Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 >
Topic Options
#192442 - 01/02/10 05:51 PM Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel
bws48 Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 831
Loc: Anne Arundel County, Maryland
I didn’t want to hijack the thread on alcohol stoves, but it spurred me to ask a question I have been wondering about for some time.

I have a Svea 123 stove that is probably older than many of our members. I use and have used Coleman fuel (naptha) exclusively. In theory, it can also use “white gas,” which I understand to be unleaded gasoline.

While unleaded gas is now the norm, around here it is now 10% ethanol. The pumps that dispense it have warnings to “ask inside” before using it in marine engines. (We live near a big boating area.) This causes me to wonder if this stuff can be, or should be, used in a simple gasoline stove like the Svea. I would hate to damage/destroy this stove at this late date.

I understand that in an emergency you would have to make do, and worry about the damage later, but I still would like to know if the 10 gallons of gas I usually keep stored could fuel the stove also if circumstances required it.

A further complication is that my stored gas has also had Sta-bil added to it at twice the normal dose to further extend the life of the gas. This is now an option described on the label.

Any thoughts?
_________________________
"Better is the enemy of good enough."

Top
#192448 - 01/02/10 06:41 PM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: bws48]
philip Offline
Addict

Registered: 09/19/05
Posts: 639
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area
White gas is different in that it has no additives. Unleaded gas does have addititves, and it will soot the bottoms of your pans. shrug - no big deal in a survival situation, but it makes a mess if you're just camping and trying to keep things clean.

I have a bi-fuel camp stove that's made to burn colemant fuel and unleaded gasoline. I have no idea what problems unleaded gasoline would cause in a Svea, if any. If you don't get an answer here, I'd suggest a board for Svea stoves or their support.

Same with Sta-bil. If there's something in your gasoline that would clog the Svea and render it useless in a week, you've got a problem with survival.

Top
#192452 - 01/02/10 06:56 PM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: bws48]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
As I understand, Coleman fuel (naptha) is White Gas. White gas is basically gasoline with no additives.
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.
Okay, what’s your point??

Top
#192466 - 01/02/10 08:55 PM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: Russ]
KenK Offline
"Be Prepared"
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 06/26/04
Posts: 2208
Loc: NE Wisconsin
I've been told that using unleaded gas can gum up the works on stoves - even those theoretically built to use unleaded gasoline.

I have no direct experience with unleaded gas since I figure its easy enough to just use Coleman fuel.

Top
#192471 - 01/02/10 09:52 PM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: KenK]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
I have a Russian copy of one of the Optimus 8R stove that will run on White Gas or unleaded auto gas. Never used it. I figure if I need to use unleaded fuel for some reason, that's the stove I'll use and if it gums up, hopefully the Russians figured out how to loosen the tolerances to make it run anyway.
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.
Okay, what’s your point??

Top
#192474 - 01/02/10 10:06 PM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: bws48]
ironraven Offline
Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
Well, the manual is quite emphatic that you should only use white gas, NOT gasoline.

http://www.optimusstoves.com/fileadmin/user_upload/optimus/Downloads/Manual_Optimus_Svea.pdf
_________________________
-IronRaven

When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.

Top
#192475 - 01/02/10 10:12 PM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: ironraven]
Johno Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 01/05/03
Posts: 214
Loc: Scotland
Unleaded works fine in my Peak and Sigg. You just need a bit more time cleaning up at the end of your trip. No massive issue.
_________________________
Follow the Sapper

Top
#192479 - 01/02/10 10:39 PM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: Johno]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Love those old Sveas! The valve in mine finally gave up the ghost and I couldn't get parts; too bad.

My old Svea had a sticker on it detailing the acceptable grades of petrol for Europe (pretty sure it was automotive gasoline) but the North American manual said to use white gas. So it seems like a regulatory thing AFAIK.

The only thing in a Svea that can gum up is the wick, and that is user replaceable. If I were counting on a Svea plus car gas, I'd have extra wicks on hand. I'd put a cover on my pot while cooking too, and be extra careful since IIRC car gas has a lower flashpoint than white gas.

Top
#192488 - 01/02/10 11:36 PM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: dougwalkabout]
CANOEDOGS Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 1853
Loc: MINNESOTA
the gang at Classic Camp Stoves has hashed this over many times,in the end they think that Colman fuel or naptha of some sort is the only way to go.thats a great site if you use older stoves and they have a link to a place that sells parts..Basecamp,in the UK.

Top
#192494 - 01/03/10 12:58 AM Re: Is our unleaded gasoline OK to use as a stove fuel [Re: CANOEDOGS]
RayW Offline
Addict

Registered: 12/06/01
Posts: 601
Loc: Orlando, FL
The reason there are warnings about using gasoline with alcohol in it for a marine engine is that the alcohol will eat its way though the in hull fiberglass boat fuel tanks.

Don't know what it will do to your stove.

Top
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 >



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, cliff, Hikin_Jim 
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Who's Online
0 registered (), 453 Guests and 95 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
GallenR, Jeebo, NicholasMarshall, Yadav, BenFoakes
5367 Registered Users
Newest Posts
What did you do today to prepare?
by dougwalkabout
03/27/24 11:21 PM
Zippo Butane Inserts
by dougwalkabout
03/27/24 11:11 PM
Question about a "Backyard Mutitool"
by Ren
03/17/24 01:00 AM
Problem in my WhatsApp configuration
by Chisel
03/09/24 01:55 PM
New Madrid Seismic Zone
by Jeanette_Isabelle
03/04/24 02:44 PM
EDC Reduction
by EchoingLaugh
03/02/24 04:12 PM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.