why are coin service station compressors so bad?

[edwardh1]

some dont work at all, some barely get up to pressure, and some seems real slow to have , many seem to leak at the "nozzle" where you push it onto the tire valve.
seems to me like a problem thats never been fixed here in "Merica".

A station owner told me people keep stealing the end attachments , and I guess a service station at night does not want their inside compressor connected outside if a leak starts- then burns out the inside station compressor.
Most of these units suzz- are they China made? or get too much abuse?

 

[dparm]

Too much abuse, and there's not much incentive for the owner to spend money maintaining them.

Any time I need air, I just drive up to the local Discount Tire for the free check and tell them what pressures I want. My apartment also has a car wash bay in the garage that has a compressor, but it too seems to be broken most of the time.

 

[Rolla07]

Buy your own ; problem solved!

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Buy your own ; problem solved!


Agreed.

You can even get little portable compressors that will be fine for most apartment dwellers. Then you don't have to worry about broken service station compressors or taking the time to go to a tire store for something as simple as air.

 

[Donald]

My guess is a company pays the station a % to install a self service air pump. I have seen one run by a charity. They also seem to be pretty low pressure so it takes awhile and maybe multiple sets of quarters if you have to do a few tires.

The best I have seen are all digital and it adds or subtracts air, then measures then adds or subtracts. Mavis Tire and a Hess station have them where I am.

Also you always need to bring your own gauge (thats accurate) unless you find one of the digital machines I mentioned, they are snot on.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I use my own. Not many free stations around here any more.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: dparm
My apartment also has a car wash bay


That`s awesome!

 

[racer12306]

Finding a good one definitely takes some searching. I found one at a Sunoco in town that is good for tires, but not for filling an air tank, pressure doesn't go high enough to make it worth it. I can fill all four tires for $0.50. I overfill then adjust down carefully.

For a couple PSI adjustment I just use the 12V powered compressor that I keep in the car for emergencies. I have a Slime one that will inflate to a preset pressure. I've heard the Harbor Freight compressors are really good.

 

[Michael_P]

If you live in a humid area, moisture is a huge problem with these. 99% of them do not have line dryers on them. The tire shops and most auto shops use line dryers. I have seen tires removed containing a few tablespoons of water causing rim beads to oxidize. Then you don't have a proper air seal on the bead and you are running out to the gas station to get more air and compounding the problem. If you have 50 cents to burn, go to one of these air stations and put a key on the chuck to let air out just to see how wet the air is.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Most of then at service stations near me have non-functional or NO water separators - so you are installing an ounce of water or thereabouts when airing up here. No good for most tpms.

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: Michael_P
If you live in a humid area, moisture is a huge problem with these. 99% of them do not have line dryers on them. The tire shops and most auto shops use line dryers. I have seen tires removed containing a few tablespoons of water causing rim beads to oxidize. Then you don't have a proper air seal on the bead and you are running out to the gas station to get more air and compounding the problem. If you have 50 cents to burn, go to one of these air stations and put a key on the chuck to let air out just to see how wet the air is.
I think you just hit on why DRY NITROGEN is considered superior to compressed air-won't cause rust on the inside of steel wheels.

 

[Dave Sherman]

Originally Posted By: Michael_P
If you live in a humid area, moisture is a huge problem with these. 99% of them do not have line dryers on them. The tire shops and most auto shops use line dryers. I have seen tires removed containing a few tablespoons of water causing rim beads to oxidize. Then you don't have a proper air seal on the bead and you are running out to the gas station to get more air and compounding the problem. If you have 50 cents to burn, go to one of these air stations and put a key on the chuck to let air out just to see how wet the air is.


This is why I don't use them. Last one I tried to use actually spat out water. I've seen too many that have broken chucks too. I use the big compressor with a moisture trap to charge the portable tank, and that's all I use for filling tires. I even removed the valve once to inspect the inside of the portable tank, no water after years of use and no rust.

 

[eljefino]

If the o-ring doesn't seal well on your valve stem hock a loogie on the stem... or moisten it some other, more sanitary way.

Convenience store air, IMO, is for the same people that buy Double-X brand ATF. Lacking planning ahead then running into an "emergency." It boggles my mind out in California where every gas station seems to have air and "radiator water".

 

[Fleetmon]

The water that a lot of the station compressors adds to your tires also affects tire balance over time.

 

[crw]

The best ones are usually free, and very hard to find. In my area we have a chain called Flying-J, and they cater to truckers as well as the general public. At my closest Flying-J I can find a professional setup. I used it just this morning in fact, as on my vintage BMW there is one wheel that looses air over the course of a month.

 

[kb01]

I gave up on the convenience store tire inflators a long time ago. They're always inconvenient, broken, or screwed up in some other way.

I now keep a Viair 70P in my wife's car and a Black & Decker ASI300 in mine. My last few flats have also been slow enough that I've gotten away with just topping the tire off and driving to a tire store for a plug.

As an aside... I highly recommend the Viair. It's quiet, very fast, has a long cord w/inline fuse, and comes in a carrying case.

 

[Rand]

I was looking at those compressors (viair)

looks like you got the biggest one I'd run off the cig. lighter.

All the faster models you probably have to use clamps at the battery.

I think 22amp would blow my lighter fuse (90P model)

Getgo gas stations (Regional-owned by giant eagle)
Have really nice automated air compressors.
you push a couple buttons to set psi..
and it automatically fills and checks your tire until the pressure is reached.
Haven't seen water shooting out the end of the chuck either.. Like the ones at SHEETZ.(ugh)

That all being said.

I have this Campbell Hausfeld I picked up on clearance for 79$. I then sold my reliable but horribly slow HF 3gallon for 35$ on craigslist

If its humid out. I'll fill the compressor and let it sit for a day .. then fill the tires.

I've been very happy with the air compressor. Its not a 600$ IR but its build very stout and still light enough I can take it with me to dust out registers and computers. Its oilless which is actually good for what I use it for.

My total out of pocket was about 45$ and I got another hose and set of quick connectors too.

I have a jump pack with a really slow compressor on it that I use for emergencies. Takes about 9min to air up 1 tire and you have to let it sit about 10 min between tires.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

The one I will go to when I don't feel like waiting for mine is about 2 miles away, and it's free.

They use their service compressor for the garage for the free pump.

It definitely gets maintained as they don't want water in their tools.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Donald
My guess is a company pays the station a % to install a self service air pump. I have seen one run by a charity.

That's exactly it. These days, there's no need to run an air line outside when another company will do all the work.

ARCO is right, too, about the water issue.

 

[IndyIan]

I just carry a hand pump now, with my tires atleast, going from 26psi to 32 takes like a minute a corner... No messing around with a 12V compressor, or dragging out my home compressor, and its good for my triceps. Also I borrow a trailer the odd time, so its handy to check the tire pressures and top them up in one step when I pick it up.