Used to be easy to get air for a tire at a gas station. But now it seems like these air pumps all have so much "Idiot proofing" on them that they spend 90% of the time checking the pressure, not once, but twice in a row, and then doing a "test run", checking it twice again, and once it is "satisfied" it *might* put in 5lbs of air only to stop and repeat the process again.
I remember the days when you checked your own pressure (or they had a ballpark gauge on the the thing) because that's what you do, most stores sell air gauges for that exact reason. I just think the air service pumps are so much of a nightmare when you do have to use them (I have an electric but today my cord didn't reach to the back so I was forced to use one of these atrocities).
I don't know who is going around recklessly over inflating their tires, but whoever it is has ruined it for everyone else and enshitified the self-service air stations all over the world. Now thanks to them, it could take up to 15 minutes to get 30lbs of air into a tire. In the winter it is even worse.
Seems like half of these pumps are not clip on anymore either. For "safety" force you to hold it onto the air stem in place, which is a real nice addition when its 20F outside and windy and forget trying to use gloves because the thing is so small you have to take em off or else it falls out of place or you have to be superman to hold it without losing half your air in the process. If you don't have enough arm strength you might end up leaving with *less* air than you came with out of frustration.
When I think of how this came about I can only imagine angry moms insisting that their kids can fill their bike tires and not accidently ruin their tire because they aren't smart enough to notice the tire is now twice the size it should be or tractor drivers using the "but that could kill me if I overfilled it" angle... but wait, isn't this is a fuel station? Whoever you are, thank you for making these "modern" air pumps at the gas station a living nightmare! Almost makes you want to use the out of date ones that cost 3$ to operate....almost.
I like those automatic pumps. The old ones with the gauge in the hose were hard to read. By the time you figured out what you were looking at through the scratched up window, the new pump would be beeping to tell you it’s done.
The first test run is so they don’t blow out your tire if on a bicycle.
Most quick lube shops will top it off for free
I bought an air compressor on Amazon for about $35. Runs off the cigarette lighter DC plug. Works great.
Sad Mazda 3 without-a-cigarette-lighter noises
Invest in a cheap air compressor and never have these problems again
Those pumps are right up there with the gas stations that don't even have an air chuck on the line. (Because the tweakers keep stealing the chuck to make pipes)
Had this problem recently with a friend who discovered a slow leak on her tire. Rather than go through the headache of changing it, as it still had a decent amount of air in it we limped down to Costco (closest place) to air it up enough to get her to the tire shop. Biggest fustercluck I've ever dealt with trying to get that stupid pump to work. Had to fool it into working by putting it on one of the full tires briefly just enough for it to check the pressure, then run to the low tire before it reset so you could actually use it. Why this stupid method? Because on the low tire it sensed "low pressure". Wtf!? That's why I'm here, damn it! 🤬
Do they not have the flat tyre button?
OH MY GOD YES, I JUST HAD TO DO THIS, so fucking annoying to have to release pressure on your full tire to just start it for a flat tire, why don’t they have a flat tire setting?!?
I tried the ones at Costco and I got so frustrated at it not being intuitive that I left and went to Belle Tire for free air.
I spent $25 on a small pump that runs on my 12v outlet - never again gas station air pump, never again.
I remember gas stations just leaving their air hose out for customers, or POTENTIAL customers too, they (if they have a mechanic shop) run their compressed air all day - costs them nothing to leave a hose out.
By my childhood vacation home. I remember the Exxon mechanic shop had two hoses outside . A high pressure and a low pressure hose . One for like bicycles and one for filling tires . I believe it was because you could drive on the beach but they'd make you deflate. Your tires a bit for access .
I had to air up my tires recently so I went to the gas station across the street, and it was a giant comedy of errors.
I remember when all of the gas stations provided free air. Then some of the more expensive stations started charging for it, but the truck stops still had free air. Now even those have been converted to pay to play.
I don't mind so much the automated systems, they're quick and convenient to use. You set the pressure and let it do it's thing. It is easier than having to keep switching back and forth between the fill and the gauge, only to find it has been overfilled and have to let a bit out, then that was too much then have to add more again. Sure, it's not hard to do that, but certainly less convenient than setting the target pressure and letting it work.
Because everywhere charges for air these days, I bought a DeWalt pump that uses the same batteries as all of my tools, or worst case it can plug into a cigarette lighter socket if I don't have a battery handy. It's automated, too, so I just set the pressure where I want it, screw the hose onto the schrader valve, and hit the Start button. Super simple, super convenient.
My favorite thing about those is it may be broken...but you're not gonna find out until you pay.
Go to a tire shop.
Every single shop will put air in your tire for free if you ask because it's a potential sale.
And most can't get all 4 tires within 5lb of eachother - its amazing. After an oil change (they check my tires too) , my car is like 35-32-38-34.
Now I just tell them 'Dont touch the tires'.
They’re retourque your wheels too. I always swap my winters on the drive down the block to the tire shop and tip them a few dollars.
