Antique Coleman 425 Stove Testing Out Different Fuels for Performance

After my last video running my Coleman stove it was asked to me what different fuels I could run in the stove and what there performance would be. I thought this was an interesting question and decided to test this out.
I have used as a fuel
Denatured Alcohol
Kerosene
Gasoline E10
Naphtha (Coleman fuel) several years old
A fresh can of Naphtha
Each test included a complete clean-out and inspection of the tank and generator to ensure a good test.
Furthermore, its worth noting:
1) Alcohol runs too unstable as a fuel in this stove. Possible.... but not worth it..
2) Kerosene requires preheating the generator to run, but works great.
After each demo... The boil water time tests were conducted
1 Litre and 1 Cup
Another interesting discovery in all this is that while the older Whitegas (naphtha)burned fine, it did not have nearly the power of the new bottle.

[@colonelaengus7005]

Hats off to those who take the time, energy and money to teach others. Without people like you, nothing of value would be passed down. people like you fill the void of knowledge of elders long passed and gone. Thank you for what you do!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

It's my pleasure

[@totallyfrozen]

This was one of the most informative videos I’ve seen on these legendary stoves. Coleman stoves are just solid workhorses. Troops used them in WWII, millions of families have enjoyed decades of camping with them, and I’ve used mine in 3 natural disasters as well as camping. They’re just hard not to love.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Ive recently released a video on one of the civilian editions of the WW2 model, restored.

[@emeryz10]

Is the Coleman better than the Svea 123r?

[@12knots]

One of my most intriguing memories as a young boy was watching my father fuss with and cuss at, his green stove! Lol!

[@timesthree5757]

Also more rural locations in the early 20th these were everyday cooking stoves.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

I don't use gasoline even in duel fuel stoves and lanterns , but I do use a small amount of acetone mixed with white gas for an occasional internal cleaning of stoves and lanterns. The key word is an Occasional burn and cleaning with aprox. 1 tablespoon acetone per quart of fuel. This also works well with lawnmowers and other internal combustion engines. Thanks for your video and all the best.

[@dadbudgetadventures]

Brilliant concept and so much good information. And thank you for feeding my weird obsession with Coleman stoves!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Here to feed, I have a few new ones planned.

[@ltxoutdoors4097]

join the club..also addicted to Colemam stoves !

[@mtbse789]

And don't forget the lanterns! Every opportunity I get I fire up the lantern...it always accompanies the portable 🔥 pit.

[@Listerguy1]

@@mtbse789 l lol lol.

[@titanforest2641]

instablaster.

[@robertburnes2285]

Thank you for the exhaustive comparison of fuels! I'd bet that many of us Coleman users have always wondered about alternative fuel use but would have never taken the time to do what you did.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@basiliohernandez5111]

Due to work requirements, I just picked up my Coleman 425C that I had as a kid from my parent's house. After sitting for 25 years, she fired right up and ran fine off the Coleman fuel from the same time. I am running the last quart and a half before I start feeding fresh white gas I just picked up a few days ago. I was very excited to watch this video and was pleased to see the results. Great idea, thanks for doing it.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

You're welcome, it was a fun project.

[@coltwinchester6124]

Yesterday my neighbor threw out a Colman 425 D stove, made May 1966. So I grabbed it. I have always used propane stoves and knew nothing about these stoves. After tinkering with it, and figuring out how it works, the darn thing worked great with old fuel in it. Now after watching this video, the Colman stove is my first choice to use. Darn things are built like tanks. Great for when SHTF.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Great find!

[@bobsundquist2039]

love the old Colemans. If you look at estate sales you can pick them up for $5-$10. Add $20 for propane adapter and you have a true multifuel stove. A .22 cal brush and some Carb cleaner and you are good to go. Nice video, thanks for taking the time to make it.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks for the tip!

[@frankwright5528]

A concise and most informative presentation. High value; no fluff. Thanks.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I try to minimize fluff.

