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Common questions in the winter. Should I warm up the carbefore driving? And for how long?

If you use your car infrequently let the car run for a fewminutes before moving. This warms up the cold, thick oiland protects your engine from damage.

When starting a vehicle in cold weather allow the engine toidle for no more than 30 seconds before driving off toinsure proper oil flow and lubrication. Older vehicles mayneed a little longer warming up time. Only warm long enoughto prevent stalling when driving and that the windshield isdefogged.

A cold engine will warm up faster when the vehicle is beingdriven than when idling. In unusually cold temperaturesdrive at a slower speed for a few miles to give the car timeto warm up.

Use a block heater when the winter temperature drops to -5*For below. A block heater helps to keep oil and coolant warm,makes the vehicle easier to start and reduces gas use by asmuch as ten percent. Turn the timer on one to two hoursbefore planning to start vehicle. Use a timer forconvenience.

Never warm car in a closed garage. Drive car out of garageas soon as motor starts. There is not enough ventilation toremove carbon monoxide in even an open garage.

Never leave a car running alone. Car thieves watch forthese cars that they call puffers.

Warming up the vehicle before driving off reduces moisturecondensation on the inside windows.

At low temperatures the battery's starting power drops.Turn off the heater, radio, lights, etc. before starting thecar so all the power can be directed to the engine to start.Be prepared with jumper cables in your trunk for a jumpstart if necessary. Even better, a self-charge auto jumperthat plugs directly into the lighter can be a lifesaver.

For more information on battery chargers visit:

http://www.apluswriting.net/gasmiles/batterycare.htm

Copyright: 2006 Marilyn Pokorney

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