Most of us common folks would like to know how to save energy. The talk shows are always telling us how to do this. There is always somebody sticking their nose in our business. Well, they are just trying to help. But I do get tired of all the talk when nobody does much about the high cost of energy other than suffer at the gas pump.

Gasoline prices continue to rise. The variation in price is somewhat cyclic but they keep going up. The price is affected by usage, production, politics, and environmental situations. It is also affected by production cost including legal fees when a company dumps oil into the sea.

Now, the global demand is changing and countries like China are using more fuel. Russia produces oil but it will continue to increase usage. Our government sometimes threatens to use our oil reserves to ease the cost of oil but they never do it. Our far-flung military operations might need it. It is stowed away underground.

We do not have the capacity to refine oil that we use to have. We love to farm such things out to make the environmentalist happy. They use as much gas as the rest of us but they don’t want a refinery in their neighborhood. Who does? So we don’t have enough control of the refining process to lower cost.

Some say rising cost of oil is just greed. My, how could they say such a thing? Mainly because it is true.

They say if you will keep your tire pressure just right and use the fancy new light bulbs that look like cork screws you will save lots of money. Well, you will save a few pennies.

O.K. Turn your water temperature in the water heater. “Daddy! The water is cold!” Well, walk around the house and turn out the lights. Didn’t we have a president that did that. It wasn’t President Harrison because he was afraid to touch the switches probably with good reason. Zap!

Well there is one way we can bring down the price of gasoline. That is to reduce usage. How do we do that when we have to drive from Santa Barbara to San Diego everyday? Well, we can stop storing gas for the oil refineries. When they see the drop in volume they will drop the price.

Most of us don’t have to have a tank full of gas to go about our business. Say tomorrow all of us put only half the gas we need in our tanks. Instead of filling that gas hog with 30 gallons at a cost of $120.00 or so, we put in 10 gallons. Let the refineries decide where they are going to store that extra 20 gallons. Maybe you can tell them where to put it. Become a gas miser today!

We also use a lot more motor oil than we need. My owners manual says to change the oil every 5000 miles. So I go into the dealer for an oil change and he puts a sticker in the window saying to change it in 3000 miles. Well, tell your dealer to read the manual.

I have a friend who owns several gas stations in New Jersey. He changes his oil filter every 5000 miles but he changes the oil only every 20,000 miles. Have you seen the motor oil ads on television showing a motor running for the equivalent of 100,000 or even 250,000 miles with no damage to the motor? Well, that’s the oil you want to buy. Stop changing that oil every other month.

Some will say that the oil breaks down. Not according to the testing. Some say it needs to be cleaned. That is why we have an oil filter. Some say that it collects water or other chemicals. Buy an additive if it makes you feel better. Just cut back.

Do keep your oil level up. Your engine will be unhappy if you don’t.

Fly Old Glory!