Start-Up and Roll Out!
So your sleeping, and the next thing you know your under attack!  Your parents are screaming at you and poking you with sticks!  Then tell you to stand up and run.  Your muscles and joints sure as hell wouldn't like that.
The samething happens with cars.  Some folks will  start-up their cars and immediatly drive off.  Some people will argue by saying their car has 200K miles on it, and it was never allowed to warm-up.  True a modern engine will run long even without warm-ups, but it can run even longer if it is allowed to.
What happens?
What happens when you don't let your car warm-up a little?  Wear and tear my dear friends.  Most of the wear on an engine comes from start-up.  When a motor is first started up, there is direct metal contact in the motor.  (This is why engine oil has zinc added to it).  However the zinc can only offer so much protection before friction takes over. 
Solution
Winter:
Very simple, just allow your car to idle for at least 30-45 seconds (Less when using synthetic oil).  This will give the oil pump enough time to fully pressurize.  Then add on an extra 30-45 seconds for the valves to warm-up.  It is important that the valves are warm when the motor is turning at higher speeds (normal driving).  When the valves are cold and moving fast, they will start to expand from the heat.  While they  move quickly in the motor at high speeds,  they will expand unevenly and cause uneven wear.
Summer:
Summer isn't a big problem since the oil in the car is already thin.  However I would still give the motor 15 seconds to get the oil moving.
Before you head out:
This doesn't have to be done to often, but should be performed at least once a week.  At least once a week you should check the level of all the fluids in your car.  This is a good way to prevent break downs.
Motor Oil:  Check the oil when the car has not been used for at least 10-15 minutes, and make sure it is on a level surface.
Transmission Fluid:  The car should be driven long enough so that it has reached maximum operating temperature.  Then pull into a parking spot and shift through each gear.  Now, set the parking brake and shift the vehicle into nuetral, keep the car running and check the level of the trans fluid (should be a big red dipstick).
Brake Fluid:  Check the brake fluid reservoir for the correct level of fluid.  There should be a line on the side of the bottle that looks like: MAX------- 
Power Steering:  Check the level by pulling out the cap, it should be labeled.  Check the level when the engine is cold.  The level of the fluid should be very close to the COLD line.
Antifreeze:  Check the level of the anitfreeze, when the engine is cold.  It should be at or near the FULL mark.  Remember to use a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water, or buy pre-mixed fluid for convenience.  Pouring in undiluted fluid will cause the motor to run hotter than normal.
Check your owners manual for what types of fluids to use.  Don't mix different types of fluids together, especially trans fluid, as this will cause serious damage!
The weight of an oil is another important factor to consider.  Your owners manual will tell you which oil to use for each season.  But the main idea is to use a thinner oil such as a 5w-30 in the winter, and a heavier oil such as a 10w-30 in the summer.  Check the Motor-Oil section for a detailed review of the major motor oils out there.
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