Air's not free anymore!

[Monday]

Called in my local Sainsbury filling station to top up tyres yesterday. There is a new tyre pressure and water dispenser - very nice, but it charges 30p for 3 mins of air, payable on a credit card. Similar charge for water I think but fortunately never use that.
I suppose it had to happen. Lesson 1 for the new regime: remove valve caps before waving credit card.

 

[richlumb]

Called in my local Sainsbury filling station to top up tyres yesterday. There is a new tyre pressure and water dispenser - very nice, but it charges 30p for 3 mins of air, payable on a credit card. Similar charge for water I think but fortunately never use that.
I suppose it had to happen. Lesson 1 for the new regime: remove valve caps before waving credit card.

That’s cheap the EG garages charge £1 !

 

[EmilysDad]

garages started to charge for air years ago .... they say at work that compressed air is an expensive thing.

having said that, we also run a huge compressor to keep up with leak!!

 

[DSK]

I have one of these in each car: Heavy Duty Tyre Inflator

Got tired of machines rejecting coins, reading instructions on how to operate and now people using the air stations spaces are their personal long term car parks.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

^+1 I use one of these - brilliant bit of kit

T-Max BA2641 12V Air Compressor for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for T-Max BA2641 12V Air Compressor at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

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[00slk]

Blimey, I haven't used a garage forecourt tyre pump for many many years, don't think I'd know how to use one now
The last time I needed air I found a car spray paint shop and the chaps their pumped up my tyre

 

[EmilysDad]

I have a proper compressor in my garage with a pull/push tyre inflator .... good job too, Emily asked me to check her car's tyres the other day. Should be 32 all round ... a few 20 somethings & one 7psi!!!

 

[keefysher]

ah but, you get the tyres pumped up on an annual service, as part of the fee

 

[S500 Pete]

Called in my local Sainsbury filling station to top up tyres yesterday. There is a new tyre pressure and water dispenser - very nice, but it charges 30p for 3 mins of air, payable on a credit card. Similar charge for water I think but fortunately never use that.
I suppose it had to happen. Lesson 1 for the new regime: remove valve caps before waving credit card.

I use a footpump.
Free air and exercise

 

[s5tuart]

According to my local dealer, having my car serviced there gives me free top ups, a car wash and other free stuff every 3 months

 

[Blobcat]

I have one of these in each car: Heavy Duty Tyre Inflator

Got tired of machines rejecting coins, reading instructions on how to operate and now people using the air stations spaces are their personal long term car parks.

I’ve 2 very similar to those, as well as a more “domestic“ one and the one that came with my SLK. I also have a full size compressor and receiver tank on the garage.

 

[LostKiwi]

^+1 I use one of these - brilliant bit of kit

T-Max BA2641 12V Air Compressor for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for T-Max BA2641 12V Air Compressor at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

I have it's bigger brother that pumps 70Lpm.
I used to use it on my old FC101 Land Rover - the tyres were 36" tall and 9" wide on a 16" rim. They took a lot of air....

 

[Rory]

Costco often have this https://www.amazon.co.uk/1000-Peak-Amp-Jumpstarter-Professional/dp/B07QLGRLD9 for around £70 - I don't think it'd be good for blowing up a lot of flat tyres but it makes topping up effortless.

I've used it to 'assist' starting my car when it hadn't been run for a few weeks (I didn't try without it) and thought the light and USB outputs would be handy if we got a power cut.

 

[mioba]

Yes noticed the same at my local Sainsburys too a month back. It was the only local place with free air and the only reason I use their forcourt.
I was the other side of town and there was a Sainsburys there, they were in the process of upgrading the machine.
Got talking to the chap. Said too many kids knackering the machines and it costs them too much in maintenance.

What I do like is that they are contactless so no faffing about looking for small change and 3 mins is ling enough to do all corners.


I have the lidly job at home, the boot compressors, but rather trust the accuracy of these petrol stations machines that beep when the pressure is acheived.

Have often thought about something for the garage wall but never looked into it in enough detail.

 

[Blobcat]

Yes noticed the same at my local Sainsburys too a month back. It was the only local place with free air and the only reason I use their forcourt.
I was the other side of town and there was a Sainsburys there, they were in the process of upgrading the machine.
Got talking to the chap. Said too many kids knackering the machines and it costs them too much in maintenance.

What I do like is that they are contactless so no faffing about looking for small change and 3 mins is ling enough to do all corners.


I have the lidly job at home, the boot compressors, but rather trust the accuracy of these petrol stations machines that beep when the pressure is acheived.

Have often thought about something for the garage wall but never looked into it in enough detail.

You’re better off with a pen gauge - the type that slide out to show you the pressure. You’ve no idea of the accuracy of a random fuel station.

 

[Nigel Hewitt]

I have it's bigger brother that pumps 70Lpm.
I used to use it on my old FC101 Land Rover - the tyres were 36" tall and 9" wide on a 16" rim. They took a lot of air....

ROTFL.
I had a P38 Rangie and I carried a scuba tank, a regulator and a garage style filler.
I used to need to 'fix' the air suspension with it at times.

 

[rorywquin]

LiIon battery (no mucking about with battery leads, hoses etc), corrects pressure in ~30 sec / tyre, auto cut-off and is accurate ( I have an old school pressure gauge & and incar TPMS to check) . The problem with driving to the petrol station is that the tyres have warmed up & it is guesswork for the correct “warm/hot” pressure, I never trust the accuracy of the meter and there is always moisture in the line.

Before I purchased this little unit, I’d over-inflate and correct the pressures at home after the tyres had cooled off.

I check both cars every couple of months. It is a handy little tool.

 

[rorywquin]

I have it's bigger brother that pumps 70Lpm.
I used to use it on my old FC101 Land Rover - the tyres were 36" tall and 9" wide on a 16" rim. They took a lot of air....

I fitted a ARB compressor inside the rear of my LandCruser 200 Series (some guys had them under the bonnet) & then it was just a case of taking the hose around to each wheel.

 

[DSK]

LiIon battery (no mucking about with battery leads, hoses etc), corrects pressure in ~30 sec / tyre, auto cut-off and is accurate ( I have an old school pressure gauge & and incar TPMS to check) . The problem with driving to the petrol station is that the tyres have warmed up & it is guesswork for the correct “warm/hot” pressure, I never trust the accuracy of the meter and there is always moisture in the line.

Before I purchased this little unit, I’d over-inflate and correct the pressures at home after the tyres had cooled off.

I check both cars every couple of months. It is a handy little tool.

I looked at similar but then thought, it would be sods law the one time I may need it, over and beyond a weekly check/adjust, the battery would would run out

Good to hear of a positive review though and no doubt not having to 'faff' will be good for many.

 

[rorywquin]

I looked at similar but then thought, it would be sods law the one time I may need it, over and beyond a weekly check/adjust, the battery would would run out

Good to hear of a positive review though and no doubt not having to 'faff' will be good for many.

Being LiIon it stays charged. I just top the battery up every other time. However, it also has a cigar lighter/ powersocket adaptor.