How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
Forklift operators must know some safety considerations when figuring out how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. Operators should know when the forklift is low on propane or fuel. Some older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower to the ground slowly and the machinery shuts off automatically when the vehicle is out of fuel. This is very unsafe and could cause personal injury and product damage. Newer types of forklifts are designed differently to avoid this from happening. The driver can operate 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 situated either on the propane tank's valve or on the forklift dash where the controls and rest of the gauges are situated.
2 Make certain to keep the cover of the gauge clean so that information behind the glass is legible.
3 Situated 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 touches the letter E, it means that the propane tank is completely empty. When the needle arm points at 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 arrives at the middle line it will mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Usually, there are smaller lines midway between the middle lines. These lines mean quarters. When the needle touches the quarter mark closest to the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle points at the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is a quarter full.