Hold on, I've always heard that modern engines don't need long warm-ups. My mechanic says idling too long can let fuel mix with the oil and cause issues. Maybe the sludge was from not driving long enough to burn off moisture?

Totally get that now. I mean you watch someone mess up the basic steps and it just clicks, right? Speed comes way later after the muscle memory is locked in. I learned the same thing showing apprentices wire stripping. Let them go slow until the hands stop shaking, then worry about fast. Rushing the early steps costs more time fixing mistakes every single time.

Wrapping just covers up bad temperature control.

My friend Tom in Austin had a whole shelf of leftover plumbing fittings. He finally sorted them into labeled bags and gave them to a community workshop. It cleared space and his odd bits actually helped a neighbor fix a leak!