Calgary Jeep Association

General Forums => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Matt4x4 on March 29, 2015, 10:40:43 PM

Title: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Matt4x4 on March 29, 2015, 10:40:43 PM
Everyone seems to be charging for air now, where are there places that offer free air?
Centex on Elbow is where I go for.....free air!
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Dingleberry on March 30, 2015, 01:48:00 AM
Plenty of gas stations will allow you to use the air for free after purchasing gas.

Why not just buy your own compressor?
Title: Re:
Post by: AstraX on March 30, 2015, 11:21:08 AM
Didn't realize air was such a hard thing to come by.  It isn't free for them to run and operate the compressors, why shouldn't they charge?
Title: Re: Re:
Post by: BUKI on March 30, 2015, 12:00:04 PM
Didn't realize air was such a hard thing to come by.  It isn't free for them to run and operate the compressors, why shouldn't they charge?
I completely disagree. Everybody is trying to nickel and dime the average consumer to death. Air should be free, a simple gift to people that religiously fill up at the same location. What does that air actually cost them. A penny, 0.25$.  Why do they need to make up to 1000% profit from it. Now the exception to the rule is the non profit versions that are for charity. That, I'm completely on board for. I understand a lot of the price is probably for the dick heads that abuse the air station (don't put the hose back in an organized way, drive over the hose etc). Please if you find a free air station, treat it with respect.  You may have discovered the last unicorn.
Title: Re:
Post by: BUKI on March 30, 2015, 12:17:29 PM
And to add to that. Kal tire, fountain tire, etc offer free air. But as Dingleberry said. Get a compressor. You need one for airing up anyway. After Airing up 4 35" tires and dropping 6$ in a machine, that's the quarter of the price of a crappy compressor for free air anywhere.
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: LLYJ on March 30, 2015, 01:25:35 PM
The Petro Canada's in Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise have a "free air" button behind the till, they will turn it on if you ask nicely


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Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Elver on March 30, 2015, 02:05:02 PM
I can't understand why they charge for the air. I'm from Brazil and all the gas stations have free air. On top of that, almost all of them use digital air stations where you put the pressure # you want and the machine will beep once the configured value is reached. I never saw one of those digital stations here in Canada... they are awesome!

I have my own compressor, a cheap one (45/50 bucks), but you have to remember they are not totally "free" as mentioned above. Most of the times you have to keep the engine on when you are using it and they may take 3-5 minutes per tire to reach the right pressure.
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Dingleberry on March 30, 2015, 02:52:14 PM
... but you have to remember they are not totally "free" as mentioned above. Most of the times you have to keep the engine on when you are using it and they may take 3-5 minutes per tire to reach the right pressure.

So you used 50¢ of gas to fill your tires :P
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Pookapotamus on March 30, 2015, 07:24:56 PM
Calgary main AMA has a pump that is free for members.
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Vinman on March 30, 2015, 08:52:39 PM
Just spend five bucks in gas and kill 45 mins or so come out to Okotoks and you can use my air for "free".
Then after that, you can swing by Strathmore on the way home and fill up to save .02/liter on fuel.
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Black Betty on March 31, 2015, 06:10:00 AM
One gas station owner explained to me it was to help pay for the cost of hose and handle on the end.  People don't give a crap about it, leave it on the ground , drive over it etc.  She had 4 or so handles stolen in the span of a couple months.

I bought my own compressor finally.  $25 for a 1977 Folney.  It purrs like a kitten.  Maybe hydrostaticing the tank is a good idea lol.
Title: Re:
Post by: w squared on March 31, 2015, 12:20:33 PM
Hydroing that tank is just as smart as driving to okotoks to use Vince ' s air. If you are concerned, throw a new tank on it.
Title: Re:
Post by: Vinman on March 31, 2015, 10:37:51 PM
Hydroing that tank is just as smart as driving to okotoks to use Vince ' s air. If you are concerned, throw a new tank on it.

Hey!!!! Whats wrong with my air?
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Elver on April 01, 2015, 08:31:58 AM
So you used 50¢ of gas to fill your tires :P

You can either spend $1 to use the air station for about 5 minutes or spend $0.50 in gas using your own compressor for about 15 minutes. Still not free  8).
Title: Re:
Post by: w squared on April 01, 2015, 08:32:20 AM
It's the best air in okotoks.....but it IS in okotoks. Plus it has been contaminated with LJ cooties.
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Black Betty on April 03, 2015, 08:32:58 AM
My Grandad used to drive 1/2 hr out of town to save $0.01/L for gas, never did understand that. 
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: EEP on April 08, 2015, 10:45:43 AM
If you don't like Vinces free air, the okotoks co-op gas bar has free air, also cootie free!
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: DGenR8 on April 09, 2015, 06:16:13 PM
All CO-OP gas bars have free air.  8)
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: Matt4x4 on April 16, 2015, 11:14:12 PM
I went to Centex in Midnapore, took FOREVER to get an extra 5psi into my tires.
Need to run them at 80psi, I tried to get it from 40 to 45 but was gunning for 80. Gave up after 20 to 30 minutes of getting an extra 5psi into all 4 tires.
Nice ladies in the store tho!
I remember the old gas station at Sunterra on Elbow. That was a quick tire fill.
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: vantagetes on April 18, 2015, 08:41:30 PM
What on earth do you have that requires 80 psi in your tires?  :o
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: DGenR8 on April 20, 2015, 01:17:08 AM
80 psi is what the door sticker says for the rear tires on my 1 ton.
50 psi front 80 psi rear
I run 50 psi all around unless I have a substantial load.
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: raf2379 on April 20, 2015, 06:53:57 AM
free air is everywhere, just have to bag it yourself. The cost at some stations is maintenance of that equipment or purchase, its business and its only a few cents. instead of air hopping why not get your self a portable air compressor, viarr or whatever the brand name is.
Title: Re: Free Air......Where?
Post by: w squared on April 21, 2015, 02:43:09 PM
(http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/bicycle-pump-11164246.jpg)
Title: Re:
Post by: BUKI on April 21, 2015, 03:52:47 PM
By looking at 90% of the members, I think we should all be using that to fill our tires
Title: Re:
Post by: Dingleberry on April 21, 2015, 05:16:37 PM
By looking at 90% of the members,

Quit peeking at me in the shower!