[@WelcomeToMyHead]

Amazing video, thank you! I had no idea you could run regular gasoline in these stoves! Not only that, it’s clearly efficient. I just got myself one of these for $2 at an auction and I’ll be following along your clean-up and rebuild video to prep it for use! Thanks again!

[@techguy9023]

Unleaded gas can clog the generator tube. Coleman fuel has less additives

[@seniorLu48]

Boy...happy to have turned into this video, just getting ready to buy my first Coleman stove and was wondering just like your other viewers on what's best to get. This is very educational. GREAT JOB AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Gracias

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad I could help!

[@RockLander818]

Thank you! Just heading back from my first over landing trip and looking for a stove. This is perfect! Gasoline is the way to go! Minimizing the need to carry many fuels. Just gasoline and then diesel for the heater. DONE. Thank you again. Very informative.

[@kilcar]

Great point. Coleman fuel and white gas does degrade as does Kerosene ( paraffin for those in Europe) Worked as a Coleman and other repair jockey for years, and old fuel works, but has less energy. Even kerosene goes bad. Much more common degradation with partially used cans. Great video, thanks!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

You're welcome.

[@Taylor_in_Southern_Oregon]

The multi fuel stoves allow use of regular gas as well as the clear ethanol free because they don't have the standard coating inside the tank. The standard coating is eaten up with regular gas and becomes a problem sooner or later. That said, it'll burn just fine for some time before it clogs up.

[@bobpatterson5935]

Great consistent testing model. Answered a few questions that I had as a new camper / prepper.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hlegler]

This video answers the exact question I had. Thank you, sir. You are amazing! Thanks for your hard work and effort!

[@hlegler]

And may I also add that this is the most thorough, scientific, in-depth, nerdy-cool, stove video I have ever seen. It still amazes me that people take the time to share their knowledge, time and creativity on KZbin.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad to help!

[@kevinbarletta7749]

Someone was just throwing out the same Coleman stove so I put it in my garage and wondered what fuel I could burn it that’s how I came to your video.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Nice… free stove

[@mtbse789]

Fantastic video! I learned a lot and was surprised by the degradation. To be fair the old fuel still performed quite well. Oh and very scientific.

[@mikemorgan5015]

It was a fair test, but not scientific. A sample size of one iteration per fuel ignores 2 crucial factors of the scientific method. Consistency and repeatability. We also don't account for several factors here like, water temperature, ambient temperature, accuracy of water measurement, wind speed and direction, starting temperature of the pot, time from throttle up to pot placement are a few. These should be measured and recorded for each iteration of the test. Again, I'm not complaining about the test, it was fair and you likely wouldn't see much variation, but some items are concerning. For instance, why would kerosene boil the large pot 55 sec slower that pump gas, but boil the 1 cup 5 seconds faster than pump gas? That alone is a HUGE red flag that would invalidate a scientific test. At least that iteration would have to be thrown out. Until consistent, repeatable results are recorded, we can draw any conclusions at all. That's why we can't rely on anecdotal data and non-peer reviewed studies. We don't repeat and review because we think tests are cheated or rigged. We do it for accuracy and validity. Career scientists run into outlier data points all the time. But over many iterations of tests, patterns will form and data points will cluster at the best result. When we get multiple outliers we investigate what could have caused it and we test those ideas to see if we can repeat those results. Science doesn't dictate truth, it gives the best estimates of what is likely true with a given data set. It get even better when we have multiple studies that produce data consistent with other studies. About the only conclusion we can come to here is that the best fuel for these stoves is likely what the manufacturer, who did a lot of testing, recommended in the first place. Fresh white gas/camp fuel/naptha. But it also is of significant value to demonstrate that in a pinch, other fuels can be used.

[@evil17]

@@mikemorgan5015agreed, but not bad for a YT vid. I thought he should have also tried some fresh fuel since that was oldish too.

[@mannyespinosa7810]

You answered my question without me asking. I loved the test with gas. if we have an emergency, gas is more easy to buy. Thank you for your video!!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Yes in an emergency petrol would be a life saver

[@ZPDSurvival]

Thank You for the Test results. I was wondering about burning regular gasoline.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

You are welcome!

