Best Lithium Battery Jump Starter with Air Compressor
Get the NOCO Boost Air if your engine is a gas 8.0 L or a diesel 6.0 L or smaller: it has the compressor built in. If your engine is bigger than that, buy a jump-only pack and a separate compressor.
- NOCO rates it at 2,000 A, with spark-proof and reverse-polarity protection, and its compressor reaches 100 PSI and stops on its own at the pressure you set. If you want a different combo pack, the best 4 in-1 jump starter with air compressor page is the one to read.
- Your engine is bigger than that: buy a jump-only pack and keep the compressor separate. For the jump pack, get the NOCO Boost X, the pick for big engines at 4,250 A.
- You run truck-size tires and need the compressor to go with that jump pack: get the Viair 400P-A. It's rated for tires up to 37 inches and reaches 150 PSI. If you only need a compressor, the best portable air compressor page is the one for you.
Skip the Stanley, the JNC660 and the DXAEJ14. All three are sealed lead-acid, not lithium, and each weighs 17.5 to 18 lb.
Staying charged in the car comes down to three habits. Recharge about every three months, and monthly if the pack lives in a very cold car, because lithium is better served by frequent charging. Pull the pack indoors in summer, since lithium-ion batteries shouldn't sit in hot vehicles. Retire any pack that swells.
Deep cold is the other limit. With the car and pack both at 0°F, none of the packs could start a weak or dead battery, so bring the pack inside on those nights. A frozen pack needs warming before you plug it in, because lithium charges only at or above 0°C.
If you shop beyond these picks, look for a UL 2743 listing.
Set tire pressure from the label on your driver's doorjamb, which carries the proper cold pressure, and never exceed the maximum on the tire. For jump starting, follow the pack maker's instructions and your vehicle's manual.
Questions
Which lithium jump starter with a built-in air compressor is best for most engines?
The NOCO Boost Air is the pick if your engine is a gas 8.0 L or a diesel 6.0 L or smaller, because it has the compressor built in. NOCO rates it at 2,000 A, with spark-proof and reverse-polarity protection. Its compressor reaches 100 PSI and stops on its own at the pressure you set. If your engine is bigger than that, buy a jump-only pack and a separate compressor instead.
What should I buy if my engine is too big for a combo jump starter?
Buy a jump-only pack and keep the compressor separate. The draft recommends the NOCO Boost X as the pick for big engines at 4,250 A. If you also run truck-size tires, pair it with the Viair 400P-A, which is rated for tires up to 37 inches and reaches 150 PSI. That setup covers both jobs without relying on a combo unit.
How often should I recharge a lithium jump starter kept in my car?
Recharge it about every three months, and monthly if the pack lives in a very cold car, because lithium is better served by frequent charging. In summer, pull the pack indoors, since lithium-ion batteries shouldn't sit in hot vehicles. Retire any pack that swells. These three habits are what keep a pack ready when you need it.
Will a lithium jump starter work in freezing weather?
Not reliably in deep cold. With the car and pack both at 0°F, none of the packs in the Consumer Reports testing could start a weak or dead battery, so bring the pack inside on those nights. A frozen pack also needs warming before you plug it in, because lithium charges only at or above 0°C.