How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are essential safety reasons for forklift operators to know how to read a forklift propane bottle gauge. The driver has to know when the forklift is running low on gas. Several older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower slowly to the ground and the machine automatically shuts off when the vehicle is out of fuel. This is really not sage and could lead to personal injury and product damage. Newer models are designed differently to prevent this from happening. The driver can operate a handle that stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Know where the propane gauge is situated. The gauge looks much like the gas gauge on a car. It is a small round object situated either on the propane tank's valve or on the forklift dash where the rest of the gauges and controls are located.
2 Make certain to always keep the gauge cover clean so that information behind the glass is readable.
3 Locate the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle shows you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: F represents full and E represents empty. When the needle arm arrives at the letter E, it means that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm points at the letter F, it means that the propane tank is totally full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle touches the middle line it would mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Usually, there are smaller lines midway between the middle lines. These lines mean quarters. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark closest to the F, it will mean that there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is one-fourth full.