[@quinnyu6536]

Thank you! I think this is the first video that test gasoline

[@retrotechandelectronics]

And it works really good, it’s just like naphtha but with additives.

[@scottjohnson9912]

Gasoline being easier to find and cheaper this is good info .

[@3WSPORTFISHING1085]

Excellent video. My dad hunted and camped all over the Midwest. He always told me if I am going to bring/use a Coleman stove or lantern, that White gas was best for the exact reason demonstrated here. It burns perfectly and doesn’t foul components like other fuels. In a desperate situation, sure you use what you can get your hands on.

[@stewartbruce8902]

Thank you for a brilliant video. I use my 425 everyday (my only cooking device), and I cook all the time. I appreciate learning that e-85 works well in my sole kitchen stove. In gratitude, all the best with good health.

[@greatwhitenorthlife2327]

How long does a stove last? I would have thought the burners would wear after a while.

[@trustme7731]

He didn't use E85. He used E10, standard auto gasoline. He did show that alcohol does not work well and E85 is 85% alcohol.

[@stewartbruce8902]

@@trustme7731 Thank you for the clarification, and my miss understanding. All the best to you, for your input.

[@stewartbruce8902]

@@greatwhitenorthlife2327 Yes you are correct, the burner does degrade with constant use, but I have gotton many years of use. The outer cup will disintegrate first, but the burner will still work with a damaged outer cup. Good luck with your unit, and all the best from New Rochelle N.Y.

[@mdenny6044]

No doubt you probably know this about kerosene by now: if you use a propane torch to heat up the full length of the generator before you open the valve you won’t get the soot and smelly kerosene odor. If you take a lesson from the old Coleman kerosene burning lanterns you’ll see the spirit cup surrounding the base of the generator. This is so you can preheat the generator to a temperature that vaporizes the kerosene. Roughly 428 degrees F. Then when you open the valve the kerosene immediately vaporizes, mixes with air and burns with a nice hot blue flame. No soot. No smell. Just very hot blue flame for cooking your food etc.

[@robtennant3689]

This is awesome real-world evidence of what can be used and what the pros & cons are, rather than reading multiple cut n paste blog entries saying "not designed for this fuel". Thanks and one comment/question is that the 425 isnt even considered the dual gas stove (the 424 is) but still works! Thanks for confirming my decision to buy!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

It could just be seals and marketing. A side by side comparison would be interesting.

[@vitalsteve1]

awesome info, this is just what i was looking for as i just started getting some naptha stoves for SHTF and camping. good to know old fuels still work amazing just take longer.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@plain625]

What a great, thorough review! Thanks so much for putting this info out here to the masses. I've always wondered about using gasoline but was reluctant that I might ruin my stove but looks like it will just need a more frequent cleaning. Really, Thanks again for a comprehensive test that should answer 90% of our questions!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@peterchilds9491]

Thank you. Just got my late Father-In-Law's old Coleman and was looking what to burn in it. After 10 years plus..it fired right up. I wish I knew what he put in it last.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Coleman fuel [naptha] is the standard, use that

[@albedo0.392]

This is the best video about multi fuel in Coleman camping stoves

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks!

[@tc4421]

Very informative video. I’m prepping my Coleman 425f . Thanks so much for taking the time to do it it helped

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TonyMaine915]

Awesome testing! Thank you for all your hard work.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

You're welcome.

[@Chopinetto]

Excellent job. 👏 I rarely comments on KZbin videos but you did such outstanding informative video that it is quite useful for other countries where we don't have white gas. Thanks.

[@scottjohnson9912]

Being a prepper this is good info .

[@retrotechandelectronics]

More on the way

[@sherryn39455]

I am glad I finally found someone who actually used gas , I have been afraid to try it. I guess I thought that gas would just blow up if lit..

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Naphtha (whitegas) is just distilled petrol. Thats coleman fuel.

