Gas station air pumps (automatic type)

[Joe1]

I've never had any luck with these air pumps where you set the desired PSI and it auto fills. I've set the pressure to recommend, 10psi higher than recommended, flat tire setting etc, and most of the time the ending psi is lower than what l started with. Air does not seem to enter the tire for me, but others are always using them. Most without their own pressure gauge.

I usually use an air compressor at home or go to a station with free air from an old school type inflator, but was curious to know if others have had luck with these types of air pumps. l sure haven't. The video below has the type of pump l am referring to.

 

[Donald]

I thought they were pretty accurate but have not done any real testing. Just my impression. But I see them with bags over them to indicate broken more than you would see for an air hose and a tire chuck.

 

[Aredeeem]

I had to bite the bullet and buy a compressor I can use at home. To have to wait at one of these free air WAWA pumps is beyond maddening. It’s a combination of dolts who think their check engine light is a TPMS light that they’re determined to extinguish by putting 60lbs in or the guys with the not so slow leak that top off every day instead of getting a tire repair. Can’t take this over populated state any more

 

[Joe1]

To have to wait at one of these free air WAWA pumps is beyond maddening.

Lol. I stopped at a Wawa for coffee on the first cold day of the fall last week and there were 8 cars waiting in line for the air pump. The pumps look nice and all, but they never seem to actually inflate my tires so l never use them.

 

[Aredeeem]

But to answer the question I have found them to be fairly accurate. I have two Nissans that are very sensitive to cold snaps. That explains that 8 car line you encountered. A quick walk around setting everything to the pressure on the door jamb resets the TPMS. I bought a Mickey Mouse husky from Home Depot that works just as well.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

When something annoys me enough, I change the way I'm doing it / could be a Country Western Song in there some where.
I went from having a noisy tankless compressor and using an Analog Dial Gauge , to ...

My NEW Compressor ....


My NEW Digital Air Gauge ....


I have a Thermometer in the garage, and when the temperature changes 10 degrees, I check the tire pressure.

 

[Aredeeem]

That Country Western Song is too late for me, already married 47 years. But I guess I could get a thermometer for the garage.

 

[Skippy722]

The ones I’ve used match the TPMS system readings in my cars exactly.

 

[jagdriver727]

They’ve never worked well enough to be worth the $1.50 to me, I usually end up with less air than I started with.

Then again, I’m usually trying to fill a light/medium duty truck tire with a leak. For passenger cars they may work better.

Anymore if I get a leak on the road I just pull up to a Sam’s Club/Walmart tire center and use their compressor, nobody’s said a word to me yet though I’ve gotten some funny looks.

 

[Leo99]

Lol. I stopped at a Wawa for coffee on the first cold day of the fall last week and there were 8 cars waiting in line for the air pump. The pumps look nice and all, but they never seem to actually inflate my tires so l never use them.

Same thing at my local Wawas. I bought an inflator for $30 off Amazon and I'm not reliant on Wawa or waiting in line for 30 minutes for free air.

 

[92saturnsl2]

One of my tires developed a slow leak while on a cross country trip, and I had to stop for air at a Sunoco station in New Hampshire. It was the first air pump I've ever seen that was completely free! And first I've ever seen with the automatic pressure setting.

It worked perfectly. Set it to 36 PSI and that's exactly what I got on the TPM dash reading, which I've compared to a traditional gauge before, so I know it's accurate. Most hassle free air-top up I've ever done.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Costcos around here have installed inflators. I haven't used one. I check the tires at home and I have one of those little hot dog Harbor Freight compressors to throw in the truck when I go help someone.

I might check out a Costco infaltor soon. Just for fun...

 

[A_User55555]

I like these. These seem to work pretty well.

In the Tri-State area, Mavis Discount tire has these machines for free.

Generally these work good, but one time the machine was not accurate. I set the machine to fill up to 35PSI. When I was done, my TPMS sensor showed 40PSI. My tire gauge also confirmed the tire was 40PSI.

 

[walterjay]

I have had trouble with WAWA air pumps being acurate. The last time I used one it actually deflated my tire by a few pounds. I have a nice small compressor that I now use.

 

[Egg_Head]

When something annoys me enough, I change the way I'm doing it / could be a Country Western Song in there some where.
I went from having a noisy tankless compressor and using an Analog Dial Gauge , to ...

My NEW Compressor ....


My NEW Digital Air Gauge ....


I have a Thermometer in the garage, and when the temperature changes 10 degrees, I check the tire pressure.

I bought a new HF Fortress air compressor after some low-life stole my old one. He did me a favor because the Fortress is sooo quiet, love it. Life's too short to suffer with a noisy air compressor.

 

[Aredeeem]

MasterSolenoid that’s a nice compressor set up you have. Mine is very lightweight and a bit noisy too. We’ll see if it holds up to occasional use.

 

[Rand]

The ones at Getgo (giant eagle's gas stations)
work quite well.

you have to set the pressure. then hold the inflator to the valve stem.. it will automatically sample how much air is in tire several times to determine the size of the tire and how much air needs added.. then beep when complete.
if tire is nearly flat they have an override button for flat tires.

 

[Joe1]

The ones at Getgo (giant eagle's gas stations)
work quite well.

you have to set the pressure. then hold the inflator to the valve stem.. it will automatically sample how much air is in tire several times to determine the size of the tire and how much air needs added.. then beep when complete.
if tire is nearly flat they have an override button for flat tires.

Maybe it is operator error on my part. I will be more patient next time l try.

 

[Wolf359]

I used to use them. They seem pretty accurate. The ones on the Mass Turnpike are free and BJs also has free air. But that means the lines for them can be long at BJs, never really a line on the turnpike. Anyway got tired of waiting for those lines at BJs and got a Ryobi tire inflator for around $20. I already have a bunch of batteries so it's been really handy these last few years. Every time the temperature drops like now, it's time to top up the tires.

 

[Aredeeem]

Maybe it is operator error on my part. I will be more patient next time l try.

There is no patience where I live. Try taking your turn at the compressor with a 8 car line behind you. Your every move scrutinized. Valve cap rolls away? Don’t even think about looking for it. Nose in to do the fronts and then back in to do the rears cause you don’t know the accordion hose reaches all four? You’re as good as dead. They didn’t film the Sopranos here by accident.