How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
Forklift drivers must understand some safety factors when figuring out how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. Drivers should know when the forklift is low on propane or fuel. Some kinds of forklifts that are older are designed so that the forks lower slowly to the ground and the machinery automatically shuts off when the vehicle is out of fuel. This is very unsafe and can result in product damage and personal injury. Newer models are designed differently to avoid this from occurring. The driver can operate a handle which stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Make sure you know where the propane gauge is situated. Forklift propane gauge looks like a car's gas gauge. It is a small round object located either on the valve on the propane tank or on the forklift dash where the rest of the gauges and controls are located.
2 Always keep the cover of the gauge clean so that the letters and lines behind the glass are legible.
3 Look for the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle shows you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 There are two letters on the gauge: F for full and E for empty. When the needle arm points at the letter E, it means that the propane tank is completely empty. When the needle arm arrives at the letter F, it means that the propane tank is totally full.
5 In the middle of the gauge, there is a line. When the needle touches the halfway line it means that the tank is half full of propane.
6 Also there are smaller lines midway between the halfway lines. These lines indicate quarters. When the needle touches the quarter mark closest to the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is a quarter full.