[@escapetherace1943]

what he said, white gas is still pretty much gasoline

[@kfl611]

I used 'white gas' in a coleman lamp, I didn't know it was gasoline. And when it is first lit, it shoots up a flame like 4 feet high. I was lucky I didn't melt my face off. After it is lit a few minutes and all the parts heat up, is calms down. I didn't know camp fuel was gas - like gasoline you ran in your car. And you can't beat a coleman, they were built to last forever.

[@davidoltmans2725]

Your denatured alcohol test was informative. I think that the alcohol has a higher flashpoint that inhibits the vaporization need to keep the cycle going.

[@davidcondie1880]

I've just restored a 48 year old Coleman 2 burner stove and did a boil test using fresh Naptha fuel to compare results. Interestingly my time was 6:44 minutes. I may not have had the flame turned up as much and my pot size was a smaller area but taller (Hiking style pot) so the heat transfer would have been different. Still, I'm more than happy to have it working again.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I can compare between fuels and so can you, but we cannot compare between stoves because of the variables, weather, pot metal, thickness, and other such conditions.

[@2010stoof]

Cool test. I have a 4-5 year old can but was stored most of its life inside. Has some rust since being outside. Trying to burn through it now. Got some crown gallons from Walmart. Half the price of Coleman.

[@allencaudill8473]

Just answered so many questions I wanted to know. Save me a lot of personal time

[@maritimegardening4887]

Thanks for making this video! I've always wondered about alternative fuels, but never had the guts to try them :)

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Now you don’t have to.

[@normanphair8488]

Thank you for spending so much time on it very informative enjoyed it save me a lot of time

[@retrotechandelectronics]

You're very welcome!

[@ClaraXu2014]

Thanks for sharing, bro, a good prospect on old fuel. I knew they would work ok, I ran through a can of 10-year-old fuel with no issue. But the amount of BTU is definitely reduced with old fule.

[@OsmanKErol]

I'm using RUG. Before lighting the stove, I always preheat the generator with a blow torch, then start using the stove with the lever down position from the start. Pure blue flames without any flares.

[@kentuckyhiker7071]

Awesome video!! I absolutely love my coleman gas camp appliances. I have used both gasoline and camp fuel in mine, and I too have found that the camp fuel runs hotter and cleaner. Thanks for sharing!!

[@capcon6]

Grest video RTE and thank you. I have used crown in both my lanterns and stove with no problems. Gas, I guess would be a last resort.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Right on

[@chuckberg5585]

Yes the older the fuel the less btu's. Good testing.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thank you.

[@skywaves5175]

I couldn't fine Coleman fuel but only Crown and haven't found any reviews on Crown white gas. This answers my questions about this brand. I will use old Coleman fuel for lanterns and new gas for stoves. Thanks for making this video.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad I could help!

[@redmark4349]

Thank you for the info. The issue with kerosene is the owful smell which c and end up in your food taste too.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Once its up to temperature, kerosene has no smell.

[@kfl611]

My mom grew up a share cropper, thus they didn't have electricity or running water. At some point they went from a wood burning stove to a kerosene stove and they thought they were really high class then. No wood to chop. In the 1950's they upgraded to a ranch house with electricity, but still no running water till 1969. Oh, the good old days. I think the stoves that were built to use kerosene might not have imparted such a strong kerosene taste to their food, as I would imagine a lot of them were sold to farms and people who lived in the country who didn't have electricity or city gas. I know the 'blue flame' kerosene stoves were heavily advertised in the 1920's and 1930's.

[@Bucky1836]

I got 3 kerosense wick stoves...they dont smell

[@keithbeshears2983]

So I hadn't ran either of my stoves, a 425 and a multifuel, for like 15 yeara. Both had left over coleman fuel in them from last use. 1t years. Both when I removed the fuel cap had air preasure. I closed both up. They both lit and burned on 15 year old fuel. Had 3/4 full can of coleman fuel say at least 10 year old. The upper two thirds of the can burned fine in my stoves and lantern. But the lower portion would burn in my 4wt stove but sounded like a sick jet engine. The throat of the venturi tube heated and glowed red. Amaxing what these devices do.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

The fuel is hydroscopic, theres a good chance the container may have lots of rust in it and should be cleaned out. The pressure is only caused by a difference in air temperature outside and inside the container. Eventually you end up sucking in water and rust fragments into the generator section.

