Stryker: Check Vehicle Fluids the Right Way

BLUF: Check Stryker fluids regularly and correctly to keep the vehicle mission ready.

Photo by Spc. Chandler Coats

Crewmen, checking the fluids on your Stryker is vital to keeping your vehicle combat ready. Here are a few tips to help you check those fluids the right way:

If the engine coolant sight glass is dirty, it can look like the coolant level is OK when it's not. When the engine is cool, take off the radiator cap and clean the sight glass with a damp rag.
When the radiator is full, the surge tank should be only half full. That’s so the coolant has someplace to go when the radiator gets hot.
Keep an eye on the hub sight glasses on all the wheels because sometimes hubs leak. Too little hydraulic fluid and you end up with hub damage. The fluid level should be 1/2 to 3/4 full. The Stryker needs to be on flat ground so this check is accurate. Add fluid slowly if needed. Wait at least two minutes for the fluid to settle before you check it or you may add too much, which busts the seals.
Check all fluid levels before each mission. The TMs stress checking fluid levels at the end of a mission, but you can’t go wrong by also making sure fluid levels are still OK before the next mission.

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