Staten Island Auto Repair

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- George Zaloom, owner of Zaloom's Auto Repair, in Westerleigh, has had to repair five cars in the last year (four of those just in the last six weeks) after the driver accidentally put diesel fuel in the vehicle instead of regular gasoline. Some gas stations that have single-pump units don't separate the diesel pumps from the regular pumps, which can lead to customers accidentally picking up the green pump nozzle — which is diesel gas — instead of the black nozzle used for regular gas. "People need to pay closer attention," said Claudette Duff, of Graniteville, who accidentally pumped diesel fuel into her 2015 Subaru Forrester at a Tompkinsville station. Dee Dushmantha, manager of the Tompkinsville Mobile station, said that, while the mistake doesn't happen often, it does happen. "If you need help, please come in and get us," Dushmantha said, "We will come out and show you the correct nozzle to use." He add ... read more

7 Times You Might Say, "Ugh, I Should Have Winterized My Car..." Posted December 02, 2015 by Bobby GagliniinShare23 Winter is nearly upon us. Misty memories of sun-drenched beaches and grilling by the pool will soon be replaced by drifting snowflakes and roaring fires. And while winter can often bring beauty to the landscape, it can wreak absolute havoc on the roads and on your car. While winterizing your vehicle might cost a little time and money, it’s 100% worth it. Truly. I mean that. “I should have winterized my car...” 1. It’s a complete whiteout, and you’re stuck in gridlock traffic. The roads are already covered in snow, and it’s coming down in buckets. You turn on your windshield wipers, and they screech and skid across your windshield, not removing any of the frozen ice. “Oh no, not now.” You try using the washer fluid, but it just turns the ice on your windshield blue&hellip ... read more

The Craziest Places Mechanics Call Home Posted June 22, 2015 by Bobby GagliniinShare7 Where there are cars, there’s a need for someone who knows how cars work. Within our country, there are almost a million mechanics working on cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, RVs and more. I was thinking about this the other day, and started wondering whether there were mechanic shops in the craziest, hidden and most desolate places in the United States. I’m a geography buff, so anything unusual landscape or climate-wise always intrigues me. For this particular example, I used the mechanics that we have listed in our Mechanic Advisor database, and limited it solely to auto mechanics. The findings were nothing short of awesome. 1. A and D Automotive & Jeep – Barrow, Alaska A fun fact about this shop…it’s also a car dealership. Oh, and it just so happens to be located in the northernmost populated settlement in the United ... read more

5 Things You Should Never Say To a Mechanic Posted October 10, 2014 by Ken KupchikinShare37 We already covered 5 Things Your Mechanic Won't Say To Your Face, so now it's time to flip it around a bit. We've come up with a list of 5 things you should never say to your mechanic. Of course, you can say whatever you want, but this list is a good road map for better interactions with the people working hard to keep your car on the road.  1) "I went to college so I didn't have to be a mechanic"- Trying to denigrate someone's chosen profession is never a good thing to do, especially if you're expecting someone to do a good job working on your car. Mechanics need plenty of education to do their job, between trade school, certifications, and the most important education of all; real-world experience. Just ... read more

What Your Mechanic Isn't Allowed To Tell You Posted October 16, 2014 by Ken KupchikinShare32 Mechanics have a lot that they want to say to their customers, but oftentimes they can't either because they risk losing their job, or because they don't want to offend their customers by being especially direct. We've come up with some things a mechanic wants to tell their customers, but really can't. Let us know if you think of anything else in the comments section below. 1) The hourly labor rate isn't just the time spent under the actual car - There is a lot more involved in working on a car than just the time spent physically wrenching it. Techs need to search for the correct parts, and then search for the best price for those parts. Additionally, some experienced techs can finish jobs quicker than others, and some techs may take longer to complete a job, but the cost to you will remain unchanged, which can be a good or a bad thing ... read more

10 Inventions That Changed Cars Forever Posted July 02, 2014 by Ken KupchikinShare0 A car "shovel" meant to reduce the number of casualties among pedestrians (Paris 1924) Cars have revolutionized transportation and allowed mobility on an unprecedented scale. Without cars, we would be at the mercy of public transportation, horses, or our own two feet. The cars that we drive today, however, are a far cry from the original automobiles, which had few safety features, relatively simple engineering, and weren't very fast. Over the years, innovation has brought dynamic changes to the automobile, one breakthrough at a time. Here are the most pivotal inventions for the automobile: 1) Combustion Engine - The most important part of an automobile is the engine, powering the rest of the vehicle. Internal combustion engines power cars with the combustion of fuel and oxygen which occurs in a combustion chamber. Without this invention, we wouldn ... read more

5 Cars That Retain Their Value Posted August 18, 2014 by Ken KupchikinShare0 Everyone knows that once you've signed on the dotted line and gotten the keys to your brand new car, it's already worth less than what you paid for it at the dealership. Cars are considered "depreciating assets" and there are few people who would argue otherwise. With the exception of classic cars that end up being collectors items, car values usually go in one direction: down. But in this respect, not all cars are created equal and some retain their value much better than others. Here is a list of the best performers: 1) Honda Civic - Having owned several Civics myself, I can vouch for the great resale prospects that come with ownership. Since they're at the lower end of the price spectrum, there are more potential buyers out there, and a reliable, fuel-efficient, and durable car like the civic doesn't need to be listed for long before it's sold ... read more

Should I Ask A Mechanic To Inspect A Used Car Before I Buy It? Posted March 27, 2014 by Ken KupchikinShare0 Buying a used car is a process that most people hate for good reason. When buying used, you're basically at the whim of the seller and their willingness to truthfully disclose any issues with the vehicle, including prior repair work. I just bought a used car myself, but had the advantage of knowing the seller beforehand, eliminating much of the guesswork. If you're buying the car from a used car dealership, you should always determine what kind of a warranty program they're offering. When dealerships buy vehicles at auction, the reputable ones will fix any issues before selling to the public. It's best to look for a dealership with actual mechanic bays as they're more likely to offer a warranty and repair any issues you may encounter since they have mechanics on-site. When buying from a private seller, a good option i ... read more

The Craziest Places Mechanics Call Home Posted June 22, 2015 by Bobby GagliniinShare7 Where there are cars, there’s a need for someone who knows how cars work. Within our country, there are almost a million mechanics working on cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, RVs and more. I was thinking about this the other day, and started wondering whether there were mechanic shops in the craziest, hidden and most desolate places in the United States. I’m a geography buff, so anything unusual landscape or climate-wise always intrigues me. For this particular example, I used the mechanics that we have listed in our Mechanic Advisor database, and limited it solely to auto mechanics. The findings were nothing short of awesome. 1. A and D Automotive & Jeep – Barrow, Alaska A fun fact about this shop…it’s also a car dealership. Oh, and it just so happens to be located in the northernmost populated settlement in the United States ... read more