First off let me stress that if you have a new car under warrenty you must follow the manufactures requirements for oil changes to keep your warrenty. With that said lets save tons of money.
If you are like so many people in this country you drive an older car and you do not need to worry about all that warranty crap. There is absolutely no reason you need to change your oil every 3,000 miles. Why is that you ask? The true reason 3,000 miles is recommended is because your oil filter needs changing. The filter has a life of about 3,000 not your oil.
First off you need to spend a few extra bucks and buy a good synthetic oil. Many of these oils will last anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 miles. Read the bottles, do some research. Get a good oil filter, look for sales of course and you are set. Keep track of what oil you bought so you can always use the same and around 3 or 4 thousand miles change the filter and top off the oil level after you run the motor for a couple minutes.
Lets see your savings, an oil change at one of the lube places will cost you somewhere between $30 to $60. You have the oil changed by them 4 times a year, that is $120 to $240. In that year if you do the change yourself and do it my way, after your initial oil change, it will cost you one filter and a quart of oil for that year. That would be about $10 or so. Quite a damn good savings!
As I said do the research yourself and make up your own mind. If I really have to tell anyone this that is into surviving, learn everything about your car or truck that you can. Why would you pay someone else to check your power steering or add washer fluid. Do it all yourself and save a hell of a lot of money!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Practice Makes Perfect
That is the one saying that was always drummed into us when I served in the Army. Practice, practice and practice some more. I read many blogs and sites about survival and the one thing I seem to never see is practicing. You may have all the best expensive stuff money can buy, but do you know how to use it?
When was the last time you made dinner using some of those nice freezed dried dinners you have stashed away? The directions say to use 2 cups water, are you sure that is the right amount for you? Maybe 2 cups is too thin for your tastes or too thick. How about using your sterno stove, how long does it take you to boil water?
How about all those nice medical supplies you have? Have you ever made a splint? How about a turniquite? Can you do it on yourself if there was no one around?
When was the last time you practiced putting on your gas mask? Did you know according to military regs the filters and rubber disks are to be replaced at regular intervals? Have you ever tried to put on a NBC suit? Have you ever used your rad meters?
When was the last time you went out in the woods and actually built a shelter? How about building a good fire pit? Every once in a while set a weekend where you will spend 2 nights out in the woods. Take your b.o.b with you and truely survive. Go to different areas and get use to how everything works. Do not cheat! Pretend it actually happened and you NEED to survive! Personally I do this this when I go for weekend fishing trips, deer hunting, trapping season and I always try to find rough areas to set-up camp to test my knowledge.
If you have children, involve them. Kids love to play doctor, so to speak. Teach them how to use the bandages, splints and stuff on you, they will love it! Make a game of it as long as they are learning. When the shtf your child might be the only one around to save your life.
When was the last time you made dinner using some of those nice freezed dried dinners you have stashed away? The directions say to use 2 cups water, are you sure that is the right amount for you? Maybe 2 cups is too thin for your tastes or too thick. How about using your sterno stove, how long does it take you to boil water?
How about all those nice medical supplies you have? Have you ever made a splint? How about a turniquite? Can you do it on yourself if there was no one around?
When was the last time you practiced putting on your gas mask? Did you know according to military regs the filters and rubber disks are to be replaced at regular intervals? Have you ever tried to put on a NBC suit? Have you ever used your rad meters?
When was the last time you went out in the woods and actually built a shelter? How about building a good fire pit? Every once in a while set a weekend where you will spend 2 nights out in the woods. Take your b.o.b with you and truely survive. Go to different areas and get use to how everything works. Do not cheat! Pretend it actually happened and you NEED to survive! Personally I do this this when I go for weekend fishing trips, deer hunting, trapping season and I always try to find rough areas to set-up camp to test my knowledge.
If you have children, involve them. Kids love to play doctor, so to speak. Teach them how to use the bandages, splints and stuff on you, they will love it! Make a game of it as long as they are learning. When the shtf your child might be the only one around to save your life.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Political Ads On TV
First off I am just sick and tired of all this crap on tv. I realize they have the right to advertise and let the voters know about the campain but enough is enough! Almost every ad I see on tv is an ad that is trying to destroy the oponent.
First, if you are running for an office then let me know what the hell you can do, not what the other person can't do! Slander ads should be outlawed.
Second, all these slander ads are counter-productive. Are politicians and thier campain people that stupid?
Here is a run down of the ads from my area:
The whole ad has a huge picture of the oponant they are trying to slander. Most times it includes his party and his name also. The whole ad talks about how bad this person is. It is not until the very end of the ad that the person running for office is mentioned and in small print (compared to all the other print in the ad) is the "good guys" name.
Here is how the average voter will see this ad. Most americans care more about "Idol" than real voting. The only thing they will remember from this ad is the "bad guys" name and THAT will be the person they will vote for. They will walk into the voting booth and look over all the names of the people running and they will remember the biggest face, the biggest name and the ad they see the most. They will vote for the person the ad was not for only because of a minimal attention span when it comes to politics.
First, if you are running for an office then let me know what the hell you can do, not what the other person can't do! Slander ads should be outlawed.
Second, all these slander ads are counter-productive. Are politicians and thier campain people that stupid?
Here is a run down of the ads from my area:
The whole ad has a huge picture of the oponant they are trying to slander. Most times it includes his party and his name also. The whole ad talks about how bad this person is. It is not until the very end of the ad that the person running for office is mentioned and in small print (compared to all the other print in the ad) is the "good guys" name.
Here is how the average voter will see this ad. Most americans care more about "Idol" than real voting. The only thing they will remember from this ad is the "bad guys" name and THAT will be the person they will vote for. They will walk into the voting booth and look over all the names of the people running and they will remember the biggest face, the biggest name and the ad they see the most. They will vote for the person the ad was not for only because of a minimal attention span when it comes to politics.
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