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Hello Minor problem compared to others but I wonder how long these compressors/Seal kit last. I had to replace one with the 2013 volt and now the one with my 2015 Volt broke. At the switch. I was expecting this one with the 2015 to go as it was laboring alot after 35PSIG where the units with the 2013 hummed right along to 42 PSIG. Actually the unit reads about 45PSIG to get 42 PSIG on the tires. You have to overshoot what pressure you want to see on the display. I think I checked this a few years ago with a hand gage and the display is more accurate then the compressor gage.
 

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12v inflation devices blow lots of fuses and have very short lifespans. Compressors make hot air, hot hoses, hot nozzles, hot meters. Hence the higher pressure displayed. NEVER run them for more than 1 tire until they have completely cooled to room temperature.

Use CO2 cartridges. Trust me. Way better. Way faster. Dry air instead of wet.
 

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I'd only use the GM supplied compressor when in a bind on the road. When at home, I use a heavier duty air compressor. For those in the market for an air compressor, I am amazed at how quiet a California Air compressor is.

https://youtu.be/uWYAj-JsSbg

My wife used to jump out of her shoes every time she happens to walk by the garage and my old Coleman compressor would jump into action. Eliminating the fear of instant death due to compressor induced migraines is a good thing.
 

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These are not beefy units. They are intended for emergency (that means, "rare") use. If you instead use the emergency air compressor regularly, expect an early end of life. Buy a heavy duty air compressor for about $150 if you want something that can handle regular top-offs, nail guns, blowing off lawn tractors, etc.
 

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Discussion Starter · #6 · (Edited)
These are not beefy units. They are intended for emergency (that means, "rare") use. If you instead use the emergency air compressor regularly, expect an early end of life. Buy a heavy duty air compressor for about $150 if you want something that can handle regular top-offs, nail guns, blowing off lawn tractors, etc.
Hello and thanks. My experience indicates that your correct. I was wondering how they could make a compressor so small without sacrificing something. I went back to the manual to check and see what it says. The only words that indicate it is for emergency use only, is where it says to turn on the emergency flashers. Which would assume your stranded on a road someplace. Unless I missed something. I did get got caught missing something before in the manual. I snickered at the one sentence that says 'there may not be a spare tire'. Not sure how many GM cars are coming without spares.

With less and less stations having air pumps it looks like we should all have air compressors now.

I am surprised this has not been mentioned before. Or at least I could not find it with a search. The idea of using these small compressors/sealers instead of spares is being seen in more and more cars.

In any case I was able to get a new one with the 2013 Bumper to Bumper warranty (less then 35K) and will try again with this one for the 2015 Volt. It should be covered but it is not specifically called out in the warranty sections
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
I actually just got a notification for this which might be a better option for emergencies.

https://tinyurl.com/hd5ag2o

It's kind of an all in one from newegg thats a jump start device and includes an air compressor attachment. For $60, it's kinda hard to go wrong.

60$ is not a bad deal. it lists a cycle life of 1000 times. But it's so small. How could it be more durable then the one that comes with the car? One answer would be if they use a better off/on switch then GM does.
 

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12v inflation devices blow lots of fuses and have very short lifespans. Compressors make hot air, hot hoses, hot nozzles, hot meters. Hence the higher pressure displayed. NEVER run them for more than 1 tire until they have completely cooled to room temperature.

Use CO2 cartridges. Trust me. Way better. Way faster. Dry air instead of wet.
Use CO2 cartridges only in emergency situations. Never use the C02 cartridge to regularly inflate your tires, once tires are inflated with a C02 unit air, air will dissipate through your tire. you will notice a noticeable loss of air overnight having used the C02 cartridge. If you do use a co2 cartridge, I would then deflate the tire and refill tire as your normally would do once you get to a safe spot.
 

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60$ is not a bad deal. it lists a cycle life of 1000 times. But it's so small. How could it be more durable then the one that comes with the car? One answer would be if they use a better off/on switch then GM does.
I think the cycle life is charges for the main battery unit. I certainly wouldn't rely on that unit for regular usage to top off the tires, but great for a backup emergency situation. And with the additional capability of being able to jump start the car, $60 is cheap peace of mind.
 

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I think the cycle life is charges for the main battery unit. I certainly wouldn't rely on that unit for regular usage to top off the tires, but great for a backup emergency situation. And with the additional capability of being able to jump start the car, $60 is cheap peace of mind.
only good to use if the car tire is low but no canister to plug the tire, not that those canisters ever worked for me.
 

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Personally I'd rather just carry around a can of fix-a-flat anyway. Cheaper and easier to get than the OEM canister and certainly more reliable than some of the horror stories I've read on here about them failing to even get the goop into the tire to begin with.
 

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Use CO2 cartridges only in emergency situations. Never use the C02 cartridge to regularly inflate your tires, once tires are inflated with a C02 unit air, air will dissipate through your tire. you will notice a noticeable loss of air overnight having used the C02 cartridge. If you do use a co2 cartridge, I would then deflate the tire and refill tire as your normally would do once you get to a safe spot.
Why do you say this? Plain air is mostly nitrogen, with a molecular size of 155 picometers. CO2 has a molecular size of 232 picometers. It should dissipate LESS.
 

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C02 is soluble in rubber and not constrain by normal permeation loss, it can transfer through the bulk of the rubber resulting in severe pressure loss. We use C02 cartridges because constrained in a moderate pressure cartridge other gases would require a much more dense cartridge to constrain the gases. Anyway and all stories have an anyway C02 is a quick option for quickly pumping up the tire but loss of pressure is real and takes place in a very short period of time.
 

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C02 is soluble in rubber and not constrain by normal permeation loss, it can transfer through the bulk of the rubber resulting in severe pressure loss. We use C02 cartridges because constrained in a moderate pressure cartridge other gases would require a much more dense cartridge to constrain the gases. Anyway and all stories have an anyway C02 is a quick option for quickly pumping up the tire but loss of pressure is real and takes place in a very short period of time.
Got it. That got me to the right references and a new thing learned for the day. Thanks!
 

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Holy Crap! Someone actually takes that stupid compressor seriously. I needed to use it once..... ONCE and it was such a turd I through it away.

Stop playing around with toys, and get a compressor. A real one, designed for purpose not cost savings.


I'm truly shocked someone is disappointed by this China Sweat shop made piece of $hit.
 

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Discussion Starter · #19 · (Edited)
Hello I used to take it seriously cause the manual did not warn me, although it sure looked like it was gonna break soon. In any case I will still try to get another, like I did before under the warranty. I was hoping a got a bad one the first time. No so luck. Took away our spare tire and give us a mickey mouse air pump. Surprised i have not seen complaints about this on other threads. OH well.
Heck they are making alot of other things smaller, thought for a bit they they could with this.

Holy Crap! Someone actually takes that stupid compressor seriously. I needed to use it once..... ONCE and it was such a turd I through it away.

Stop playing around with toys, and get a compressor. A real one, designed for purpose not cost savings.


I'm truly shocked someone is disappointed by this China Sweat shop made piece of $hit.
 

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Discussion Starter · #20 ·
Hello For anybody out there that does use the Mickey mouse air compressor, It is warrantied by the 35000 mile warranty. What will probally happen is the switch will break. Do not tell them (The others/Dealers) that it broke, you have to say the switch malfunctioned. If you say the switch broke they will TRY and call it pyhsical damage (Like dropping it from a 10 story building) and it will not be covered.
I think I am the only one who ever admitted using this thing???? I have never seen much about it before. So for what it worth that is how to get a new one. But it sure did not look new to me. Oh well at least I got one, so can you.
 
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