Forcourt air line's

[real4star]

Would you use one?

The Land Rover has been feeling a bit more roly poly than usual lately so I decided to check the tyre pressures today.
Stopped at a (JET) garage which had a sign that said 'Free Air & Water'
Glossing over the 'insert 20p' instruction on the ancient compressor ('we've been meaning to take that sign down for ages, but the water is still free!... no we don't stock anti-freeze')
I inserted my 20p and held the nozzle to the valve, squinting through the scratched and foggy perspex window on the dial the pressure reading... red smudge?
Being a chunky 7.50-16 Land Rover tyre, and not wanting to waste my hard earned 20p (That could have paid for tomorrows SUN newspaper), I inflated the tyre till I had 2&1/2 block treads on the floor, the side walls weren't bulging out and the tyre tread was flat to the ground.
I assumed this meant it was inflated about right (not over or under) and the gauge on the nozzle now read 'black splotch'
All four inflated to the black splotch ... all four 2&1/2 blocks to the floor. At Least now they're all the same pressure.

I got lucky and was able to use the visual cue of the tread on the floor to guesstimate the correct pressure... checked at home, bang on 26psi (tyre manufacturer recommends 25-28, Land Rover 24-28 unladen) The steering is lighter, there's less road noise and I swear she's accelerating better.

I don't know how the woman in front of me with the pale blue Xsara Picasso knew her pressures were right with an unreadable gauge... took her long enough (and about 80p)

I know these lines aren't precise (IIRC up to 10% out usually) but isn't providing one that you can't read at all at best annoying and at worst down right dangerous?

Edited by real4star on Sunday 10th March 21:55

[Alucidnation]

Buy a 12V one from Halfords.

I use one of these...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Lucas Ayde]

real4star said:

Would you use one?

I wouldn't trust the readings on any given forecourt airline as I've found them to vary wildly but they are handy for getting air into the tyre compared to using a mini compressor or getting a footpump out. I have a handheld digital pressure meter (AA branded, bought for a fiver in Tesco so no idea if it's actually accurate either) so I just pump in 3-4 psi over according to the air line meter, then let air out until it goes down to the target according to the handheld meter.

As I said, not sure exactly how accurate the handheld one is but at least it's consistent no matter where I fill the tyres. It seems to do the job as if I use it to inflate the tyres to manufacturer recommended levels I get good results (grip and economy).

Anyone know where one might find a guaranteed properly accurate air pressure meter so as to calibrate it?

[Alucidnation]

Not sure you can.

I use a manual gauge to check occasionally, and the auto pump seems pretty accurate most of the time.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Horns]

I just use my bike pump.

[real4star]

Still trying to find a quality heavy duty, non commercial (hugely expensive) grade 12v compressor. It's awkward in a 53year old Land Rover, no cigarette lighter socket (two pin plug instead) and those massive tyres can knacker the cheap ones in minutes.

Edited by real4star on Sunday 10th March 22:33

[s2sol]

real4star said:

Would you use one?

The Land Rover has been feeling a bit more roly poly than usual

It's a bit rich to admit that you've let it get that bad, and then complain that for 20p, you don't get military precision.

In answer to your question, yes.

In response to your tedious story, if you don't like them, do something else.

[Alucidnation]

Hmmm good point.

You might have to go the route of a dedicated static compressor at home in the garage and then build your own airline with the gauge.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

[V6Alfisti]

Buy an accurate tyre pressure reader like the 9.99 halfords one that was reviewed by autoexpress, then you can use the air and check the actual pressure.

I use this in conjunction with a battery booster/pump when it just needs an extra bar or so.

[aw51 121565]

V6Alfisti said:

Buy an accurate tyre pressure reader like the 9.99 halfords one that was reviewed by autoexpress, then you can use the air and check the actual pressure.

I use this in conjunction with a battery booster/pump when it just needs an extra bar 14.5psi or so.

Edited for pedantry ; regardless, a cheap foot pump plus cheap pressure gauge, both from Hellfrauds or any similar outlet, FTW ...

[sebhaque]

Used them twice, once when I had a slow puncture and was driving to the tyre shop, another time when I was getting my car MOT'd and my spare was obviously flat. Didn't know whether spares were checked or not so thought 20p was worth spending and whacked a few psi in the tyre. Both times the pump I used had a digital psi readout on both the nozzle and the main unit itself - the second one I used was a bit fancy and you could programme in a certain psi, and the unit would light up red once you'd reached it.

I've always wondered why garage owners install the fancy air pump things, consumers can buy their own cheaply and the return rates can't be that impressive on forecourt pumps - I'd have thought they'd have installed one or even two el cheapo air lines insead of that big box thing and saved on some money.

[traffman]

I was told ages ago that the pumps that charge you are the ones that are usually calibrated.

Not sure how true that is , but i have checked the pressures via a gauge before and they tend to over read.

Mind that accurate tyre pressure readings are only gained when the tyres are cold.

[deltashad]

I have one of those small, cheap, 12v lighter pumps. I'm on my second one as the first burnt itself out after about a years use.
Two of our cars have slowish punctures so its kind of needed.

I did however check the tyre pressure after use against a forecourt digital pump and it was massively over pressurised. About 5psi higher than stated on the small pump. So now it gets used to put air in, but not for accuracy. They are crap.

[Mr Happy]

I haven't seen an analogue air line on a garage forecourt for years now... they all seem to be the ones with the digital display that you preset your desired pressure, put the nozzle on the valve, and wait until it beeps to let you know it's at the requisite pressure.

Dead easy, I'd assume it would be fairly accurate and no hassle. Costs 50p for 5 minutes of air...

[Jayfish]

Sainsbury still free round here, other than that I'll use the track pump for my bike.

[Digger]

Race X tyre pressure gauge and a Halfords leccy pump work for me.

[TheTurbonator]

I use the Shell one right next door to work. Only use it after I finish work and because the distance is so small, the tyres are still cold when filling them up and checking the pressure.

Have found it to be pretty accurate but it may be 1 or 2 psi out. When I get new tyres, I always tell the fitter to inflate them to about 40psi and then as soon as I can, I check the pressures after work. The machine always say they're around 40-42.

Also have a cheapo digital gauge I got from Asda, 40 on the Shell machine is 39 on that.

It's had a 20p sticker on it for years but you used to be able to get away with just putting 10p in it for some reason.

[wildcat45]

In response to your tedious story, if you don't like them, do something else.
[/quote]



Really, is there any need for sniping? Who gains from it? If it bored you, don't read on, don't respond.

It isn't the most interesting of tales. It is however something I have wondered about. We all have vehicles with tyres. The OP is getting plenty of responses.

Not all of us drive tall vans in need of paint. Now that IS a subject to set the forum on fire!

[ctdctd]

I don't use them - just let the dealer blow the tyres up at the annual service.

[V8RX7]

real4star said:

Still trying to find a quality heavy duty, non commercial (hugely expensive) grade 12v compressor. It's awkward in a 53year old Land Rover, no cigarette lighter socket (two pin plug instead) and those massive tyres can knacker the cheap ones in minutes.

I bought a proper (relatively speaking) compressor from Aldi - with loads of air guns, paint guns and tyre gauge for £80

Great for tyres, inflatable swimming pools, air beds and painting the fence, shed, wax oiling the car etc