Polite and helpful full-service gas stations are still around

Q Thanks to your reader who is looking for gas stations that offer full service. I hope his plea helps because I’m looking for one. — Jane Alvarez, San Jose

A It has and here we go.

Q It’s worth the drive to the 76 station in the Rancho Shopping Center on Fremont Avenue in Los Altos. They are very polite and helpful, and even fill the tank and wash windows for women on Wednesdays. — Kathleen Hobson, Los Altos

A There are more 76 stations on our list. Q

There is a full-service gas station on the corner of Willow and Meridian in the Willow Glen area. It’s a family owned 76 station. — Betty Wong, San Jose

A And a little further south …

Q Ben’s 76 on Redmond and Meridian in the Almaden Valley offers full service.

— Merlin Dorfman, San Jose

A Up to the East Bay.

Q The Flying A station on Bryant Way in Orinda has full service and they do not charge extra for it. … If your reader gets his car worked on regularly at a dealer, they will probably happily check his oil and tire pressure, especially if he doesn’t come at the busiest time of day. … Les Schwab Tire on Lone Tree Way in Brentwood will check your tires free. Just pull around near the bays and ask. Good service, good will.

— Allen P. , Aileen Walton and Betty Gaughn

A Good service, good will. Can’t beat that combo.

Q Go to Costco. They have free nitrogen (better than air for your tires). Just pull up outside the tire shop and ask to check your tires.

At the new gas station in Santa Clara they have also installed a “Air Station” next to the tire shop. Very convenient. — Steve Joesten

A And there’s more advice.

Q One of your readers wrote about the difficulty in finding a gas station with a working air compressor. I used to have the same problem but I solved it for $22 after a search on ebay for a portable one which I carry in the car. … You can get a portable air compressor for about $35 at various stores (OSH, etc.). It plugs into the lighter socket. … A floor-standing bicycle pump works fine for car tires. Not fast, but maybe faster than driving around looking for a station with a working pump. Just be sure you get one that fits Shrader valves, not the skinny Presta valves found on most nicer bicycles. — Ed Weiss, Dale Allison, Jonathan Blum, Fred Arredondo, Jim Sullivan, Dennis Caldwell and more