Member-only story
Nobody Misses Full-Service Gas Stations
As a Gen-Xer, I’m old enough to remember the last gasps of the full-service gas station in most of the US. When I was in elementary school, just about every gas station offered only full service. I remember when my parents would pull up to the gas station pump, wait for the attendant, and tell them how much gas they wanted and what they wanted to have checked. Standard service included getting the windshield and mirrors cleaned but you could also get the vital fluids checked and topped off — oil, brake fluid, antifreeze, and transmission fluid. They would also top off the windshield washer fluid. You could have them check your tire pressure and add air to the tires that needed it. When everything was done, you paid the attendant, gave them a tip, and drove off.
By the late 70s, most gas stations switched from full-service to half-and-half. They had one set of full-service pumps and another set that was self-service. The full-service side was slightly more expensive, like 10–15 cents more per gallon, plus the tip you were expected to give. Gradually, more people started using the self-service pumps with their cheaper gas and didn’t seem to mind not getting the windshield cleaned or getting the fluids topped off and the tires checked. By the time I became a licensed driver, all the gas stations in the area had become self-serve. The motorist was responsible for checking the…
