PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-684
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 684
NOVEMBER 2009
55
PS 684
NOV 09
Desert Conditions
However, when units are deployed or stationed in extreme desert conditions extra
servicing is required.
On 1 Oct 04, tactical wheeled vehicles in the 2300 series
Federal Supply Classifcation (FSC) were removed ±rom the
Army Oil Analysis Program (AOAP)
commodity/pubs/tacom/bulletin/aoap.pdf
As a result, and a±ter an analysis o± AOAP oil sampling
and change interval data, MAM 09-052 set the
engine oil
change interval
to 6,000 miles or annually, whichever
comes frst. I± vehicles already had greater intervals, the
greater intervals continue to apply.
For example, the
M915-series
vehicles produced by
Freightliner, which already had a 10,000 miles or 12 months
interval, remained unchanged.
For
transmissions,
the new interval is a minimum o±
12,000 miles or 24 months.
Vehicle lube orders
that already had change intervals
greater than 12,000 miles kept their existing mileage
intervals, but the calendar time intervals changed to
24 months.
Tactical
wheeled
vehicles
under
manufacturer’s
warranty
±ollow the change intervals prescribed by
warranty provisions or guidelines. When warranties expire,
vehicles will con±orm to the interval requirement o± 6,000
miles or annually, unless the prescribed mileage/interval is
greater. Greater prescribed mileage/intervals will continue.
In desert conditions, grit that accumulates in the oil pan can be abrasive. It can also
thicken oil, reducing its ability to lubricate properly.
Unburned low-octane ±uel can
also seep down the cylinder walls and dilute the reservoir. Diluted lubricants cool
less e±±ectively, and evaporate at the higher temperatures generated during engine
operation.
Oil changes and lubrication o± undercarriage points at more ±requent intervals
during desert operations will prolong engine and vehicle li±e.
National Guard Pilot Program
Exception
Hard-Time
Oil Change
Mileage
that’s right!
Far too many
units apparently
don’t recognize
that hard-time oil
change mileage and
calendar intervals
changed
in
2005.
Here’s the basic
information
you need from
Maintenance
Advisory Message
(MAM) 05-019,
8 Mar 05.
The National Guard
is conducting a two-
year oil analysis
pilot program on
four vehicles:
the HET, PLS, HEMTT
and HMMWV.
Vehicles
enrolled in
this pilot
program
are
exempt
from this
article.
They will, however, have Oil
samples taken as required in
the pilot program.
Units should refer to Section III in
Chapter 1 and Appendix C of FM 90-3,
Desert
Operations,
for desert maintenance guidance.
Oil must be changed
about
twice
as
often under desert
conditions as under
US or European
conditions.
The field manual is
a available from the
U
uSAPA Website…
Tactical
Wheeled
Vehicles…
tell the readers
why you’re not
ready for an oil
change!
it’s ‘cause
the interval
has changed!
684.54-55.indd
1-2
9/16/09
9:19:05 PM
dr_aa/pdf/fm90_3.pdf
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