Oh, fancy pants having a full set of winters.
What kind, btw? Tire nerd.
I work at an auto shop and am trying a set of Laufenn I FIT ICE studded tires. They wear nice, grip pretty well for the price.
Oh, shit, studded? We can't have those here. But, in all fairness, it's flat as fuck.
Man, I miss the gas station that used to just leave an air hose next to the garage bay.
Or at both ends of every pump island.
Along with water for your radiator.
Just get your own. Not the kind that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket, the kind that’s shaped like a power drill and takes Dewalt batteries.
If you leave it in your car for use during "emergencies" it's almost a guarantee that the lithium ion battery will be flat or completely dead the first time you need it.
I had to rescue a friend last week who bought a rechargeable jump-starter. I told them to set a 3 month reminder in their phone to top up the battery, because lipo cells slowly self-discharge over time and if the voltage gets too low they won't recharge again. They didn't believe me so changed it once the first time they bought it then left it in the car for two years, and it was dead as a doornail first time they really needed it.
Handheld ones might be faster if you use them regularly, but 12V plug-in ones are best for emergencies.
What’s wrong with the first kind?
I have one. It’s loud and slow but it works.
Because they’re slow af. Better than nothing but damn do they take forever to do even one tire. Also, I don’t wanna be stranded with flat tires AND a dead car in case shit shortens out.
Well I don’t want to charge a battery remotely and I don’t want a lithium battery in my hot car in the summer.
If my engine is running the cigarette lighter is working
If my engine isn’t running then a flat tire is moot
Either way, better than hoping for a working gas station pump or standing in line at discount tire.
Is that your way of saying I’m right?
Yes, was that not obvious? Whether you use your preferred method or me using mine, either way is better than the gas station or discount tire.
This is the answer. OP, if you're spending that much time and money on air refills often enough for this to annoy you, it's worth the one-time expense to buy your own tire inflator. Take it from those of us who have been there.
Juat buy a portable air pump.
Hit discount tire instead. Get to stay in your vehicle while the tires are getting filled.
I don’t think think this is enshittification I think it’s just that people are really really stupid and are hurting themselves with out guard rails. I saw a post not long ago about someone misunderstanding the indicator light about tire pressure in some way (I forget the exact problem) and they tried to inflate the tire to like 80psi or something which it’s supposed to be like 30. I had a manual for a moped made in the 70s once and it had everything you’d want to know including pretty difficult things like setting the timing. I went to help a friend with a modern plastic one and the manual didn’t cover anything. If the carb is dirty take it in to the shop for example. Every little thing down to change a light bulb “take it to the shop”. People have been dumbed down and the real enshittification is manufactured products like this that are essentially disposable.
If you can afford it, I highly recommend buying a 12V portable air compressor for like $30-50 and keeping it in your trunk. I’ve had enough slow leaks over ownership of 3 cars not to mention tire pressure drops with decreasing temperatures, so having one handy saves a lot of time over the years.
The ones in my city are almost always not working, because drug addicts cut the tips off and smoke out of them.
The solution is buying a small rechargeable tire pump and keeping it in your car. They don't cost much and they're worth every penny.
Thank you for that explanation. That explains so much
This is it. After I drove all over only to find broken air pumps, I bought a small portable air pump that plugs into the cars lighter port and it’s been amazing. That thing has saved the day, a handful of times.
1 day my wife was driver her dads car and she got a flat tire. I rolled up to change the tire and the spare was flat. Luckily I was able to fill it while I removed the flat. Was so happy I had it.
I think this is good example maybe not of enshitification but of idiot-proofing and over design gone wild.
Discount tire will fill them for you free, even if you didn't buy the tires there. Don't even have to get out of your car, they have a drive up section.
Sheetz ftw if you're in the Mid-Atlantic. Simple and free.
Because it’s one of the few free ones left it’s completely overused and often broken.
If you have a Costco (w/ a tire center) near you, go there and fill up your tires with the nitrogen gas they use. There are free standing pumps in the parking lot.
You don’t need be member. No one cares. No one checks your membership.
IT IS FREE
Otherwise, go to Harbor Freight and get a pump. It will pay for itself with how much gas stations cost.
I agree with everything else you said though.
Lowe's stores also have a free, simple air station, by the Pro entrance. It's not fancy Costco air, but it's there and fits the bill.
yes, i got two HF oil type of compressors. the small 6 gallon easy to move around and fills fast if you use synthetic compressor oil up north. the synthetic oil is all temperature and hassle free. or else i use the gas station and it IS a hassle. Kind of have to hold the filler hard and lose a lot of air, but oh well in a pinch it works after a lot of fussing with the thing.
of course they went to low pressure prolly cause people blow up their tires i suppose; but common sense is not reliable in the public much. at least we have some way of filling tires. best to just get your own pump of some kind, cause things prolly not going to get much better.
There’s so few places that are still free. Thanks for the tip!
A lot of stations have a button the attendant can press inside that makes it turn on for free. You just have to ask.
My Kroger gas station does this.