Slime Multi-Purpose Inflator
advantages
Little
Cheap
Works for tires and toys.
Cons
High
Cables/hoses difficult to repackage
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Automoblog earns on qualifying purchases, including the tire inflator shown here.
Just like a jump starter, keeping a small air compressor in your vehicle can save your life. Here in Michigan, one of my tires will inevitably be low during the winter. These annoying bead leaks trigger my TPMS light every few days until I can properly service the tire. Instead of slug quarters at the gas station to inflate, I decided to buy a little Slime inflator.
12V Slime Inflator: Quick Take
The Slime Inflator pictured here (called the “All Purpose Inflator”) only cost me $40 on Amazon. I bought it with no intention of writing a review, but to keep it handy in the harsh winters in Michigan. Since getting it I have used it twice for my car and another four times between friends and family. I am happy with the performance of this little slime inflator and it would be nice to recommend it to our readers.
what it offers
It’s practically ready to go right out of the box! The storage compartment on the back of the unit houses the 12V power cord and two air hoses: a high-pressure hose for tires and a high-volume hose for things like rafts and mattresses (a needle is also included for balls). Next to the green on/off switch is a PSI and BAR indicator (zero to 100 for PSI and zero to 7 for BAR).
12V power cord
The 12V cable plugs into the accessory power source (ie cigarette lighter) in the center console or dash. The power cord is 10 feet long. That should be enough for the average sedan or crossover by the time you feed the wire out the window or door so the inflator can hit the ground. From there you should be able to reach all four tires easily.
The only caveat is if you own a larger SUV, like a GMC Yukon or Ford Expedition. You can use the outlet in your center console or on your dash for the front tires, but it probably won’t reach the rear tires. If you have an outlet in the rear cargo area, use it for the rear tires. The actual high pressure air hose will also give you an extra two feet.
Inside the 12V power cable is a fuse. If the Slime inflator stops working, unscrew the top of the wire and replace the fuse.
Led light
An LED light on the front, consisting of four smaller bulbs, automatically turns on once the Slime Inflator has power. Although it’s best to have a separate LED flashlight in an emergency kit, the inflator light will help you at night if you need to recharge a low tire.
inflate portal
The inflation portal below the power button is for things like rafts and air mattresses. Attach the high volume air hose to the portal and you are ready to fill your giant rubber ducky pool inflatable.
Using the slime inflator
Slime says the all-purpose inflator can inflate an average tire in about eight minutes (it’s faster, though, if you use it right after the TPMS light comes on, which is preferable). The unit is very noisy once you turn it on, so it can vibrate and rattle a bit. I recommend keeping your hand on it while you fill your tires. Also, put your vehicle into its accessory power mode instead of having the engine running to supply power to the Slime inflator (this is an old safety trick I learned working on an express lube when I was younger).
If your tire is completely flat, it may have separated from the rim. If that’s the case, raise the car up a bit before using the inflator. Otherwise, the air will continue to leak out as you fill the tire.
Is the 12v slime inflator a good buy?
Although you have to be a Tetris champion to reattach power cords and air hoses to the storage compartment every time, the Slime Multi-Purpose Inflator is easy to use. I bought it on a whim because it was cheap, but I’ve had good luck with it ever since. As of this writing, it is available on Amazon for around $40.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. He is a member of the board of directors of the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, a former president of the Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal fan of the Detroit Lions.
