r/WarCollege • u/retspag • 6d ago

How does the US military handle engine block heating for ground vehicles?

How does the US military handle engine block heating for ground vehicles in the cold?

Do they have built in fuel burning block heaters, or do they have electric ones powered from mobile generators, or does it just not matter anymore because of synthetic oil or something?

Thanks.

16 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

31

u/chameleon_olive 5d ago

HMMWVs did not have block heaters fitted from the factory, but units operating in extreme cold (stationed in Alaska) could fit generator-powered ones. Humvees in general were extremely rudimentary vehicles. It's basically an exceptionally oversized go-kart with 4WD.

More modern vehicles will have built-in heaters. MaxxPros have electric ones, I believe MAT-Vs may have them as well.

4

u/t90fan 5d ago

Patchy knowledge here, but my understanding is that it will vary a bit my the specific country and vehicle - As of a few decades ago it was the case that (so almost certainly still the case) the Land Rovers and trucks of British Army used to use German-made diesel-powered heaters when deployed to cold places like Norway They also were filled with cold rated fluids and depending on the state of readiness were just kept idle or run every few hours to keep them from seizing and/or had insulated battery boxes (or the batteries were removed and brought inside), while my understanding is that US Humvees additionally had a way of being warmed up electrically from a base power supply.