How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
Forklift operators must understand certain safety considerations when figuring out how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. Drivers should know when the forklift is low on propane or fuel. Some older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower slowly to the ground and the machinery automatically shuts off when the vehicle runs out of fuel. This is very unsafe and can cause personal injury and product damage. Newer kinds of forklifts are designed differently to prevent this from occurring. The operator can utilize a handle that stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Know where the propane gauge is located. The gauge looks a lot like the gas gauge on an automobile. 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 Make certain to keep the cover of the gauge clean so that information behind the glass is readable.
3 Situated at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle shows you how much fuel is still inside the propane tank.
4 There are two letters found on the gauge: E for empty and F for full. When the needle arm touches the letter E, it will mean that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm arrives at the letter F, it would mean that the propane tank is totally full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle arrives at 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.