[@retiredatforty]

Excellent video. Answered a lot of my questions. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Very welcome!

[@cajuncookone]

I really enjoyed your review!!!! Thank you very much for taking the time. Cheers, David T.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Zelleram55]

Great information, thank you for sharing. I just got one of these old stoves.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Its a great stove.

[@RVingwithG]

@@retrotechandelectronics If I may... Try adding a CAP or two of (yellow) HEAT to your OLD White gas and Test it!? :)

[@harrisonmantooth3647]

@@RVingwithG I was wondering if that HEET would help to remove any moisture in the fuel. I have a couple of gallons of Coleman fuel that's been out of a protected environment and thought about giving it a try. Thanks for reinforcing my thoughts.

[@dwainseppala4469]

Switching between fuels: you need to change the jet orifice size to accommodate each fuel. Then the alcohol would work great. I use alcohol on one of my stoves.

[@danmartens2668]

Would alcohol need a larger or smaller orifice

[@mikem5475]

@@danmartens2668 technically alcohol has less BTU's compared to naptha, also known as white gas or coleman fuel, so alcohol should take a larger orifice, but with this man claiming overfueling and flooding, the actual amswer may be much more complicated, includimg generator sizing or design differences

[@danmartens2668]

@@mikem5475 awesome ! Now going to experiment with an explosive discovery 😳🥴😅

[@mikem5475]

@@danmartens2668 it should never be dangerous unless you let the pressure vessel or fuel tank fumes reach the flame, it only puts out about enough to keep the burners going

[@gatsbylee2773]

wonderful!! this is the first video I've seen that checks the deposit as well. good job!!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks.

[@emilymcfadden4360]

Great analysis. Only prob with kerosene if the generator will clog in short order, might work a few times b4 failure of generator.

[@kbjerke]

That was information I was looking for. THANK you. Subscribed.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Welcome!

[@bobsyeruncle4841]

top information and testing well done sir appreciated

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks 👍

[@allenwilson2395]

Awesome. Answered my questions on my newly purchased stove.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Awesome. Enjoy it.

[@ScampCamper]

Enjoyed the video. Based on how clean the generator looked after using the Coleman fuel, I think I'll stick with that unless it's an emeergency situation. I keep thinking about getting a Blackstone, but the Lodge 16.75" griddle fits perfectly on top of my 425 so that works for me.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Yeah I would use different fuels for any old reason, I stick with coleman fuel unless I have no other means.

[@PP-ob8zr]

Thank you for this review. Nicejob!! 😊👍

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks!

[@albedo0.392]

What an amazing video. VERY useful

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danburch9989]

To burn alcohol in those stoves, the orifice needs to be larger to get more fuel to mix with the air. That's why alcohol burns a little better with the lever up. It takes a resizing of the generator's orifice. Otherwise, you're burning a lean mixture. The generator turns the liquid fuel from tne tank into a vapor.

[@jandyke9995]

Great review and results. On ke ro turn up the light lever for a minute before shutting down the stove, that helps to burn 3xcess fuel out of the genny. That's how the older stoves operated

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I was not aware of this, but I guess that would purge off the rest as fumes, vice fuel.

[@weijingburr2392]

Thank you. This was enlightening to say the least.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@terrym3543]

Great video very informative. Would have loved to have seen how fresh gas would have performed compared to the older gas.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Older gas with ethanol, would have less energy per litre, and older gas would absorb water, having even less energy density.

[@smky143]

Nice, I love kerosene and don't mind the smell. I've never had any go bad on me.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Its not my first choice.

