Free Air on filling station forecourts ? ? ?

[st4]

I thought air = blowouts...

No curry = sudden blow out....

 

[219]

Costco were selling quite a decent looking 12V compressor - looked a bit better than the cheap rubbish ones the petrol stations sell for a fiver , but this was £20 or £30 ......

 

[219]

For a heavy duty compressor then try the RAC 900. It is too powerful to plug into the 12v internal socket. You need to plug it directly onto your battery.

Ring Automotive RAC900 Heavy Duty Air Compressor | lovetyres.com

That looks not unlike the one I saw in Costco - but 3 times the price

 

[d w124]

Will 20p break the bank???

Is not all about the money,but such big company`s should not charge
The last time It turns I had no change on me,went to use the cash point and it was out of order

 

[219]

I have a 'proper' compressor in my shed , and an airline which reaches down the drive - I use it for various air tools , as well as checking tyres at home - I just keep the tyre inflator on the end of the line so that it is always ready to use .

On the rare occasion I need to put air in away from home I would use a garage , but checking regularly at home , can't remember when i last used a garage airline .

 

[npuk]

We use the RAC630, the Ring ones were rated well in a car magazine group test. Car Accessories - Tyre Maintenance - Air Compressors - Ring Automotive

That's OK if you happen to have one, I fumble around looking for the pound for the shopping trolley that I keep in the ash tray. Then remember last time we used it my wife returned the trolley and whoops where did that go?
Don

You need one of these: MERCEDES SHOPPING CHIP KEYRING - A C ML B CLK SLK AMG | eBay

 

[oldcro]

You need one of these: MERCEDES SHOPPING CHIP KEYRING - A C ML B CLK SLK AMG | eBay

Thanks for that, I received one of those key rings from Mercedes and never new what why the removable ring emblem was for. Unfortunately neither of our supermarkets use the £1 coin trolley releases any more.

 

[A150]

That looks not unlike the one I saw in Costco - but 3 times the price

There are TWO versions of the pump I mentioned. The one whereby you plug directly onto your battery. And this one.......

 

[npuk]

RAC700 is the above. Car Accessories - Tyre Maintenance - Air Compressors - Ring Automotive

 

[jaymanek]

the reason the garages charge is because those dispensers are around £2000-3000 to buy and the hoses and fittings regularly get pinched.

 

[jaymanek]

I have two of these, one at work, one at home, its the nuts

12v 4 x 4 Air Compressor - Car Accessories > Tyre Maintenance > Air Compressors

 

[jefrs]

Got one of these

Halfords | Michelin Hi-Power Rapid Tyre Inflator

Very good.

But I use a separate high quality gauge to check the air pressure...

+1

That's the one, excellent machine. Accurate gauge too, even as accurate as my high-quality gauge. Plus it fits inside the well of the spare.
A foot pump is just too laborious with big tyres, and inaccurate.

I was under the impression that if you buy air it has to be fit for intended purpose i.e. accurate to permitted standard for tyres, but if it is free you get what you pay for.

 

[crockers]

Is not all about the money,but such big company`s should not charge
The last time It turns I had no change on me,went to use the cash point and it was out of order

Didn't know cash points dispensed 20p coins


I use one of these

http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/product_detail.asp?prod=1886

 

[timskemp]

Ring RAC600 wins lots of tests, I have one, it's small and pretty quick.

 

[snoop51]

I just carry a battery powered compressor in the boot all the time with a tyre gauge. It's lasted for 5 years so far including, tyres on 4 cars (mine, wife's, son & daughters), footballs & a few inflatables. IIRC it cost me about £15 which is a bargain in my eyes.

 

[ironsheik]

You need one of these: MERCEDES SHOPPING CHIP KEYRING - A C ML B CLK SLK AMG | eBay

Sweet.. Im going to have to buy one of these....

 

[bolide]

I stopped in a motorway service station in the snow at Christmas. A foreign driver could not understand why he was being asked to pay for air and water for his car

I flat refused to pay for water - I borrowed a bucket, filled it from the constantly-running tap with sheets of ice under it - and topped up my washer bottle that way

He put £1 in the machine and no water was dispensed as the machine was frozen

Why do we put up with this sh*t in this country?

Nick Froome

 

[Charles Morgan]

Least we don't pay for a pee though.

 

[jefrs]

Got asked to pay to pee once. Some roadside place in Scotland. They made a mistake though, the loo was in the middle of some woods. Me and two dozen others diligently watering the trees on principle.

 

[christopherwk]

Least we don't pay for a pee though.

Not yet though, wouldn't be surprised if they start to charge in the near future, like they do in most London main-line railway stations (30p).