Winter is a harsh season for man and machine.  Since OHIP is supposed to care for the former, we'll concentrate on the latter. 

Very low temperatures cause materials to act differently than when they're warm.  Oil, in particular, tends to "harden" as the temperature drops.  The first minute following a cold morning start is extremely critical to engine life.  It takes time for the oil to reach the furthest lubrication points from the oil pump, resulting in reduced protection to moving engine components.

You can alleviate this by letting the engine idle for a couple of minutes before placing the shifter in "drive".  Once under way, avoid hard acceleration for the next 5 minutes or so of driving.  You can also help by consulting the maintenance section of you owner's manual and selecting a lower viscosity oil grade as stipulated.  Most cars will be fine with a good quality 5W30 oil.

Did you know that a lot of cars come with a block heater?  Use it on those cold nights and you'll love that feeling when warm air will pour out of the heater almost immediately when you start your car.  If you are worried about the electricity bill, use a timer to turn the block heater some three hours prior to your expected departure time.

Drive carefully, spring is only 4 months away...