Diesel and Gasoline - fueled camping equipment

[JHZR2]

Hi,

I like the idea of doing camping (lantern and stove) running off of diesel, kerosine or gasoline instead of propane containers. My parents used to have a gasoline camp stove and lantern that I think my Grandparents bought in the 1950s.

My impression of kerosine lanterns (coleman type at least) is that you need to not only carry kerosine for the lighting fuel, but also carry alcohol as a starting fuel. That does not scream simple logistics to me.

Is this the case for all kerosine/diesel fired lights and stoves/burners? I know the old gasoline units my parents had just got pressurized and then ran until the pressure ran out.

Especially since we have a nice outside patio, which we enjoy sitting out on, it would be great to be able to use up gasoline at the end of the year in lights, and also be able to go camping, etc. and just pull fuel from our vehicles and if there is leftover, just pour it right back.

Anyone have these sorts of things? Pros/cons?

Thanks!

 

[BobsArmory]

I have a mini 1 burner coleman gas stove that I love to death along with a gas powered Colman lantern. For me I couldn't ask for anything better. Just don't ever use mid grade or premium gas in them. They have added chemicals that can be bad for you if used in these units (according to Colman's manuals)

 

[The_Jeff]

I do the opposite, I get gallon cans of Coleman "white gas" for $.50 to a dollar at yard sales and run my lawnmower off the stuff. AFAIK it's low octane (no additives!) regular gas. The vapor pressure seems higher but I don't get vapor lock issues.

 

[UncleS2]

Kerosene for lighting, & gasoline for burning? Never saw or heard of anything like that, & we always used Coleman stoves & lanterns camping when I was a kid.

We still have 3 old Coleman "pump-up" stoves, a 1-burner, 2-burner & a 3-burner, that were made to use Coleman fuel. It's my understanding that in general, it's a very bad idea to try to run the old-style *Leaded* gasoline, and a bad idea to burn unleaded gasoline in them. Unleaded with ethanol? No idea.

I have a double-mantle Coleman lantern bought new in the late 1990's, claimed to be able to use either Coleman Fuel or unleaded gasoline. I've never tried unleaded, but may yet.

Kerosene- hard to find, & expensive around here. If you must, I think the old Aladdin-type home kerosene lamps make the most sense- they use a tubular wick and burn about as bright as a Coleman lantern, with nothing pressurized & No Pumping required. But all I ever saw were for use in the house, no camping lanterns among them.

Diesel? No experience or opinion, except that it would probably smell even worse than kerosene.

If you get any old stoves or lanterns- and there are some REALLY OLD ones out there, Coleman lanterns pre-date WWII, maybe WWI- do *not* just assume it's Ok to fill with gasoline & start use. They may not run well on unleaded gasoline, or have some bad seals & you could learn all over again that fire is hot & will burn you!

 

[JHZR2]

Kero lights work:
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanco...1015&brand=

Dual fuels are designed for unleaded:
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanco...1015&brand=

I get those. My parents have them. We camped off of gasoline once a year on them.

The kero ones it seems to me need to be started with a different fuel, which I need to better understand.

There is a lot here: http://zenstoves.net/Petrol.htm

And it looks like the priming agent is necessary to start the diesel and kerosine items. I guess what Im saying/looking for is a lantern/stove that can run off of diesel or kerosine without requiring a priming agent to start. Seems like this is not an option... as there needs to be some heat to vaporize the low volatility fuel.

 

[stockrex]

good thread!
I have been looking for a diesel burner top that won't drain my kids college fund.

kero/diesel is pretty stable compared to gasoline, I like the dual fuel lantern, but kero is like $5 a gallon.

I used and watched people using those wicking burner a lot when I travelled in south east asia. they dump whatever they can get and it burns, oh yeah with lots of soot.