Warming Up Your Car In Cold Weather

As we inch closer towards the end of the year, the days are growing shorter and the weather is growing colder. Getting into a freezing car first thing in the morning is an unpleasant experience, so most of us choose to start our engines and let them idle till they warm up. 
Contrary to popular belief, this is not good for your engine. Letting your car idle actually decreases your engines life by stripping oil away from the engine’s cylinders and pistons. The life of a vehicles piston rings and cylinder liners can be significantly reduced by gasoline washing away the lubricating oil. "The Environmental Protection Agency lines up with those who say warming up your car is not only not helpful but is wasteful."

Even though you may have to throw on a scarf and gloves before leaving in the morning, driving your car is the fastest way to warm up the engine. Yes, you’re going to be cold during the first few minutes it takes for the radiator to warm up and start blowing warm air. But, you'll be saving yourself fuel, time, and money! 

Demand for Alternative Fuel Vehicles on the Rise

All it takes is a drive to the local Whole Foods supermarket and other environmentally conscious stores, to find new, designated parking spots/ electric stations for hybrid & electric cars. Even many gas stations are now adding alternative fueling areas. This increase in popularity has furthered the debate about the future of alternative fuel vehicles.

The big debate about alternative fuel cars has been around for many years. With so many types, it can be hard to decipher which type of vehicle is right to buy and if it is worth it. Whether it is electric, biodiesel, methanol and gasoline blends, ethanol or hydrogen, the technology for each of these types of alternative fuels has improved exponentially in the past decade.

One of the most popular options for alternative fuel cars is the hybrid. Hybrid vehicles use two sources, one electric and one gas, to power the car. While they can save their owners money and contribute to helping the environment, hybrid vehicles are NOT maintenance free. Rather, they present their own set of maintenance issues because they provide areas for needed maintenance from both gas and electric motors. Not every traditional auto repair shop has experience and knowledge in repairing such vehicles, leaving customers stuck with going to the dealer for repairs. At Matthey Automotive, we are dedicated to alternative fuels and repairing alternative fuel vehicles. We provide customers with a knowledgeable staff helping with all maintenance needs.

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Brakes for Breasts Program! We couldn't have done it without the support of our loyal customers! We can't wait to present our donation to The Cleveland Clinic and help advance this wonderful research.