How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
Forklift drivers should know certain safety factors when figuring out how to read a forklift propane bottle gauge. Drivers must know when the forklift is low on propane or fuel. Some older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower to the ground slowly and the machine shuts off automatically when the vehicle runs out of fuel. This is very unsafe and could cause personal injury and product damage. Newer types of forklifts are designed differently to avoid this from occurring. The driver could operate a handle which stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Make sure you know where the propane gauge is located. Forklift propane gauge looks like an automobile's gas gauge. It is a small round object situated either on the propane tank's valve or on the forklift dash where the controls and rest of the gauges are situated.
2 Make sure to always keep the cover of the gauge clean so that information behind the glass is legible.
3 Situated at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle will show you how much fuel is still inside the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: F represents full and E represents empty. When the needle arm arrives at the letter E, it will mean that the propane tank is completely 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 halfway line it will mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Usually, 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 means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is a quarter full.