How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
Forklift drivers should understand certain safety factors when figuring out how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. Drivers must know when the forklift is low on fuel or propane. Several older forklift models are designed so that the forks slowly lower to the ground and the machine shuts off automatically when the vehicle is out of fuel. This is really unsafe and could lead to product damage and personal injury. Newer models are designed differently to avoid this from happening. The driver could operate a handle which stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Make certain you know where the propane gauge is located. Forklift propane gauge looks like a car's gas gauge. It is a small round object situated either on the forklift dash where the controls and rest of the gauges are located or on the valve on the propane tank.
2 Always keep the cover of the gauge clean so that the lines and letters behind the glass are readable.
3 Locate the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle shows you how much fuel is still inside the propane tank.
4 There are two letters found on the gauge: F for full and E for empty. When the needle arm touches the letter E, it would mean 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 There is a line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle touches the middle line it means 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 points at the quarter mark nearest the F, it would mean that there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle points at the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is one-fourth full.