Camping Camper » Camping Gear » Coleman fuel vs unleaded gas
Coleman fuel vs unleaded gas
Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Just started shopping for some gear to pack on motorcycle trips. >While I like propane fine, it would be convenient to be able >draw unleaded gasoline straight from the motorcycle’s tank as >needed, rather than shopping for and packing propane or >butane cylinders. >What I notice, however, is that there are now several different >types of fuel designations for liquid fuel stoves and lanterns. >Questions: >1) What is the difference between gear built to run on > "Coleman fuel or white gas" and gear designated as > "dual fuel..Coleman fuel or unleaded gasoline". In > the days of leaded gas, I seem to remember unleaded > (Amoco) gas was also spoken of as "white gas", and > could be substituted for Coleman fuel. (Guess I showed > my age pretty well on that one).
The old Amoco stuff was white gas: Gas without additives. Modern unleadded gas is gas with lots of additives….just no lead. Part 1: Try the following experiment: Put a few drops of coleman fuel on you hands… Wait a few minutes. Smell your hands. Part 2: Fill your car with unleaded feul. Try not to get any on your hands. Smell your hands 15 minutes later. Do you think the smell from those additives is healthy? Which do you think is healthier to be burning when you are camping? -Pete — Pete Hickey | | University of Ottawa | | …. for industry!" Ottawa,Ont. Canada K1N 6N5| (613) 562-5800×1008 |
Response:
writes: >I have/use a Coleman Multi-Fuel backpacking stove. However, i haven’t run >it >on anything other than white gas. It does say it can run on kerosene and >unleaded gas. Its a real nice stove. Along with the Peak 1 solo mess kit. >They make a nice pair when heating soup, ravioli (my fav when camping), eggs, >bacon, coffee, etc. Very nice stove compared to my friends MSR shaker jet. >The MSR stove is dangerous!
In order for it to operate on kerosene, you must first install the kerosene generator. R.A. Lister Ron Lister
Response:
->Kleinschmidt) writes:
->>2) Can anyone recommend a back-packing (small) lantern that ->> will run on standard unleaded gasoline ? I’d suggest skipping the gas lantern altogether and go with an oil lantern like the ultraLight. It weighs a lot less than a gas light and I burn work by without overpowering the woods and keeps bugs away to boot. At 2.5 x 4 inches it takes up a lot less pack than a gas lantern too. Enjoy the trail, BG http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bg
Response:
> 3) Recommendations on single burner stove for unleaded > gas ? (I have seen several, but would like to hear > how well various models may work). > Thanks for any thoughts on this topic > Rob Kleinschmidt
I bought a Coleman Peak 1 dual-fuel stove for a bicycle tour of the west coast. It’s a little heavy, because it’s the one with the big metal tank. That’s all there was back then. It works fine, although it sputters a bit more than my old Coleman white-gas stove did. It was perfect for me, because I didn’t want heavy, expensive propane cylinders. I wanted to be able to fill up at gas stations. I had a little aluminum fuel bottle that I would fill up for around 25 cents (gas was cheaper then, huh?). I could usually gas up with the change from my pockets. If I was going to do it today I’d probably go with one of the stoves that uses the fuel bottle for a tank. It would be lighter, and wouldn’t add any problems. Gordon Snapp Teacher/Telementor Baywood Elementary School Los Osos, California "If you can read this, thank a teacher."
Response:
>Q1. Is it possible to retrofit my "Coleman fuel" only gear with the >"dual fuel" type generators? >Q2. I’ve never done it, but in an emergency I know that I can use >unleaded gas in my white gas gear; if I use unleaded gas in my white >gas only gear, can the generators be cleaned up, or are they rendered >totally useless when they gum up? >Regards, — Ed.
Ed, A1. Not easily. The generators for multi-fuel suitcase stoves look like they will fit, but the thread sizes are different. So you either build an adapter or change the whole generator assembly that sits on the tank. A2. The short answer is that the generator can run for some time without permanent damage. The long answer: Years ago while hitchiking in Britain, I was picked up by an American family driving a huge station wagon down the tiny British country roads. They were camping and carrying a Coleman suitcase stove with them. When they fired it up, I noticed the yellow flame and asked where they were able to get Coleman fuel in Europe. They said they didn’t. They just used LEADED gasoline and changed out the generators when they finally clogged. They said they lasted for months. Lately, I came across an out-of-print book by Carl Franz called The People’s Guide to Backpacking, Boating & Camping in Mexico John Muir Publications (c) 1980 ISBN 0-912528-24-9 LoCCC 80-84600 In the book Franz devotes a couple of pages to how he used non-multifuel Coleman suitcase stoves indefinitely with un-leaded gasoline. He did this by cleaning the generator with a small wire brush every two to four weeks. The trick he said was to never let it get to the point where it was not burning well before cleaning it. He also pointed out that simmering caused the generator to clog up much sooner and suggested that you run the stove at full throttle for awhile before turning it off to clean it out. The internal workings of the generator are somewhat delicate and most of the instructions are on how to not mess it up while cleaning it. If it is so gummed up that you cannot get the coil out, the generator is beyond hope and must be replaced, he reports. Nevertheless, it looks pretty easy to do. He also suggest that you stock up on spare generators before leaving the States. You can easily sell your spares to the other gringos you meet on the road if you find you don’t need them. Too bad this book is not available anymore. There are lots of good camping and backpacking tips in it that are useful anywhere. I found my copy in the local library. — John Kiljan
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> The oly reason that the generators quit was from the carbon buildup If > you take them apart and use a brush and a needle, you can clean them > and they work again.
