How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
There are important safety reasons for forklift drivers to know how to read a forklift propane bottle gauge. The driver has to know when the forklift is almost out of gas. Some older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower slowly to the ground and the equipment shuts off automatically when it is out of fuel. This is very unsafe and can lead to personal injury and product damage. Newer models are designed differently to avoid this from happening. The driver could 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 valve on the propane tank or on the dash of the forklift where the controls and rest of the gauges are located.
2 Keep the cover of the gauge clean so that the lines and letters behind the glass are legible.
3 Locate the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle would show you how much fuel is still inside the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: E represents empty and F represents full. When the needle arm arrives at the letter E, it will mean that the propane tank is completely empty. When the needle arm touches the letter F, it will mean that the propane tank is completely full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle touches the middle line it means the tank is half full of propane.
6 Typically, there are smaller lines midway between the halfway lines. These lines mean quarters. When the needle touches the quarter mark nearest the F, it will mean that there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle touches the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is a quarter full.