How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are important safety reasons for forklift drivers 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 older forklift models are designed so that the forks slowly lower to the ground and the machinery shuts off automatically when the vehicle is out of fuel. This is really unsafe and can lead to product damage and personal injury. Newer models are designed differently to avoid 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 situated. The gauge looks a lot like the gas gauge on an automobile. It is a small round object situated either on the valve on the propane tank or on the dash of the forklift where the controls and rest of the gauges are situated.
2 Make sure to keep the gauge cover clean so that information behind the glass is readable.
3 Look for the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle shows you how much fuel is still inside the propane tank.
4 There are two letters on the gauge: E for empty and F for full. When the needle arm touches the letter E, it means that the propane tank is completely empty. When the needle arm arrives at the letter F, it means that the propane tank is completely full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle touches the middle line it means the tank is half full of propane.
6 Typically, there are smaller lines midway between the middle lines. These lines indicate 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 touches the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is a quarter full.