Aye Up Robson,
You are correct that here in the UK our vehicles are not fitted with block heaters as standard (except perhaps some HGVs) - we rarely get temperatures low enough for long enough to warrant them. Once in a blue moon we have decent snowfall and low temps and arterial routes come to a standstill due to waxed diesel in HGVs but that's about it.
I've suffered that myself whilst stationed in Germany back in the '80s during one winter where the day time temp was in the minus high teens for almost two weeks. (Managed to sort it with a blow torch!)
We can fit aftermarket assistance by way of coolant heaters and sump heaters - plug-in element or glue-on pads. (Not cheap though).
I have always run diesels and a few years back when it looked like we might be having a return to quality winters here in the UK I fitted the sump heater pads to my motors.
They give out the heat equivalent to about a 100 watt light bulb and if set on a timer to come on about 90 minutes before starting they do make cranking the engine easier. They don't heat up the cooling system though so not as good for cabin warmth/defrosting.
Hardly had the need to use them since
You are correct that here in the UK our vehicles are not fitted with block heaters as standard (except perhaps some HGVs) - we rarely get temperatures low enough for long enough to warrant them. Once in a blue moon we have decent snowfall and low temps and arterial routes come to a standstill due to waxed diesel in HGVs but that's about it.
I've suffered that myself whilst stationed in Germany back in the '80s during one winter where the day time temp was in the minus high teens for almost two weeks. (Managed to sort it with a blow torch!)
We can fit aftermarket assistance by way of coolant heaters and sump heaters - plug-in element or glue-on pads. (Not cheap though).
I have always run diesels and a few years back when it looked like we might be having a return to quality winters here in the UK I fitted the sump heater pads to my motors.
They give out the heat equivalent to about a 100 watt light bulb and if set on a timer to come on about 90 minutes before starting they do make cranking the engine easier. They don't heat up the cooling system though so not as good for cabin warmth/defrosting.
Hardly had the need to use them since