Do you know how to use a car inflator? Find out what problems to avoid

Every car owner probably has a toolbox in their trunk that contains four basic items: a tripod, a jack, a tire pump, and a cigarette cord. These items are considered essential for traveling by car. During our travels, be it problems with starting the engine, a punctured tire, lack of air or a dead battery, they may be needed.

 

 

Choice without mistakes

Mistake 1: Don't choose single cylinder pumps. Typically these pumps have low power and are suitable for inflating bicycles and light cars, but will not effectively inflate heavy car tires. It is recommended to choose pumps with two cylinders, with a rated power of at least 150W, which will be more practical.

 

Mistake 2: Don't choose pumps with short run times. It usually takes a few minutes to fully inflate a flat car tire. If the continuous operation time is less than 5 minutes, such a pump is not worth buying, as it will be useless - it will be impossible to inflate one tire without interruptions. It is better to choose pumps with a longer operating time, for example, half an hour or more.

 

Mistake 3. Do not choose pumps from unknown brands. Despite their low price, these pumps may not be practical and will simply sit in your toolbox. In an emergency, you will be disappointed. It is better to choose pumps from well-known brands, as their quality is higher, but also pay attention to the parameters. Poor quality pumps will not help in a critical situation. We will not recommend brands; choose for yourself depending on your needs, price and parameters.

 

Use without errors

Having discussed mistakes when choosing, let's talk about how to avoid mistakes when using. These tips are based on practical experience and will help car enthusiasts not run into problems at a critical moment.

 

Mistake 1: Most car pumps are capable of inflating tires by using air pressure to lift the wheel and support the weight of the vehicle without the aid of a jack. However, low power or poor quality pumps may not be up to the task. In such cases, it is necessary to use a jack to pre-lift the tire, otherwise the pump will not be able to effectively inflate the flat tire. Therefore, if the tire does not inflate, do not rush to call for help, but try using a jack. This can save you money.

 

Error 2. Typically, the pump is connected to the cigarette lighter for power, and then turned on to inflate the tires. However, often the power from the cigarette lighter may be insufficient, and the pump works, but the tire does not inflate. In such cases, you need to change the connection point - connect the pump to the battery terminals. In most cases this will be more efficient than connecting through the cigarette lighter. Continuing to use the cigarette lighter may cause overheating and damage to both the cigarette lighter and the pump, causing further problems.