Did you know there’s a right and wrong way to warm your car up when it’s cold outside? There is, and with this information, you’ll know what to do. In addition, make sure you get your car serviced for the winter by visiting the Della Auto Group in Queensbury, New York.
A Slow Start
Think of your vehicle much like yourself when trying to get around on a chilly day. You don’t jump out of bed and rush to go to work. Instead, you first put on your robe. Then, you head to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. Next, you take a shower before getting dressed. When it’s cold outside, your vehicle needs to go through a slow process too.
For one thing, warming up your car the right way benefits the engine. For another, by the time you’re ready to leave, you’ll get inside a toasty car.
Park in a Safe Spot
If you don’t have a garage or designated parking spot, be sure you’re parked somewhere close that’s secure. The reason is that you don’t want to worry about someone stealing your vehicle while it warms up. In addition, make sure it’s in the open air. For instance, you never want to start your car inside a closed garage due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Start Your Car and Turn on the Defroster
Immediately after starting the engine, turn the defroster on. Even though the air blows cold initially, this will help to eliminate any frost or ice buildup on the windshield. Now, if you experience fogging, there are ways to prevent or eliminate the problem.
In addition to turning the defroster on at the same time you start the engine, turn the heater to the hottest temperature and the fan to the fastest setting. Once your car gets warm inside, turn the air conditioner on. Within about a minute, it’ll draw moisture out of the air. Then, crack the windows slightly and turn off the fan so that fresh air can get inside the vehicle.
Let Your Vehicle Idle
Here’s the part about warming up a car on a cold day that most people find surprising. Whether you drive an older or newer automobile, it only needs to idle for 30 seconds. A nice benefit of this is that you don’t waste precious gas letting your car idle for 20 minutes. Keep in mind that if your car has snow or ice on it, let it idle for roughly two minutes.
Take Your Time
Instead of peeling out as though you’re driving in the Daytona 500, pull away from your house slowly. If possible, stay at or under the speed limit for about five to 10 minutes. If that’s not an option, consider leaving for work a few minutes early so that you can drive slowly to your favorite place to get coffee.
However, if you get on the freeway right away, again, drive at or just under the speed limit for 10 minutes. During this time, the engine reaches the right temperature for optimal performance. Not giving your car adequate time to warm up puts unnecessary stress on the engine.
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Proper Maintenance
In addition to warming your vehicle up the right way on a cold winter day, be sure to get it serviced. With that, a certified technician will check all the fluids, belts, and hoses. They’ll also change the oil and check the pressure in your tires. For this, schedule an appointment with the Della Auto Group in Queensbury, New York.