first half of the 20th century.

Today, drifting is a global phenomenon. Amateur and professional level competitions are held both in the warm season and in winter.

Drift car design requirements

Drift cars have two key requirements:

the ability to easily enter turns and skid;
ability to maintain control at high speed.

From a technical point of view, this is provided by:

selection of the optimal type of drive. Rear axle drive is considered a classic. Drifting on a full drive requires more serious professional skills. The least effective for drifting is front-wheel drive, which involves the active and competent use of the handbrake;

a high torque motor that usually goes in tandem with a lot of power. A common choice for professional drift cars is a turbo engine. At the same time, the internal combustion engine that gives all the best must be reliable and, in particular, withstand high temperatures;

blocking of the cross-axle differential (often it is simply welded) – it helps to realize the traction capabilities of the engine when unloading in the turn of one of the drive wheels;

front-engine vehicle layout. Loaded steerable front wheels have better grip, which allows you to more accurately control the car;

long wheelbase. Thanks to it, it is easier to control the car with a sharp change in skid directions;

low ground clearance. The low center of gravity also improves handling. That is why top drift cars come from sports sedans or coupes;

low vehicle weight. A light car is more likely to skid. In this regard, when preparing a drift car, many minor structural elements are removed or replaced with analogues from such lightweight materials as fiberglass or carbon fiber;

optimal weight distribution along the axes (40:60% for rear-wheel drive models);

stiff enough to reduce rolls of the suspension;

not afraid of high loads enduring brake system with large diameter ventilated discs, reinforced hoses, using high-quality synthetic brake fluid;

wear-resistant tires;

a low location of a fairly rigid pilot’s seat with developed lateral support. This “seat” allows you to better feel the car.
Finally, to ensure safety, a six-point frame is installed in the cabin of the best cars for drifting.

Drift car rating

With a limited budget for a best cars for drifting, you can use the VAZ classic or the rear-wheel drive Ford Sierra that has changed its fourth decade as a drift car. Ordinary front-wheel drive with sufficiently powerful engines can also be a pleasure, especially on a slippery track, and with plywood placed under the locked rear wheels, even on dry pavement. But if we talk about the big leagues, then, of course, there will be a fair number of Japanese models, sometimes designed specifically with an eye on drifting.