[@farmlifeoffgrid]

Great video, we got one of these as a gift. Now I dont need to test fuels out myself

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad to help...

[@tetrialanderror9819]

Lot of good info. Thanks for taking the time to put this out. I was wondering if Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer would make much of a deference in the fouling of the generator?

[@craigjohnson3603]

No, sta bil just puts a coating of oil on top of fuel for short term storage to keep down oxygen degeneration. Like a 3 month seasonal storage period.

[@nathanduckeorth806]

Very good test,I have wondered about the use of regular gasoline being cheaper or if it would actually even work! But I see the Colman fuel burns cleaner, for as much as I use mine think I'll just use the correct Colman fuel!!!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

It’s always recommended. But good to know what to use in an emergency

[@BarkingPup]

Thank you for this! I'm slowly moving more off grid in my trailer and I hate propane. Super difficult to fill 100 lb tanks; heaters use propane like it costs .00001 a lb; more than one item that uses it and you need a ton of pipes, adaptors, etc etc; if you only want one off grid fuel propane doesn't cover everything. I have a dual fuel stove and a catalytic heater. Looking for a lamp, which is somehow more difficult. The less fuels I have to carry around and store, the better!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

White gas works. But isnt cheap.

[@Ecksterphono]

I would stick to the fuel it was made for. That spring in the generator stem is actually a radiator that radiates heat evenly to turn the fluid into a gas state while it travels into the manifold and into the burners, secondly it also prevents flare-up in the line or surging of the fuel. These so called radiator spring tailor the amount of fuel by the pressure in tank and capillary action of the heated fuel or spiral action of vaporization to reach the burner uniformly and light it evenly. Without that spring the stem tube would rupture from flare up and cause serious burns or injury or the burner not to perform properly and burn evenly around the whole ring. Plus it's a sweet spot for the secondary burner to burn evenly as well. By putting different fuels in that tank you can damage that radiator by overheating it by using different fuels. You would need to calibrate that spring if you run different fuels in the tank. Yes some coleman stoves run dual fuels but the radiator spring is a different style made for dual fuel application. The spring also baffles the fuel to the right amount. Yes these stoves are old however I've seen a lot of burned out burners over a short time by people constantly using alternative fuels that don't fit the old stoves requirements. Always use the proper fuels for the stoves recommendations. Going above and beyond manufacturers recommendations can lead to unsuspected accidents in these old stoves. Yes they may be robust but one doesn't know when weak spots develop. By using the proper fuels your stove will last even that much longer with a bit of routine maintenance. That's why I don't like the youtube bandwagon too much. It may work but will it last and is or economical and safe. Remember, safety is also the number one priority.

[@AxtionMag]

Dude, seriously?? 🙄

[@Ecksterphono]

@@AxtionMag What one see's on KZbin is short term. Everybody is joining the band wagon and using alternate fuels in units that are meant to take the required fuel. There are differences in the generator. They even offer conversion kits as well that you can buy. In the end it's the burner plates that take a toll in these units. In the end you're not running cheaper and more efficient. I've been doing a lot of repair work for over 30 years and the short comings in of short cutting are plentiful. I've seen people take a 70 year old unit and do the alternate fuel thing and depending how long they used it 2 to 5 years they say mine is still good, but it may take longer too heat or the second burner isn't as strong but its cheaper. Next thing you know bang a fuel leak developed while an individual left the unit unattended and almost burned the whole garage down. Then there are the majority of those that have a 70 now 80 year old unit and they stuck to the original products or fuels and they still work fine to this day. Remember short term gain, long term pain. I've seen antique dealers buy lamps and burners off a few of my collector friends and do conversions to alternate fuels only to call out my collectors saying they sold them a piece of junk and after me servicing them and finding out the burner plates and the orfices or metering valves were either eroded plugged or outright melted down I told the antique dealers that the wrong fuels were used and adapter kits were added for alternate fuels. There's still a lot of vintage upgrades out there or burners and lamps for industrial purposes. Back then things were built robust for the fuels that were supposed to be used, now everything used for its purpose and jetted and built for the fuel requirements. Everything now is a sales gimmick. A torture test of different fuels in one video and all these other bandwagon KZbin unknowlegeable individuals should be monetized especially when it comes to plumbing of gas appliances. Imagine if your house burned down and an insurance company found out you plumbed an appliance based on a KZbin video. You wouldn't be covered. When regarding this video I would not even post this to public so that an inexperienced individual does this. You have to have substantial evidence and thorough lengthy testing and must meet safety standard regulations for your region. Don't be surprised that this video isn't going to be monetized for safety regulations. One has to ask. Is the one doing this video a certified gas fitter or plumber?

