Carthage Auto Repair

Winter in Missouri is almost here and it can get really cold on some days. It can also get to the point where it can trigger some common issues for your truck. Dry Fork Diesel Repair, your truck mechanic in Carthage, MO is your place to go when you need to see if your truck is roadworthy for the winter. We’ll be taking a look at some of the most common vehicle problems that you could potentially face when winter is in full swing. What issues could you be possibly facing when Old Man Winter settles in on Missouri? Let’s take a look at what they are: 1. Decreasing Tire Pressure The cold temperature on the road will be enough to cause your tires to decrease in pressure. Tires can lose a pound of pressure per square inch for each 10 degree (F) drop in temperature. The colder the pavement, the more air your tires could lose. Under inflated tires and icy roads don’t mix at all. So you want to make sure your truck's tires range from ... read more

Effect of Energy Harvesting on Vehicles In 10E + 100 years, the last bit of thermal energy will leave the last atom. By this time, every molecule in the universe will be equally spaced apart. They will all have equal gravitational effects on each other in all directions, rendering them essentially motionless. The universe will go quiet in a state of perfect entropy. But that is a very long time from now. For now, entropy still has a lot of work to do before it can get there. Entropy, if you do not know, is the loss of energy inside a physical system that does work. Systems burn fuel to produce work, but the work they do is always less than the fuel they burn. This loss is called entropy. The human race fights against entropy at all times. Not only is the work humans do lesser than the fuel, but the fuel they use is constantly running out. Eventually, the system will have nothing left to burn. That is where energy harvesting comes in. Energy harvesting is the process of using the was ... read more

It can be scary when your car overheats. There are mild automotive problems like bad transmission or old oil, and then there are emergencies. This is the latter. An overheating engine can lead to your car stalling out at best and an engine fire at worst. These can destroy your car, so it is important to deal with overheats fast. To that end, Dry Fork Diesel and Auto has prepared this list of three ways to tackle the problem of overheating.             •           Turn on the Heater (Really) This is definitely nobody’s favorite step, especially during the summer when an overheat is the most likely. But it can save your engine from catching fire if done promptly. The most important thing to remember is that your heater gets its heat from the engine itself. That means that by blowing heat onto you, the engine is losing some heat. It might not seem like it, but it is simp ... read more

Keeping your truck from overheating is one of the great obstacles of the summer. Really, it is the main obstacle. In the winter you have to contend with so much: Snow, wind, probably a dead car battery, brakes, and all sorts of other possibilities. The summer is merciful in that it has just one opponent.   But this opponent is a worthy one. It is a challenge, but not insurmountable, and Dry Fork Diesel and Auto knows how to guide you through it. The first step is acknowledging that overheating can happen to anyone. No matter how new or well taken care-of your truck is, it can overheat. Keeping it cool is a skill. Consolidate Your Maintenance This is a beneficial thing to do no matter what time of year it is, but it is an easier habit to build in the summer. The goal here is to know what the heat will effect and to check up on that at regular intervals.   This can be done with the aid of a mechanic, but if you want to do it alone that can work too. Just be ready to learn ... read more

Vehicle ownership has its moments. When your vehicle is new, you love the smell, look, and feel of your car. Time gradually starts to change your car and your feelings toward it, and you start noticing small issues popping up. In this article, Dry Fork Diesel Repair of Carthage, Missouri, discusses the warning signs that your vehicle needs maintenance soon. What are the signs? Check Engine Light The check engine light is the most obvious sign that something is happening. The bright orange or yellow light will come on if something is possibly amiss with your engine. Here is some good news: The engine light means that the engine knows of a possible failure, likely before it leaves you stranded road side or in your driveway. Bring it to Dry Fork Diesel and we’ll take a look at your diesel truck to see what’s wrong and offer solutions to fix it. Smells Your truck can have some particular smells that warn you of things to come. Coolant smells sweet and is needed to keep your e ... read more

Is your engine sputtering or providing inconsistent power? Most any loss of power or noise besides the sound of starting, accelerating, and slowing down is likely a sign of a maintenance need.   Dry Fork Diesel loves to help with these issues and your maintenance. We are located in Carthage, Missouri but enjoy helping customers from other cities like Joplin too. We specialize in diesel and work especially on regular and heavy-duty trucks. We have worked with diesel for many years and know our stuff!   Why does an engine sputter? Diesel engines sputter for a variety of reasons. We explore why Fuel system issues Your diesel engine is powered by a fuel system that has a filter, pump, and injectors. Since these parts are connected, only one needs to underperform or fail to cause a problem with the whole system. Debris and dirt can sneak in. Diesel is especially susceptible to fuel system issues since diesel can gel and clog its own filters.   These issues result in ... read more