How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
Forklift drivers must understand some safety factors when figuring out how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. Operators must know when the forklift is low on fuel or propane. Several kinds of forklifts that are older are designed so that the forks lower slowly to the ground and the machine shuts off automatically when it is out of fuel. This is really unsafe and could result in product damage and personal injury. Newer types of forklifts are designed differently to prevent 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 a car. It is a small round object located either on the forklift dash where the controls and rest of the gauges are located or on the propane tank's valve.
2 Make sure to keep the gauge cover clean so that information behind the glass is readable.
3 Situated at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle would 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 arrives at the letter E, it will mean that the propane tank is totally 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 touches the halfway line it will mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Normally, there are smaller lines midway between the halfway lines. These lines mean quarters. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark closest to the F, it will mean that there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle points at the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is one-fourth full.