Warm Up The Car On Cold Winter Mornings? Ain't Nobody Got Time for That!
One of the greatest myths for car care is you must warm up the car on cold winter mornings for 5-10 minutes before you hit D and go. This myth made me hate winter much more, and even had me buy a remote starter for my car in 2008.
This female auto mechanic says: Warming up your car is not necessary any longer. On modern cars, basically anything made in the past 20 years, you're not hurting the car by getting in, turning it on, and then driving off. What you are really doing by sitting in the car warming it up is wasting gas and making yourself late for work.
Please be warned, this isn't an excuse to hit D then take off like you're racing Jeff Gordon. Slowly take off and drive it gently, don't floor it right onto a highway. Essentially, you are warming up the car during your first few minutes of driving. So spend that extra 10 minutes getting some coffee or getting more sleep!
Disclaimer: If it's crazy cold out, like 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, warming up your car for two minutes helps allow the oil to circulate through the engine.
Want to learn more tips about your car and how to maintain it?
Follow your favorite auto mechanic in heels on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, attend one of my monthly workshops, or schedule a workshop for your group!
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Skip warming up the car, warm yourself up instead.
Hoodie, coffee mug, and the Glove Box Guide… everything a SheCANic needs to start her morning right. ☕👠
A do-it-herself guide to auto maintenance, roadside emergencies, and the real scoop on how women can get honest car service at the garage, from engineer turned auto mechanic and award-winning entrepreneur Patrice Banks. SIGNED BY PATRICE.
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This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!