How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are essential safety reasons for forklift operators to know how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. The operator has to know when the forklift is almost out of gas. Some older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower slowly to the ground and the equipment shuts off automatically when the vehicle runs out of fuel. This is really unsafe and could lead to product damage and personal injury. Newer models are designed differently to prevent this from happening. The operator could utilize 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 are a lot like an automobile'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 situated or on the valve on the propane tank.
2 Always keep the gauge cover 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 shows 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 points at the letter E, it would mean that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm points at the letter F, it means that the propane tank is completely full.
5 There is a line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle arrives at the halfway line it will mean 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 arrives at the quarter mark nearest the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle points at the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is one-fourth full.