What startles me is that few people pay attention to what is happening around them. From the time gas prices started their steep climb sometime in May until now, Americans stopped buying SUV's and pickup's (at least, those who had no reason to buy one (surbanites, as opposed to farmers or landscapers, etc), and people have cancelled vacations, some have started driving a bit slower and some are biking or taking the bus/train. Not just Americans, I believe people all over the world made these adujustments. Not surprisingly, oil traders added these factors into their calculations, and the price of barrel of oil fell from $149 per to $122 per. So Obama's comments have real world proof right in front of us.
The problem is we need to do all we are doing and more, to conserve enough for our children to make the transition to using even less oil.

My father was selling AmsOil back in the early 80s so I think it's a product that's been around since the 70s at least.

I started putting synthetic 5W-30 and later, 0W-30 in my '98 Civic about six months after I bought it (used with 25K miles on it).  I saw an immediate jump in mpg from about 37 mpg (driving carefully, cruise control 60 mph) to 42 mpg under the same conditions.  The other benefit is that the oil change interval is every 25,000 miles instead of every 3,000.  It also protects your engine better than conventional motor oil.

Using AmsOil in my little Civic has saved me a lot of gas over the past eight years.  Had I been driving a bigger vehicle, it probably would've saved me even more.

Il faut cultiver notre jardin.

People lose something like 14% of all their gasoline because of evaporation because they don't tighten their gas caps or the seals are worn.

The logic inconsistencies here make my head hurt. This is a real apples and oranges discussion. Efficiency and gas savings impact the amount of oil used. Independent of that, expansion of offshore exploration will impact oil imports for the US. If we could save 20% of our gasoline needs, additional US production would further reduce imports. I'm no great fan of new offshore development at this time (I'd rather save it for later) but the "We don't need it" argument doesn't seem to be a reason.

I'm also bothered by Joe's casual logic in the amount of savings available. It seems to assume that all cars can save the % suggested when these are clearly the worst case items. I know I can't save anything with a tuneup, proper inflation, correct oil, etc because that's already been done on my cars. Some savings are possible but the real paybacks only come from driving less and more fuel efficient cars.

Most people want to save energy (and their money).  They just don't know how.  Sure, there are  green websites, pamphlets, TV blurbs and Time Magazine that tell them how, but it just doesn't stick.  What we need is person-to-person instruction.  FREE.  Paid for by the Federal, State and Local governments.  Trained Conservation Agents to meet one-on-one and explain how to conserve.   Here's four proposals:

Tire Agent    The Tire Agent visits approved parking lots: at shopping malls, offices, condos, gas stations, etc.  He has a portable tire inflator.  If the car has the Tire Agent Sticker on it (e.g.  "TAS 38 PSI"), he checks/inflates the tires.  Let's see how that might work:  250 M cars in the US.  Do half every year = 125 M.   Each Agent does 20 cars an hour, 6 hrs a day = 30,000 cars/year.  Therefore, we need 4,500 Tire Agents.  Mileage improvement = 3% max, 1% average @ 10,000 miles/year @ 15 mpg @ $ 4/gal = $ 26 savings per car.  Net savings = $ 750,000/year/agent!  Speaking as an engineer, that's a pretty good cost/benefit ratio.  Gas stations won't like it, but how many times have you dropped $ 0.50 into their air machine and only managed to inflate two of your four tires?

Car Agent    These agents would work at the approved gas stations.  When a car pulls in for gas, the agent offers a FREE performance test.  He hooks up portable exhaust analyzer, and in only 60 seconds, hands the driver a printout:  "You need a tune-up;  you need a new air filter; you need new spark plugs.....If you do this, you can save $ 500 a year in gasoline!".  Let's see:  250 M cars in the US.  Do half every year = 125 M.   Each agent does 10 cars an hour, 6 hrs a day = 15,000 cars/year.  We need 9,000 Car Agents.  Mileage improvement = 40% max, 10% average @ 10,000 miles/year @ 15 mpg @ $ 4/gal = $ 250/car.  Net savings = $ 3.8 M/year/agent!  While the customer pumps his gas, the Car Agent discusses good driving techniques.  Here's one I like:  "Always drive as if you have a raw egg under your foot.  Press lightly on the gas and brake!"  The Agent gives the driver a white plastic egg to hang on his rear-view mirror.

Business Agent        Visits businesses, especially the large energy users.  Looks over their energy use and recommends improvements.  Once ain't enough.  Visit again to review progress.  Wait six months, go back again for follow up.  The Energy Consultants won't like this one, so the Govmint pays them for their initial visit, and maybe they get a contract to implement the recommendations?  Could cost millions, but would save billions.  

House Agent    Visits residences.  Examines ways to save.  Has a box of CFL's (only $ 1/each!).  Wan't to cut shower costs in half?  Install a quick on/off valve at the shower head (Agent has several with him ... only $10).  Check out 101 ways to save Energy.  Could cost millions, but would save billions.  

again Obama is talking down on us, first tells us how to be better fathers and parent now... "get tune ups and keep your tires inflated". he must think we are idiots. when fuel was 1.50 i was checking my tires. now that gas is 4.00 i am sure that every body has done all the easy things to save fuel . only changing driving habits is going to save oil and why should i have to change my habits this is america.