How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are important 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 running low on gas. Several types of forklifts that are older are designed so that the forks slowly lower to the ground and the machinery automatically shuts off when the vehicle is out of fuel. This is really unsafe and can result in product damage and personal injury. Newer types of forklifts are designed differently to avoid this from occurring. 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 an automobile. It is a small round object located either on the valve on the propane tank or on the dash of the forklift where the controls and rest of the gauges are located.
2 Make certain to keep the cover of the gauge clean so that information behind the glass is legible.
3 Locate the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle will show you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: F represents full and E represents empty. When the needle arm touches the letter E, it means that the propane tank is completely empty. When the needle arm touches the letter F, it means that the propane tank is totally full.
5 In the middle of the gauge, there is a line. When the needle arrives at the middle line it means 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 arrives at the quarter mark nearest the F, it will mean that there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is one-fourth full.