Ron Ananian, The Car Dr Talks Warming Up Your Car & More on Mendte In The Morning, WOR Radio 710, December 15, 2025
About this episode
Ron Ananian discusses the importance of warming up your car, especially in cold weather, emphasizing both comfort and safety. He explains that while newer cars may not require extensive warming, a brief warm-up can help with oil circulation and visibility. The conversation also touches on the dangers of using hot water to defrost windshields and the significance of understanding local idling laws. Additionally, Ron offers insights on gifting cars, stressing the need for the recipient to test drive the vehicle to ensure it's the right fit.
Do You Really Need to Warm Up Your Car?
On this episode of Mendte in the Morning on WOR Radio 710, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, clears up one of winter’s most debated questions—should you warm up your car before driving?
Ron explains what modern vehicles really need, why safety and visibility matter more than internet myths, and when a short warm-up actually makes sense—especially in cold Northeast mornings. Plus, why using hot water on an icy windshield is a very bad idea, how idling laws factor in, and what older vehicles still demand in freezing temps.
The conversation wraps up with advice on buying a car as a gift—why the big bow looks great in commercials, but real-world car buying should be an experience, not a surprise.
Catch Ron every other week on Mendte in the Morning, WOR, and listen to Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor wherever you get your podcasts on the iHeartRadio app.
- Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com
-
Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes
-
Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel
-
Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900
-
Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
de-icing your car
"You know, Ron, you made me think when you were talking earlier about de-icing your car, I was seeing all these videos over the weekend..."
When a car’s windows are covered in ice, people try to melt it so they can see. This is called de-icing and can be done with special sprays or by gently warming the glass.
De-icing refers to removing ice from a vehicle’s exterior, especially the windshield and windows, so that visibility is restored. Common methods include using a scraper, applying an ice melt solution, or carefully heating the glass.
windshield cracking from hot water
"People who take hot water and throw it on their windshield to get the ice off, and then the windshield cracks, or literally shatters."
If you pour hot water on a very cold car window, the glass can break because it suddenly expands and contracts too fast.
Applying hot water or heated liquid to a cold windshield can cause thermal shock, leading the glass to crack or shatter. The rapid temperature change creates stress that exceeds the glass’s strength.
Lemonade
"[398.0s] And Doug. [399.0s] Here we have the Lemo Emo. [401.0s] In its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual."
Lemonade is an online company that sells car insurance. They use apps and algorithms to give you a policy quickly and usually at a good price.
Lemonade is a digital insurance company that uses technology and data to offer personalized auto insurance policies, often at lower prices.
Lexus
"I want to walk out to my driveway. And I want to see that Lexus with a big bow on it."
Lexus makes fancy cars that are usually more comfortable and reliable than regular Toyota models.
Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Toyota, known for refined interiors and smooth performance.
big bow
"I want to walk out to my driveway. And I want to see that Lexus with a big bow on it."
Some fancy cars have a big bow in front, like a small flag or ribbon, to make them look more special.
A decorative bow is a trim element often found on the front of luxury cars, adding a distinctive and upscale look.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.