How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are essential safety reasons for forklift drivers to know how to read a forklift propane bottle gauge. The driver needs to know when the forklift is almost out of gas. Some kinds of forklifts that are older are designed so that the forks lower to the ground slowly and the machine shuts off automatically when it runs out of fuel. This is really unsafe and can lead to product damage and personal injury. Newer models are designed differently to prevent this from happening. 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 a car's gas gauge. It is a small round object located either on the dash of the forklift 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 Situated at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle will show you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 There are two letters on the gauge: E for empty and F for full. When the needle arm arrives at the letter E, it would mean that the propane tank is completely empty. When the needle arm touches the letter F, it would mean that the propane tank is completely full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle points at the halfway line it will mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Usually, there are smaller lines midway between the middle 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 points at the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is one-fourth full.