Army ponders new diesel engine for Humvee trucks.

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.
• Position: Up Front

The Army is considering retro-fitting Humvee trucks with new diesel engines that, according to proponents, would lessen the workload for soldiers in the field.

Army officials have voiced frustration in recent months about maintenance nightmares experienced by units in Iraq, where Humvees get overloaded with armor, regularly break down and often require an engine change after only 1,000 to 2,000 miles of operation.

The frequency of the engine swaps has gotten the attention of the Army leadership. Soldiers complain that it takes eight hours and two people to remove and replace a Humvee engine.

Most Humvees come with 6.2 or 6.5-liter V-8 gasoline engines. But as more trucks are outfitted with bolt-on armor protection packages--which typically weigh 1,800 pounds--the engines, transmissions and suspensions take a beating, resulting in vehicle failures.

The newer Humvees are not a concern because they come off the production line with a beefed up suspension, and bigger engines and transmissions. But the older Humvees may be candidates for a new diesel engine. The Army's National Automotive Center is testing four Humvees equipped with a V-6 diesel made by Navistar International Truck and Engine Corporation. The engine originally was designed for the Ford F-150 pickup truck, but Ford recently backed out of the deal. Navistar nevertheless is expected to keep the engine manufacturing line...