Some of the small desert towns near me still have pay phones. Ca requires gas stations to supply free air to paying customers.
tire inflators at all the gas stations are closed down?
- Thread starter The motor guy
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QT has free air, every other station that HAS air is either 2.50 for some pressure that wouldn't fill a balloon or the machines do not work. I have a compressor so it doesn't really matter to me except for this one time about a year ago I picked up a nail between my house and my girls house. I plugged it but needed air. Station 1 I stopped at ate my quarters but didn't give me any air. Station 2 was one of those weak sauce compressors. I think I got 5-6lbs of air the entire 2 minutes or so it ran.
So irritating. Lowes free air noted. Thanks @skyactiv
So irritating. Lowes free air noted. Thanks @skyactiv
Really? They started doing more than just selling gas, as long ago as I can remember. What's next, no windshield squeegie buckets, windshield washer fluid or oil for sale, no trash cans, not even beverages in the store?
I can excuse them doing away with car washes since that isn't a critical function, takes up a lot more real estate, and can damage the vehicle, but back in the day I was getting free car washes with every fill up.
I see it as a draw to get and keep customers, having more than just the bare minimum of gas, though it didn't surprise me when most changed to pay air pumps, years ago. It seems reasonable for funding their upkeep and yet, it also seems reasonable to offer amenities like free air to draw customers.
These days, I just figure their broken state is a combination of the younger generation of managers that are apathetic about keeping up with repairs, along with a shortage of maintenance techs during and after covid. At least when they are pay pumps, a customer is more likely to complain when they don't work, so station staff is made aware of that.
Heh, it wouldn't surprise me if these days, there is some app to help find stations with air pumps. Gasbuddy app is supposed to have something like that, but I've never tried looking them up or explored that topic any further.
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Because everything is getting worse (for consumers) all the time. Something something late stage capitalism
I asked the local gas station why they were installing pay air stations and they said it was because of inflation.DOH!Got a tire inflator from Walmart a few years back and it's still going strong.Never fails the first cold snap we have of the season the tire pressure alert comes on.
Quick Check has free air also.Wawas have 2 air pumps, but usually only one is working
I use a 20 dollar 12 volt compressor to inflate my tires to the desired pressure. Amazon.
So… 4 equals “all”??
You checked four stations, and didn’t see one, so, it’s “all”?
They are not as common any more. But they are out there. Wawa, as mentioned, has them.
Discount tire will check yours, even if you’re not a customer.
You checked four stations, and didn’t see one, so, it’s “all”?
They are not as common any more. But they are out there. Wawa, as mentioned, has them.
Discount tire will check yours, even if you’re not a customer.
I was with a friend last week and his car needed washer fluid and air in one of the tires. We went to a random Chevron gas station and paid $5.99 for a gallon of washer fluid ($1 more than at the auto parts store, so not a horrible markup) and asked for air. They activated it for free and it worked great. No gas was purchased (he has a Bolt too) but they clearly didn't mind us using it.
So my data point of 1 is only slightly worse than your data point of 4 but I would say that gas stations do still have air and it works well and it's even free if you buy something else and/or ask nicely.
So my data point of 1 is only slightly worse than your data point of 4 but I would say that gas stations do still have air and it works well and it's even free if you buy something else and/or ask nicely.
would guess that many of them were defective, and of course were a pain to use.
It's a far cry from the days I was a gas jock at the Mobil station. I loved that job!
Most Canadian Tire still offer free air unless its in a real sketch area.Here in Canada it's the same story.
We used to have several gas stations with free air. The last to offer it was Chevron.
These days if you can find one, they are all pay as you need.
Like others in this thread, I've also resorted to the portable type you plug into the "cigarette lighter".
Works great and gives fantastic pressure, especially when the engine is running.
Costco is free if you are a member. They have compressors by the tire parking usually.
Similar story here.
Only I don't like topping up the high pressure spare with it. It seems to overwork the pump
I highly recommend the Milwaukee M18 compressor.
I have 3 vehicles, two tractors and four garden tractors plus a ZTR that I used to have to drive to my stationary air compressor. Now I can just walk to each and it's a quick job.
I have 3 vehicles, two tractors and four garden tractors plus a ZTR that I used to have to drive to my stationary air compressor. Now I can just walk to each and it's a quick job.
Maybe they're maintained by the same people who don't replace the receipt tape and don't keep the washer buckets and paper towels filled.
