which stove fuel

[EdS]

Got my Omni fuel today. I know it will burn pretty much most things but which liquid fuel would folks suggest

White gas/panel wipe - believe it burns clean but I'd have to buy it

unleaded petrol - alway about, keep a can for one of the cars and for chainsaw etc.

Diesel - Disco is diesel powered so always some around, but very sooty I believe

kerosene - central heating runs on it, so buy it by 1000l. Can be sooty and a bit more difficult to prime.


Any suggestion orr experience.

 

[Squidders]

I understand that while the Omnifuel can burn all of the above and more, the more crude of the stove fuels - diesel for example - will require more maintenance of the unit. Not in terms of repair but general servicing and cleaning.

Great for expeditions when you're pushed to find something good to burn but you'll have an easier time out and about in the UK if you used gas or dedicated fuels for stoves such as denatured alcohols.

I'm sure that some folk who actually own this stove will have specific preferences from first hand experience though - I don't have this one.

Cheers,

Joe

 

[EdS]

try to avoid gas when I can as I don't like throw away cylinders - too wasteful.

And i think most alcohol stove aren't worth the effort IMO, for anything more than a quick brew up.

I agree about diesel, kerosene is not too bad but I'm leaning towards panel wipe or unleaded - but I'd don't have to go and buy kerosene.

Maintance and cleanig is not an issue - something to do on a evening.

 

[Greg]

I would go with the Unleaded Petrol or Coleman fuel, its relatively clean and readily available(although not cheap at the mement). Although it can get a bit precarious at times.
I use both types in my Coleman Peak Stove.

 

[Karl5]

I haven't tried my Omnifuel with diesel, but all the other stuff I've used.

Gas - Works great so long as its not too cold outside and is dead easy to operate. If you don't mind the bottles (for any which reason), this is the easiest and cleanest (for your pots) way to go.

White gas - Also very clean burning, easy to prime and efficient. Pretty expensive stuff though, and quite volatile so you have to handle it accordingly. Burns like a champ in all conditions disregarding if its hot old cold outside. My favourite fuel (despite the cost).

Unleaded petrol - The manufacturer recommends against using regular unleaded fuel, as it contains additives with nasty effects should you get the fuel or its (condensed) fumes into the food. There are other unleaded fuels out there though (for lawn-mowers and such). Still, works basically as well as whitegas to cook on (but with more soot) and if you do use the regular stuff, cheaper than whitegas and more readily available.

Kerosene - Used to be my favourite fuel. Have used it in every condition at all times of the year. Once you have a hot stove it burns clean (unless you have polluted/low quality fuel), and its safe to use and carry around. The down point is the primer, where it sometimes can be a bit of a pain in the *beeep* to be forced to bring along a second "fuel" for priming. In a pinch, though, you can prime the stove on kerosene, but it's nothing I can recommend as it really clogs the burner and isn't nearly as effeicient as a "proper" priming fuel.

Diesel - well, I've never tried it so I don't know.

Hope that helped you some.

/ Karl

 

[crazyclimber]

I tend to go with unleaded petrol in my multifuel. It's clean, lights easily and burns well. If you're ever going somewhere and want to get maximum heat from minimum weight I believe diesel is the pick of the bunch; I've tried it a few times and it does smoke more though. Also requires more priming, and your stove will need cleaning more regularly. Kerosene I haven't tried, but I would hazard a guess that it would be about the same. Saying that Jet A1 burns cleanly and well...
Coleman's probably the best option but I'm too tight to buy that when unleaded is fine!

 

[Squidders]

try to avoid gas when I can as I don't like throw away cylinders - too wasteful.

Maintance and cleanig is not an issue - something to do on a evening.

Actually, if you are able to recycle your used gas cannisters, they not only burn cleaner but are also cleaner to produce than refining crude oil to petrol. That said, I have seen a lot of camp sites where people just chuck 'em in the bin or worse yet, leave them where they were pitched.

I'm the same as you with maintenance too... I like maintaining and making sure my stuff is nice.

cheers,

Joe

 

[EdS]

think I might give it a try on all of them.

Start on unleaded as I'm use to using it and its winter, then Kerosene and finally panel (leave the one I've got to buy until last!)

 

[Celt_Ginger]

The best unleaded petrol I have found so far is BP ultimate. it seems to be better refined, with less sooty deposits. Burns very clean. I also use a coleman fuel filter for putting it into my primus fuel bottle. No problems with my Omnifuel burner at all using this fuel. I haven't tried diesel yet either.

