Mobil Gas Station and Car Wash

They have a car wash, which is cool. They recycle the water, which is very cool. The gas is not the cheapest. But the one reason I am writing this review and giving 5 stars is because of your employee, Elaine — the short, middle-​aged blonde woman with copper skin who works the desk inside the Mobil Mart. She is AMAZING. It was a slow build. At first, she just seemed like a really friendly clerk. I came to realize she was much more than that.
I walked in, asking about the price of a pack of Emergen-​C. She promptly asked to see it so she could scan it, and said she needed some herself, then handed it back to me. I then told her that there were 3 items on the shelf which were now just empty boxes. She quickly got out a piece of paper so she could write them down. There were customers in line behind me, so I just gave her the boxes.
I was about to walk out, and asked for the restroom. She was happy to let me into it. I then informed her that the paper towel dispenser was not functioning (this was also not her fault — she was behind the counter). She gave it a quick «reboot» and reported that it was now in tip-​top shape.
Please forgive me, dear reader (and hopefully Elaine’s employer). I didn’t sleep much, so my writing is not at peak condition. But I believe that when it is possible, everyone should serve the greater good. You should leave a place better than when you found it. In businesses, it is even the CUSTOMER’S responsibility to take care of the establishment. I do not hold most people to this standard, because I realize it is extremely high. But imagine, for a moment, the kind of world we would be living in if everyone behaved that way. If we passed on good deeds and service instead of anger and resentment.
Few places is this ‘ideal world view’ of mine threatened as much as it is in a gas station convenience store. The employees are generally unhappy, and rarely eager to serve their customers or their fellow employees. So like most people, I was on guard walking into this store. But everything Elaine did was fast, friendly, and efficient. I was there to serve myself and everyone around me, and she was there to do the same. It was a breath of fresh air.
I told Elaine that I was going to write this glowing 5-​star review, and it was because of her, before I left, in case she never saw it. I am a teacher, and I have learned that reinforcing and rewarding good nature is just as important IF NOT MORE important than punishing bad nature.
As I was driving away, Elaine came out to tell me (with a tear in her eye) that she wanted me to know that she’d been doing this job a long time. That her philosophy was to try to put a smile on the face of every customer who walked into the store. And that she really appreciated being recognized. I got out of the car to give her a hug, but she took a step backward to give me my personal space — a completely understandable reaction. I am a 6’3″ behemoth who sometimes moves like he is 5’2″.
I told Elaine before I left the store and I will tell her again here: Thank you for your service.

Just don’t wash your car here! This is not the car wash, this is machine to get your car wet, nothing more than that. Wasting a time and money.

I’d give them minus 2 stars, if that was possible.
My dirty, but not filthy or encrusted car came out 20% cleaner. That is 80% still DIRTY! It’s a «touchless» car wash. Synonym: useless. Total waste of $ 9. The only way it could be worse is if they did something nasty to your car. They don’t do that, but they do not remotely get it clean in the slightest. A sad joke.

Elaine. Thank you. You save me again. Thanks for helping with the car wash and such. You are always friendly with a warm smile. It really makes my day, especially when I am in a bad mood… You are a joy… Oh, I don ‘t think anyone could and would more knowledge about that station than you… OMG slow down you are a workaholic… lol…We want to keep you around :-)

I would avoid this gas station at all costs! I’ve filled up a few times and they consistantly over charge for gas. What i mean is that the meter says it pumped 10 gallons, but in reality it only pumped 9.8. Yes it only over charges by a small percentage but when you think about how much gas gets pumped out of that station per day, the money adds up. You wont see me buy gas there again.

Expensive gas — yes, but this gas station has a really good and cheap car wash. Its only 5 bucks all day every day. It washes just fine (touchless) and the clerk will give you a punch card — every 6^th car wash is free.

Favorite REAL touchless car wash. NO rails. NO rough towels or bristles. Just a spray arm with high water pressure. The cars get super clean and it’s super affordable. And if you’re ambitious, you can do the interior just outside.

This is my new car wash! The wash does a great job, including the back of my small hatchback, and the gal working there yesterday was cool. Nuf said.
I’m done with Pacific Beach Car Wash. Their machines do a half a$$ job and the manager is a jerk.

It’s an ok car wash but the gas prices are higher than chevron across the street.
Also, the car wash is really powerful when on its high pressure rinse cycle so if you have an older car with weak seals, you may get wet.

always friendly and right next to the freeway!!!

nothing out of the ordinary. its a gas station

This is my preferred gas station. The car wash is fine, and typically rinse the car here in between detailings. It is located across the street from Gelato Vero, so sometimes in the mornings I run across the street while the car is filling up. Yes, my Prius needs its Java too.

i go here based on the location. the car wash is ok, but there’s always a line, which sucks. prices always vary from across the street. meh.

First things first. I love that they are recycling their water now, however the new CAR WASHING MACHINE IS HORRIBLE! That is what i am Unilocaling about right??!
So I went for the $ 7 «middle of the road» car wash package & proceeded. I knew something was wrong when i still saw my front wind shield dirty as I was rolling through the 55 second blow dryer. And another thing about that, the timed dryer started before the car wash was over! I really only had like 46 seconds.
As i got out to inspect my car, i saw that all of the dirt was still on the side & that basically all i received was a $ 7 hose off.
I went home & dried off my wet & dirty car. It was ridiculous. Just keepin it real Unilocalers

Doesn’t look like I’m the only one disappointed here. See, some governmental agency has made it mandatory that all gas stations retool their gas pumps for some good reason. Some stations on the edge financially are shutting down for good but others are shutting down temporarily for pump upgrades. This station was open for business unlike the Shell station in front of Mercy Hospital and my gas guzzling SUV was literally running on fumes. I pulled in, happy that on my fourth try I finally found a station that was open for business. I got out and started to pump my gas but the pump kept shutting off after dispensing about half a gallon of gas. My SUV has a 25 gallon tank that was pretty near empty. It took forever to fill the tank-​what a pain. Oh well, 1 star because you can’t go any lower and a second star for being open for business.

This is a gas station. This is where you go when you need gas for your automobile, motorcycle, zeppelin, bullet train, or 747. Or mostly your automobile.
I don’t know why I’m bothering to review a gas station. They’re all pretty much the same, and I don’t really like any of them. But I like to procrastinate, and Unilocal is where I go for that.
This place is pretty pricey. It’s like 15 cents/​gallon more expensive than other places. Then again, it’s on a ridiculously convenient piece of real estate, located right off the 5 on Washington St. It practically begs you to come in during your jaunts in/​out of Mission Hills or Hillcrest, or just when you’re stopping to get your sugar rush at Gelato Vero. I wish a better station could break the monopoly that Mobil has on this neighborhood.
The car wash is a total joke. It spritzes your car with a little soap-​n-​water, pushes the dirt around, and leaves everything just as nasty as when you started. Not worth the 5 bucks.
Unless you end up here because you’re driving on fumes and have no other choice (like me), then I recommend going elsewhere.

Stay away from this scam artist. As prices of oil go lower this Mobil has been raising prices 2 cents per day for the last 3 weeks. This in turn forces the Chevron across the street to keep raising theirs.
Boycott this Mobil gas station and run them out of business. They are price gougers !!!

EXPENSIVE ASS GAS.
Carwash that is «touchless» and doesn’t get yer car all clean.
Decent staff.
No licker in the the store (go across to Palomar Market)…