I've been wondering about my small Y2K stash of Coleman fuel and how usable it might be.

Rather than opening a can I thought about the 2 backpacking single-burner stoves (Feather 400 models) I own and decided to see if they had gas in them. Whatever was in there would be old. Both had fuel in their tanks.

The first one I bought in 1983 and used on a x-c motorcycle trip then as my backpacking/jeeping stove until about 1993 when I bought a simpler version (single valve) of the same thing which replaced it.

The newer one was most recently used about 2000.
The older one was retired about 1993.

So I got them out and cranked them up and ran them until empty.

They acted as nothing was unusual. They just lit up and ran! I didn't measure the heat content as this was just an operability check. And they did great!

Looks like Coleman fuel keeps pretty darn well for stove use.

I'm under the impression Coleman fuel will be good until the can rusts through.

I’ve read it was good for 4 to 5-years.

If you are going to store Coleman fuel for long term use I would suggest you coat the cans with a few coats of polyurethane to insulate the metal from the air and stop rust.

Coleman says that an unopened can, properly stored, should be good for five to seven years, and fuel in an opened can will remain good for two years, but should be used within one. That said, I have had the same luck with the stuff. I once dug out my ex-father-in-laws old Coleman three burner stove, which I know for a fact had not been used for over 20 years and still had fuel in it. Fired right up, ran 'til dry, and I used that stove for about ten years without a problem. Same thing with my dad's old single mantle lantern. Didn't have to change generators or anything on either of them. That stuff doesn't seem to die, no matter what Coleman says...

I would think that it would be best to store the stuff in a glass 1 gallon juice container and keep it out of the sun light... Should last for a very long time.

D

It is not a really good idea to store flammable liquids in breakable containers. Even illegal in some jurisdictions...

As a kid we used to use 1 gallon glass wine jugs as gas containers to fill up our go-carts. Holding it in our lap (in the passengers seat w/no seatbelt) if we got a ride from someone. I'm still amazed I made it out of my pre-teen years. Stupid is as stupid does I suppose.

IzzyJG99,
Thanks for the information....We have one on our grill...fortunately it isn't under pressure all the time...only when we use the grill do we turn it on, so hopefully we should become aware of the leak quickly....We also never leave the grill alone. We'll keep an eye on it...... Thanks again.
CJK

I didn't say you should keep them in the house or near the house. :-) but the grand folks always said that is the only way to really store fuel that will last a very long time. IE white gas.

Dangerous and illegal are a lot of times not connected and illegal not with reality...just sayin....

D