 

[SimonM]

I have the Primus too - Fuel of choice for me is Coleman. As stated earlier, quite pricey but IMHO worth it. Outside temperature makes no difference to how the stove works.

The only downside for me is the jet engine roar when using the stove! No subtle, early morning brew with this beast - Whenever I use it with mates they always know when to throw their mugs in my direction!

 

[rik_uk3]

I've got two of these stoves, great cookers they are too

UNLEADED PETROL
No, it will lead to jet clogging and gives of fumes you really don't want in your system (from all the additives)

PARAFFIN
Yes, fuel of choice for me as I grew up with the stuff, but other stove collectors I know in Norway and Finland use it as their number one fuel too even in the Arctic winters. Clean fuel burns clean, and primes easily with a little meths. Pick up five litres for around £5 from B&Q, hardware stores etc. This is also the cheapest fuel to use, 5 litres will last you a LOT of trips

PANEL WIPE/COLEMAN
Yes, burns clean and hot, plus you can get panel wipe for about £15 for five litres as opposed to £60 for five litres of Coleman. Get PW from your local motor spares shop

GAS
Yes, burns very hot but is gas thirsty

DIESEL
No, messy stuff, only use in an emergency unless you like maintaining stoves.

Half a litre of paraffin or PW will easy last you a weekend when cooking for one or two.

Before you use it 'in the field' strip the stove down a few times, plus practice lighting and cooking with it, each stove has its own quirks Also watch out for the burner plate, they are loose to allow for easy access to the jets, but this in turn means they can drop off when you are packing up.

Good stove all round, have fun with it, and now you are into proper stoves, you need to get an Optimus 111 for when you are not back packing

 

[spamel]

Those big military burners, are they the 111's? Well, we used diesel in them. Soak a rag in diesel and use that to pre heat the gubbins, pump the little lever like your life depends on it and get a jet powered tank!

They worked pretty well for us!

 

[EdS]

Cheers Rik, knew would prove helpful.

Parafin (kerosene) it is, about 35p per litre. But them I buy it by the 1000l for the heating.

Might by 1l of panel wipe just to give it a try or for use on Scotish mountain winter camps.

 

[rik_uk3]

Those big military burners, are they the 111's? Well, we used diesel in them. Soak a rag in diesel and use that to pre heat the gubbins, pump the little lever like your life depends on it and get a jet powered tank!

They worked pretty well for us!

No mate a different stove, I think you mean the Army No.12, one of the few stoves that will burn diesel fuel quite well, but still runs better on paraffin.

This is the 12 (click on image)


very good cooker, hot, big fuel tank and simmers very well on paraffin

The 111 comes in various models, the standard 111 which is a roarer type paraffin burner, the 111B which burns Coleman/PW, the 111T which is a silent burner multifuel (Coleman, paraffin and meths) and the 111C, much the same as the T, but a new silent burner. This model had problems and is not held in high regard like the rest of the 111 range.

The 111 range is too heavy for solo backpacking but if there are two of you the weight is not a real problem. Again, a great stove, boils quick, simmers well and if I had to choose just one stove from my collection, it would be a 111, most likely the standard roarer 111 paraffin version. I have left one of these out in the back garden for @ a year now, exposed to all the rain and weather, all I need to do is prime it with a little meths and light her up; they are SO reliable and very easy to maintain if something does go wrong.

The stove out back


The wire grill was added by me to let me rest a small expresso pot on the stove

The Australian Antarctic guys and gals still use the 111T as their field stove, known as a "choofa" stove to them That said, the British Antarctic Survey still use Optimus No.45 in the field, and they stopped making them about 30 years ago, the reason again is down to it being a great stove and very easy to look after.

 

[Greg]

Hey Rik are you the local stove genius or what! I know who to ask about stoves from now on....

 

[EdS]

No mate a different stove, I think you mean the Army No.12, one of the few stoves that will burn diesel fuel quite well, but still runs better on paraffin.

sound like my Land Rover

Not tried a 111 but I've a 40 year old Petrol R8 - now the Hunter I believe, that still works a treat. The only reason tha tI got a new stove was so I could combined fuel option and use Kerosene (it is dirt cheap for me).

Rik - how are you fairing with the stove I sent down?

 

[rik_uk3]

I love the 8 range and the 99's, and 123's, great little reliable stoves

The stove you sent has been stripped and had a soak in vinegar and when I have the time I'll de-coke the burner head, replace the seals and fire it up