How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
There are essential safety reasons for forklift drivers to know how to read a forklift propane bottle gauge. The operator needs to know when the forklift is almost out of gas. Some older forklift models are designed so that the forks slowly lower to the ground and the equipment automatically shuts off when it is out of fuel. This is really unsafe and can result in product damage and personal injury. Newer models are designed differently to prevent this from happening. The driver can operate a handle which stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Know where the propane gauge is situated. The gauge looks a lot like the gas gauge on a car. It is a small round object situated either on the propane tank's valve or on the dash of the forklift where the rest of the gauges and controls are situated.
2 Keep the cover of the gauge clean so that the letters and lines behind the glass are legible.
3 Situated at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle shows you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: E represents empty and F represents full. 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 completely full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle touches the halfway line it means that the tank is half full of propane.
6 Note that there are smaller lines halfway between the middle 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 touches the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is one-fourth full.