How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
There are essential safety reasons for forklift drivers to know how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. The driver has to know when the forklift is running low on gas. Some older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower to the ground slowly and the equipment shuts off automatically when the vehicle runs out of fuel. This is really not sage and could cause personal injury and product damage. Newer kinds of forklifts 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 Know where the propane gauge is located. The gauge looks much like the gas gauge on a car. It is a small round object located either on the valve on the propane tank or on the forklift dash 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 Look for the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle will show you how much fuel is still inside the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: E represents empty and F represents full. When the needle arm arrives at the letter E, it means that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm touches 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 touches the middle line it will mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Note that there are smaller lines midway between the halfway lines. These lines mean quarters. When the needle points at the quarter mark closest to the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is a quarter full.