Multi fuel stove users: what have you burnt?
 

Basically, I have a multi fuel. I liked the idea of the versatility but, as yet, I've never used that versatility to the maximum.

I usually burn gas canisters when I'm camping locally as it is so easy to set up. When I go further afield, I tend to use Coleman's fuel. I could go for unleaded, but I have read that cooking with petrol is not that healthy, so I don't do it now, unless I have nothing else.

One I have never used is kerosene/paraffin. Having recently bought an 80 year old SVEA No.1 stove at a car boot, I decided to ask.

Which fuels have you used and how do they compare in terms of how long a litre lasts and how much a litres costs. In other words, how much grub they'll heat per £/$/€ relative to other fuels?

Thanks for the two comments so far.

Just a reminder, though. I am specifically interested in those fuels that can be used with a multi-fuel stove. Of those fuels I want to know which gives its users the biggest bang for the buck.

I too use a wood-burning stove but for me that would not come under the category of mutli-fuel stove fuel.

The "Other" category is more for things like AVGAS etc, in case anyone has ever used that!

I have an MSR Whisperlite, runs well on unleaded but sooty at the start, runs really well on panel wipe solvent (naptha) have used assorted gas stoves, no go at lower temps and trusty old paraffin primus, I also have a Kibbutz made wood burner which is fun but not serious.

I've got a Coleman Dual Fuel...

I only ever use Petrol and it works great (I put a cap of FI cleaner in the mix every 50 uses to keep the jets clean).

I've used Coleman fuel in it which is expensive. The only benefit I got was that it burnt without an odour.


Stick to burning petrol and as long as you're not in the Antarctic, you should be able to source it..

I have an omnifuel.

It runs best on paraffin/kerosene, in that by using this fuel it runs longer than with any other fuel, also not too unclean. paraffin is also the cheapest fuel here. Not quite so hot as with petrol but is my preferred choice of fuel. sadly you can't run it down to a slow simmer without the heat exchange/vapouriser getting too cool and reverting to yellow sooty flame. to control heat you need to lower or raise the pot.
diesel works but takes a while to run properly.
petrol works but flame very hot.
gas untried as I have a little £10 gaz stove that runs on 270/470 cartridges, this is by far the better stove for cooking or a quick cuppa as I can simmer gently and can deploy in about 5 seconds. It will also run at low temperatures as these canisters are a mix of butane and propane.

I like the idea of camping Gaz but I REALLY hate the environmental impact of having these disposable aluminium bottles in land fill just so I can have a cuppa.

I think parafin/kerosene gives the best theoretical "bang per buck" cost but that's not really a massive issue really.

For convenience you can't beat a little Camping Gaz Bluet Micro or similar.

For ease of finding fuel and reliability it's got to be a Coleman; Feather or Sportster running unleaded.

If I'm static camping i.e. by van then I use a 70 year-old Radius parafin stove and a big old Primus/Svea. They run forever on a tank of Esso Blue so can be put into service to knock up a huge Chilli, Spag-Bol or Bunny Stew for a large group.

I jabbered again; in answer to your question...... Petrol

I sometimes use the Coleman canisters.

They thread on to the stove, so in principle, they should be refillable. The packaging says recyclable, so I'm hoping that is the case. Very hard to know who to give it to, if it is to be refilled by Coleman or the like...

If gas is tempting, then perhaps that system is best for you.

Interesting, I should try that on mine (never cleaned it)

Search on the net for how much heat the different gasses/liquids can deliver. I think the measurement unit is BTU, then find the prices and its an easy calculation to find the cheapest fuel compared to efficiency.

BUT cooking fuel is one of the lesser expenses, so who really cares ;-) normally the problem is finding the fuel, so you take what you can get.

dried camel dung works a treat no need for a stove just light and whack a dough ball in their and voila crusty pooey bread - lovely stuff

I to use a coleman dual fuel, I use unleaded as well, but also never cleaned it !
What is FI cleaner Ted ?
Cheers
Paul:innocent:

Could be Fuel Injecter Cleaner, mainly for cars. Sounds like a good Idea.

Yup. Fuel injection cleaner.

An Aussie guy, Ken Duval told me the trick.

It burns VERY hot violent and blows all the shit out of the generator. I can't confirm that it actually works but my coleman is 5 years old, been ran only on cheap unleaded and is still burning strong.

If you really want to save on fuel when cooking, use a pressure cooker. They typically save 50% or more.