I would think that the greatly reduced stability of auto fuel (lots more stuff to polymerize into varnish, etc.) would be most of the problem with regular Coleman stuff. The dual fuel generators look pretty specialized — it looks like they had to do some pretty clever things to make auto fuel work. Different hydrocarbon composition, lots more unstable organics, etc. etc. … should smell auto fuel after about a month! ;-) — <BGB> http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~lihan/
Response:
writes: >Q1. Is it possible to retrofit my "Coleman fuel" only gear with the >"dual fuel" type generators?
A1. I’m not sure of the answer here. I do know that my particular stove, (Coleman 414) came in two versions–Unleaded ONLY and Duel-Fuel (Unleaded or Coleman). The Unleaded Only generator will NOT fit the Duel-Fuel stove. The tube diameters are different sizes, with the Unleaded Only being much larger. >Q2. I’ve never done it, but in an emergency I know that I can use >unleaded gas in my white gas gear; if I use unleaded gas in my white >gas only gear, can the generators be cleaned up, or are they rendered >totally useless when they gum up?
A2. Yes, it will work–but for how long? A generator designed for Coleman Fuel only will gum up very quickly if you use Unleaded Gas in it. (See my previous posting in this thread for my view of trying to clean a generator.) Even if you do gum it up beyond its ability to vaporize the fuel, all is not lost. The only thing that becomes useless is the replaceable generator. Flush the fuel tank, install a new generator and you’re back in business–good as new. >Regards, — Ed.
Happy camping. Ron Lister ||"God gave us two ears and one tongue, talk." || -Sam Levenson Ron Lister
Response:
(Steven ) writes: >The oly reason that the generators quit was from the carbon buildup If >you take them apart and use a brush and a needle, you can clean them >and they work again. >Steve.
Steve, I never let them go so far as to "quit" on me. I’m talking about degraded performance. BTW, I’m not so sure it’s carbon. I would say it was carbon if any combustion took place inside the generator tube–but it doesn’t, so I don’t think it’s carbon–but like I said, I’m not sure. Whatever it is, it does clog up the tube and atomizing nozzle. I’ve found that with Coleman generators, as with oil burning furnace nozzles, once they clog, there’s not much you can do to restore it’s orignal performance characteristics. I have come across stoves that were so clogged, they wouldn’t light or burn at all. In these extreme cases, yes, you can clean the innards and possibly restore some of it’s functionality for the rest of the trip, but it will not perform as it would with a new generator. Cheers. Ron Lister || "When in doubt, use a bigger hammer." Ron Lister
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->All of my Coleman gear until recently, was Duel Fuel, and I used unleaded >gas in everything. I was replacing generators more often than I thought I >should have to. I recently bought a Peak Apex 1 Component Stove which is >designed for Coleman Fuel exclusively. I replaced all my other generators >and dumped out the unleaded and now use Coleman Fuel in everything. My >original thought in getting the Unleaded-compatible gear was to save >money. (Unleaded gas is ~1/3 the price of Coleman Fuel). However, I don’t >use my coleman stoves and lanterns every day, and the amount I saved in >fuel costs was more than exceeded by the cost of replacement generators! >The generator for my stove costs around $15. > The oly reason that the generators quit was from the carbon buildup If > you take them apart and use a brush and a needle, you can clean them > and they work again. > Steve.
Q1. Is it possible to retrofit my "Coleman fuel" only gear with the "dual fuel" type generators? Q2. I’ve never done it, but in an emergency I know that I can use unleaded gas in my white gas gear; if I use unleaded gas in my white gas only gear, can the generators be cleaned up, or are they rendered totally useless when they gum up? Regards, — Ed.
Response:
>Questions: >1) What is the difference between gear built to run on > "Coleman fuel or white gas" and gear designated as > "dual fuel..Coleman fuel or unleaded gasoline". In > the days of leaded gas, I seem to remember unleaded > (Amoco) gas was also spoken of as "white gas", and > could be substituted for Coleman fuel. (Guess I showed > my age pretty well on that one).
