How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
Forklift operators 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 running low on fuel or propane. Some older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower slowly to the ground and the machine shuts off automatically when the vehicle is out of fuel. This is really unsafe and could result in product damage and personal injury. Newer kinds of forklifts are designed differently to avoid this from happening. The operator can use a handle which stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Make sure you know where the propane gauge is situated. Forklift propane gauge looks like a car's gas gauge. It is a small round object located either on the propane tank's valve or on the dash of the forklift where the controls and rest of the gauges are located.
2 Keep the gauge cover clean so that the letters and lines behind the glass are readable.
3 Located at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle shows 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 points at the letter E, it means that the propane tank is completely empty. When the needle arm touches the letter F, it will mean that the propane tank is totally full.
5 There is a line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle arrives at the halfway line it will mean that the tank is half full of propane.
6 Normally, there are smaller lines midway between the middle lines. These lines indicate quarters. When the needle touches the quarter mark nearest the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle points at the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is a quarter full.