How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are essential safety reasons for forklift operators to know how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. The driver has to know when the forklift is almost out of gas. Several types of forklifts that are older are designed so that the forks lower to the ground slowly and the equipment shuts off automatically when it is out of fuel. This is very unsafe and can result in personal injury and product damage. Newer models are designed differently to avoid this from happening. The driver could operate a handle that stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Know where the propane gauge is located. 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 situated or on the propane tank's valve.
2 Make sure to keep the gauge cover clean so that information behind the glass is legible.
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 touches 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 points at the halfway line it means that the tank is half full of propane.
6 Note that there are smaller lines halfway between the middle lines. These lines indicate quarters. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark nearest the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle touches the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is one-fourth full.