I know that I can see NO DIFFERENCE in the making of the lanterns. I do know however that the coleman fuel produces less ash and carbon to plug the regulator as for the "new" lanterns I have absolutely no Idea. I hope someone can clear that up for everyone. I have an old 200A Coleman Single mantle and I have used BOTH regular and coleman gas in it. >2) Can anyone recommend a back-packing (small) lantern that > will run on standard unleaded gasoline ?
sorry I only have the 200A, it is small, but I don’t think it is what you want. >3) Recommendations on single burner stove for unleaded > gas ? (I have seen several, but would like to hear > how well various models may work).
I have a Coleman 502 Sportster (it is old so I am sure that there is something else now.) It works extremely well and I use it for all my cooking. I have a "case" to go with it that doubles as a set of pots.
Response:
Just started shopping for some gear to pack on motorcycle trips. While I like propane fine, it would be convenient to be able draw unleaded gasoline straight from the motorcycle’s tank as needed, rather than shopping for and packing propane or butane cylinders. What I notice, however, is that there are now several different types of fuel designations for liquid fuel stoves and lanterns. Questions: 1) What is the difference between gear built to run on "Coleman fuel or white gas" and gear designated as "dual fuel..Coleman fuel or unleaded gasoline". In the days of leaded gas, I seem to remember unleaded (Amoco) gas was also spoken of as "white gas", and could be substituted for Coleman fuel. (Guess I showed my age pretty well on that one). 2) Can anyone recommend a back-packing (small) lantern that will run on standard unleaded gasoline ? 3) Recommendations on single burner stove for unleaded gas ? (I have seen several, but would like to hear how well various models may work). Thanks for any thoughts on this topic Rob Kleinschmidt
Response:
Kleinschmidt) writes: >Questions: ….Answers: >1) What is the difference between gear built to run on > "Coleman fuel or white gas" and gear designated as > "dual fuel..Coleman fuel or unleaded gasoline". In > the days of leaded gas, I seem to remember unleaded > (Amoco) gas was also spoken of as "white gas", and > could be substituted for Coleman fuel. (Guess I showed > my age pretty well on that one).
The main difference is in the Generator. If you use Unleaded gas in a unit designed for Coleman Fuel (read "White Gas" and forget about today’s Amoco, which for this purpose is classified as Unleaded), it will probably work for a very short time. It will quickly begin to spit and sputter and generally not be a good source of cooking heat. >2) Can anyone recommend a back-packing (small) lantern that > will run on standard unleaded gasoline ?
No practical experience here…but Peak 1 makes a duel fuel Backpacking Lantern that weighs 30 oz., and will burn for 3-1/2 hrs on 8 oz. of fuel. It measures 9-1/2" x 4-3/16". Campmor has it for $45.00. Candle lanterns are nice, too. >3) Recommendations on single burner stove for unleaded > gas ? (I have seen several, but would like to hear > how well various models may work).
Your best bet here is a Peak 1 Feather 442 Duel Fuel Stove. $50.00 at Campmor. I would suggest purchasing the maintenance kit (generator, pump cup, clips, etc.) for an additional $11. All of my Coleman gear until recently, was Duel Fuel, and I used unleaded gas in everything. I was replacing generators more often than I thought I should have to. I recently bought a Peak Apex 1 Component Stove which is designed for Coleman Fuel exclusively. I replaced all my other generators and dumped out the unleaded and now use Coleman Fuel in everything. My original thought in getting the Unleaded-compatible gear was to save money. (Unleaded gas is ~1/3 the price of Coleman Fuel). However, I don’t use my coleman stoves and lanterns every day, and the amount I saved in fuel costs was more than exceeded by the cost of replacement generators! The generator for my stove costs around $15. Hope this helps. >Thanks for any thoughts on this topic >Rob Kleinschmidt
Ron Lister
Response:
>All of my Coleman gear until recently, was Duel Fuel, and I used unleaded >gas in everything. I was replacing generators more often than I thought I >should have to. I recently bought a Peak Apex 1 Component Stove which is >designed for Coleman Fuel exclusively. I replaced all my other generators >and dumped out the unleaded and now use Coleman Fuel in everything. My >original thought in getting the Unleaded-compatible gear was to save >money. (Unleaded gas is ~1/3 the price of Coleman Fuel). However, I don’t >use my coleman stoves and lanterns every day, and the amount I saved in >fuel costs was more than exceeded by the cost of replacement generators! >The generator for my stove costs around $15.
The oly reason that the generators quit was from the carbon buildup If you take them apart and use a brush and a needle, you can clean them and they work again. Steve.