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Message |
    
darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 235
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 3:54 pm: | 
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I don't know whatever happened to the days where you could pull up into a gas station, and fill your car's tires with air for free. I guess with the price of gas being as high as it is, the more you keep your tires properly inflated the better gas milage you get and much less of a chance of hydroplaning in the rain. It seems that most of the gas stations around town either don't offer air or now charge a fee to use it. I can't seem to get away without paying $2 each time to fill up my tires with air. Anyone know of gas stations around town that still offer free air? |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3256
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:13 pm: |
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The Exxon in South Orange (on South Orange Ave, near the new Japanese restaurant) has free air. |
mrmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Mrmaplewood
Post Number: 287
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:15 pm: |
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Spring for a portable plug-in air pump. You carry it with you all the time, and if you get a flat, and the spare is not inflated, you are covered. Worth the cost in my mind. About $20 give or take.
By the way, they can overheat and lose power if used too long at a time. |
darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 237
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:53 pm: |
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Any recommendations on the portable air pump? I'd rather go that route and never have to worry again. |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 315
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 5:12 pm: |
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50 cents to pump up your tires shouldn't add up unless you have a problem that would be better addressed by fixing with a patch or new tire.
This used to get me annoyed till I realized that while the air may be free, compressing it and maintaining the machine that compresses it costs something.
The machine down at the corner of Valley and whatever that is near the Memorial Park playground costs 50 cents but at least it is a compressor / vacuum combo and gives you enough time to do your tires plus give the interior a once over with the vacuum.
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Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1039
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 5:16 pm: |
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I use that one; invest in a good quality air gauge and remember that there's about a 4 pound difference between "hot" and "cold" tires - most folks tend to overinflate, in my humble opinion. |
darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 238
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 5:24 pm: |
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Most tire companies recommend that you test your tires and fill them when they are cold, not after you've been driving on them.
I'm not adverse to people earning a living. I just find it funny that something that came along with a fill up now costs extra.
I'm not that old yet (37) however I do remember growing up and pulling into the gas station and getting "Full Service." That meant checking your tires and filling them if needed, checking the oil level, and actually cleaning the windshield. Ah, those were the days....
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upondaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 527
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 6:53 pm: |
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"You can trust your car
To the man who wears the star.
The big, bright, Texaco star!" |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 2278
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:26 pm: |
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Next time you can stop by my house, I'll fill your tires for free. I have a 30 gallon compressor in the garage. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1530
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:37 pm: |
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$2?!? Are you buying Trump Air?
I've never paid more than $0.50 to fill my tires. Several gas stations in the area with air for $0.50. |
darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 241
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:51 pm: |
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The shell station on the corner of Valley and Parker is $.75 and turns off very fast.
It ususally takes $1.50 out of me.
Sportsnut, thank you for the kind offer. Do you have a Porsche there as well for me to ogle over?
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sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 2279
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 9:27 pm: |
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Yes I do and right next to it are the new appliances that will be going into our kitchen sometime in the near future. Some people would rather ogle the appliances than the car.
Actually, the compressor is too big for what I need it for now. I originally bought it to run a HVLP spray gun when I was painting some doors. However, I learned that while it is easy to paint using a spray gun it is hard to do it well. Sometimes I think about selling it and just buying a smaller one, like maybe a 20 gallon or less.
But I agree that spending 2 bucks for air is ridiculous. |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 1976
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 9:35 pm: |
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darren, I hope I'm not stating the obvious. But are you prepping the tires before you put in the coins (.75 is too high, btw, find the .50 compressors - they're all around)? By that I mean, removing all the caps from the valve stems and checking the amount of air in each tire with your own gauge? I find if I do that, I only need to feed the machine once. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3706
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 10:52 pm: |
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I have gone to the old BP Station on Valley by the Park. I don't mind paying to put air in my tires because the guy is usually nice enough to do it for me!
Slight drift - The other day one of my sisters and my sister from Florida were driving up to NY State. My sister driving noticed she needed gas. She pulls into the gas station and sits there waiting.
"What are you waiting for?" Florida sister asks?
"For the guy to pump the gas."
Turns out you pump your own in NY. Of course my sister didn't know how to so Florida sister had to do it for her! |
darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 244
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 12:12 pm: |
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Thank you all for the input and offers. I think I'm going to get a tire inflator that plugs into the lighter, that way I have it on hand at all times. If I check the tires every week as you should, the cost of owning this little tool with be nothing. The boost in fuel economy with properly inflated tires should also make a difference. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12028
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 1:29 pm: |
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I keep a bicycle pump in the car. I buy the kind with the built in gauge, so I know how much pressure the tire has while I pump. This saves time, and no air escapes while measuring.
Pumping by hand takes some time, but I can use the exercise. And it's very handy for when I get a flat, because the spare is always underinflated.
I bought a pump to keep in my wife's car, too.
I figure things can go wrong with motorized pumps, which is one reason I like the manual kind.
You can get pumps like these a bike shops or at mail order places such as http://www.nashbar.com
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darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 245
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 1:41 pm: |
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As my bike riding days ended years ago, I didn't think anyone made those anymore.... thanks Tom. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12029
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 2:53 pm: |
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These pumps are better than ever, and you can even get a good one for $20 or less. Some of them have th gauge at the top end of the barrel, for easy reading. And now they come with heads that work on both types of valves, so I use it for bicycles and cars. It's easier than ever to bring my bike tires up to 100 psi.
One advantage of using a pump rather than going to the gas station is that when I use it in my driveway, I am assured my tires are completely cold.
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Starletta8
Supporter
Username: Starletta8
Post Number: 133
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 3:14 pm: |
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I have a small motorized air compressor that hooks into the cigarette lighter. It's saved me more than once. It's very handy- just turn the car on, plug it in, and let it do its job. I think it originally ran about $35. My tires are perfectly cold when the air's pumped into them, and it doesn't take any strength.
I've learned how important properly inflated tires are. I've had a slow leak for years- something with oxidation around my rims since I choose to put better tires on my car than it's used to. |
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