[@twowitnesses2993]

Very well done video RETRO. I would of liked to see the adapter used that you can use a propane cannister with just cause you have me curious now,. Excellent video, thanks..

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I thought of it, but in a pinch nobody runs out to buy a propane adapter. that wouldnt be an emergency auxillary fuel.

[@Captain_Char]

I know this is an old vid but you can get coleman gas caps for their lanterns and stoves that have a pressure guage in them so you can see when you need to pump

[@retrotechandelectronics]

The performance also dictates when pressure is too low..

[@irishn8]

Definitely a very informative video, thank you.

[@hemlock5396]

Very well done!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks.

[@adctex]

Hello .... I have a single mantle (kerosene powered) Coleman lantern that was made back in the 1950's. It has a small cup that alcohol is placed into and lighted to pre-heat the generator. Because kerosene became difficult to find, I decided to give common charcoal lighter (as in BBQ pits) a try and it worked amazingly great and still to this day is an easily available fuel source. Likely too late now, but I would liked to have seen you use the charcoal lighter as a fuel for the camp stove... 99% sure it would work without problems. Also suspect that mineral spirits ( as in paint thinner) will also work in place of kerosene. Also wonder if a mixture of "kerosene" type fuel and unleaded gasoline might do well.... Thanks for the video....

[@PHILDRU911]

I heard 30°/, camp gas and 70°/, kerosene for kerosene lanterns.

[@russbrumbelow3553]

Great information.

[@Thereal111t]

The main reason one would pick kerosene is indeed cost. Buying it in the one quart can is very expensive. In the northeast, where oil furnaces are common, it is not uncommon to find kerosene for sale at rural gas stations from a pump. At $3-4/gallon beats even crown camp fuel by quite a bit. It’s a bit annoying to get running on a stove designed for white gas, but for long term use it is far cheaper. It’s also more pure and stable than gasoline.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Kerosine works just fine, just harder to start, and stinks to holy hell when shut off.

[@ClaraXu2014]

@@retrotechandelectronics To reduce Kerosene smell, turn the lever up one minute before you shut it off, which will burn off most of it in the generator. Bur burning kerosene will quickly clog up your genny, which requires constant cleaning and maintenance. If it's for cost reasons, just run low octane regular unleaded, it's much more volatile, less sooty thank Kerosene. Coleman stove is designed to run on white gas, it burns cleaner, you will have less headache long term. But if you don't mind constant maintenance, it works on unleaded or kerosene. Cheers!

[@styledliving]

@@ClaraXu2014 you can actually distill gasoline from its additives relatively easily w/ a standard electric hotplate you'd find in chem class. The additives, like the detergent package, do not evaporate easily, though the other 150 or so components of gasoline like toluene/benzene/xylene/etc can. You don't need the fancy glassware like the graham oil condenser, but it does make it a lot faster. Just do everything outdoors so you don't have to worry about the buildup of combustible fumes in home, unless you have a lab rated fume hood.

[@semperfi-1918]

I got a few of these old things and have them for backup. I have the coleman 533 for the single burner gotta go carry in woods backup. Works well.

