Hi, we have a dual fuel stove (one burner - how quaint!!). We have always used petrol in the past but I am thinking now that 2 is4 + dog it would be safer to travel with the other fuel (?butane) . So, my question is is there anything we should do before we top it up with the other fuel? Do we burn off the petrol first or do they just mix together and not matter? Don't want to end up looking like an extra from a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
We have always used petrol in the past but I am thinking now that 2 is4 + dog it would be safer to travel with the other fuel (?butane) . So, my question is is there anything we should do before we top it up with the other fuel?
The "other fuel" is what the Americans call "white gas" - it isn't butane, its just a differently refined petrol without the engine lubrication additives.
As it really is just a more refined petrol, I don't see any reason to empty the old stuff out first.
You can get a special fuel with additives from camping shops but I have always been advised that the important thing is how you transport the fuel. Towsure have a special presurised container. If you use unleaded it is recommended that you use fuel with additives every so often to clean the appliance but I musssst admit I have never done this.
The other fuel is Coleman Fuel, which, as stated before, is just more refined petrol and it costs about £40 per gallon!!!. You cannot use anything else but these two fuels in a Coleman. Stick to the unleaded, carry it in a proper petrol can and observe all safety precautions.
We use both the single and double Coleman duel fuel cookers and have always used unleaded petrol, no probs yet.
Quote: Originally posted by Breezeblock on 16/08/2004
The other fuel is Coleman Fuel, which, as stated before, is just more refined petrol
It is, and Coleman fuel does not have benzene in it. The benzene in petrol is supposed to be carsenogenic, although whether it poses an actual health risk when petrol is used as a stove fuel is very difficult to know, my mate the research chemist reckons the risk is low, others do not. Myself I will continue to use petrol in my Coleman stove.
and it costs about £40 per gallon!!!.
Thats cheap ....... I have seen it for £59 a gallon (£6.50 for 500ml).
In the US Coleman Fuel is £2.70p a Gallon (yes I mean two pounds 70 pence).
You cannot use anything else but these two fuels in a Coleman. Stick to the unleaded, carry it in a proper petrol can and observe all safety precautions.
Agreed, and you can get containers designed for petrol in 0.33, 0.5, 0.7, 1L sizes.
Thanks for all the advice chaps. Only use the stove for boiling a kettle and frying up the brekkie . Will stick to the petrol I think as it's cheaper. Got a bargain in Wilkinsons today a barbie for £2.34!!!! So will use that for the sausages in future.
i use a two burner Coleman duel fuel cooker & a duel fuel single burner, they are the biz. i used to hate the butane gas on cold days! & what a pain in the bum if you run out in the night & all the shops are shut, happend to me a few time in the past. you can get petrol almost anywhere, yes i even got a farmer at 2am to sell me a ltr oops!
it burns hotter and you get your breckie faster on cold days mmm & your cuppa! oh did i say it works out a lot cheaper too? easy to store in a standard petrol can, or like me i use a couple of zig bottles 1ltr each.
The benzene in petrol definitely is carcinogenic. However, it FULLY burns. That's why there is no risk to health. The benzene in petrol is there now (now, or in a higher concentration) instead of the old lead, to make the petrol stable in the motor.
Quote: Originally posted by wlee on 17/08/2004
However, it FULLY burns. That's why there is no risk to health.
Thats rather the isue though, I dont think you can guarantee that the fuel always burns fully. What the risk actually of this happening is I have no idea, but whilst I think the risk is very small, I dont think you can say there is no risk to health.
OK, hardly any risk. The use of benzene is prohibited for may purposes due to its characteristics. Years ago they thought it was great for e.g. washing fabrics with difficult stains. The grandfather of my ex-wife used workes at the Shell refinery (Rotterdam). They used to wash heavily stained overalls and trousers in it, just dipped it in a drum with benzene and let it dry. It evaporates extremely fast. Until they found out you would get cancer. From then it was not that easy to get.
As it is very combustible, it burns very easy. That's why it fully burns in a car motor, yes, unless the motor gets to much fuel. But even then it is a matter of the concentration. It is just an additive, so just a little bit in the petrol (although I don't know how much exactly). Anyway, in normal use it should burn completely. If the stove is well maintained it should not be a problem. A dirty stove might create more problems, but I still wonder how much of the fuel fumes would not be combusted at all. It mainly causes soot, due to bad combustion, this by itself causing even worse combustion.
I think however the benzene still will be burnt, the byproducts of bad combustion being soot and CO rather than pure fuel.
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Topic: dual fuel stoves