[@jonyjonsy]

Thank you very much for doing the kerosene as well. (This means diesel will just fine! Kero and diesel are very very similar) 😊

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Lots have asked me to do a separate diesel video

[@phoenixrising4073]

Curious if adding a little bit of methanol would help that old fuel burn a little better? I know it seems like a crutch but honestly if it works it's cheaper than buying a new gallon of white gas. Plus it's just fun to tinker with stuff. Great video! I see I'm 3 years late to the party lol

[@dansklrvids7303]

Excellent video - very helpful

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@luisguillermoriveraf]

Really good experiment! thanks for share!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks for watching!

[@anthonycolbourne4206]

Coleman does also make "dual fuel" models of their stoves that have modified generator elements that are more tolerant to "dirtier" burning fuels like regular gasoline.

[@usb6009]

Excellent job

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thank you very much!

[@MrBilld75]

Saw a guy do it with Kerosene and wrap copper wire around the bar over the element. He got it up to temp by using hand sanitizer, but say you could use fire paste, iso alcohol or like you did, give it a little fire under the bar to preheat it. After it's going Kerosene can work quite well actually, yup.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

There are several good techniques for this.

[@fishinjunky]

Wow. Exactly what I was looking for. Fantastic work! I’m buying one Coleman, maybe two tomorrow. I’ll feel better about using gasoline. The kerosene burn was awesome!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Remember gasoline has lots of chemicals in it.

[@franciscosaavedrazepeda4065]

Very good job

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks.

[@shahbhui2417]

Thanks for the detailed testing

[@retrotechandelectronics]

You’re welcome

[@shahbhui2417]

@@retrotechandelectronics by any chance did you do any test on how long a tank of gas last at full power.

[@Bohnzye]

Fantastic research and data contribution! Thank you for shareing a wealth of information. Great presentation. "Coleman Collector":))

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@seamanjive]

Great vid, a lot of work there....thx

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@redoak3809]

Awesome video! As you said... Kerosine will pool if you cook on low. Need to keep heat on at least medium. It is easy to toss an alcohol stove inside the suitcase stove as long as you adjust the height, etc. so that it sits under the grate and the suitcase provides wind resistance and a little safety when using the stove. Just make sure to remove the little Swiss burner when using the Coleman stove burners. Other than necesitate cleaning, I am wondering if this would be a useful and practical way of getting rid ofl older gaseline by running in the stove. Have you tried one of the multi-fuel newer suitcase stoves to see how they function?

[@bayangpunla6991]

Great job, thank you now I know that kerosene can burn in my new Coleman powerhouse

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad to help

[@JCWren]

Probably someone else said this, but it's probably more a case of the volatile components evaporating in the old fuel than it is absorbing moisture. Gasoline is the most volatile of those fuels you tested, and there's just something about a pressurized tank of gasoline that I find a little uncomfortable. Of course, since they're all volatile to some extent, and all pressurized, it's probably like "would you rather have 1/2 of a stick of dynamite or 1/3 of a stick of dynamite go off in your hand?" :) Coleman actually said something about burning gasoline, and I think you'll find yourself cleaning the system more often because of the detergents and other additives. They do say you can use white gas, which was straight gasoline with no additives, but you can't find that anymore.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

No doubt, in the end, Whitegas is the way to go.

[@LinhNguyen-ev8wq]

Great video. I'm interested in if propane is any better (using one of those propane converter).

[@antibrevity]

Very interesting. I didn't think that white gas degraded much over time and am still using a can that's more than 35 years old, but your numbers here were too different to be explained by differences in tank pressure or something; the old white gas seems genuinely inferior.

[@earljklec1684]

Great information !!! Going to get some Crown

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Awesome!

[@MyIronman8]

sitting on the shelf for 10 years and it's still lights like like that I'll take it

[@retrotechandelectronics]

So long as it was put away properly, it could do that 50 years later.

[@nicezz109]

good video for sharing the information.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad you liked it

[@ruihu2137]

Great information !!! Thank you for sharing!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

My pleasure!

[@zer0tzer0]

Coleman Fuel is White Gas but it has a stabilizer and a rust inhibitor added, so it should last longer.