MSR XGK White Gas Stove How To Use In-Depth (4k UHD)

I show you how to use the MSR XGK White Gas Stove and white gas stoves in general. I talk about the nuances of the stove and many of the considerations you need to think about.
Learn more about this class of stove in my book Adventure Expedition One: amzn.to/3xhG0gE.
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[@ALinsdau]

My Complete Denali solo expedition gear list: www.aaronlinsdau.com/solo-denali-gear-list/ My books on this topic: Lost at Windy Corner (what it's like to be alone on Denali): amzn.to/2EEZN0K Adventure Expedition One (how to expedition): amzn.to/3xhG0gE

[@bzajicek]

One good piece of advice. The MSR XGK which I have been using in harsh environments for many years taught me a trick that will save you a lot of cleaning. When you turn off the flame, a little golden flame will come out of the nozzle. Don't let it burn as it deposits carbon gunk directly in the nozzle, always blow it out immediately.

[@ALinsdau]

Great tip!

[@aidasberzinskas4288]

Is it accurate that it can boil water quicker off of kerosene than white gas? On the specs for this stove I saw that kerosene boil time is significantly quicker than the white gas time. However the Diesel burn time was a lot longer than both of them which doesn’t make sense to me because I already would think white gas it would be quicker. And if anything, kerosene would be pretty similar to diesel.

[@Inspectergadget69]

I'm finding that flipping the bottle on the XGK works best and when the flame goes out immediately close the valve.

[@m.k.7199]

I've had the original XGK stove from the late 1970's and I still use it winter mountaineering. Runs great and multifuel. I don't recommend diesel. A friend of mine ran out of white gas and used diesel. It burned, but everything smelled like diesel fuel.

[@ALinsdau]

Too true @ diesel. Climb safe!

[@BushCampingTools]

One point I'd like to make, to deactivate these things, i find it better to invert the stove and degas it like that. Obviously one has to do this outside of the vestibule or hut or in a well ventilate area away from any sources of ignition but the fuel will quickly vaporise and then there will be no chance of any liquid fuel leaking out of the pipe when the tank is disconnected. I'm pretty sure i've made several videos on this operation some years back.

[@ALinsdau]

Thanks for the pointer!

[@craigshelton5903]

Outstanding clarity!

[@dmytrodance]

Hi! To prevent fuel spillage people advise to flip the tank so the stove is starting to take the gas, not the liquid. The gas will burn out and your tube will be empty with no fuel inside.

[@ALinsdau]

Great pointers!

[@Inspectergadget69]

I think the recommendation of the Expedition Service Kit and a spare pump are sound. I had my XGK with a fault on the filter from new. It eventually completely blocked after several litres of fuel being burnt. It also came with a damaged but entirely usable GK jet and finally I managed to snap the shaker needle off. The shaker needle can be broken on this stove, unlike on the Dragonfly and my Nova, simply by screwing the jet onto the needle during reassembly and it flat on the ground. This is a design issue i think as it doesn't happen on other stoves, as I mentioned. It is what it is though so YES, you must insert the shaker needle into the jet and screw it in while holding it sideways or upside down...I suggest you hop around on one leg and chant Hare Krishna at the same time to ensure success.

[@ALinsdau]

Good pointer - that's a delicate item on the stove.

[@Horseyhorsehorseface]

SUCH a helpful video, thank you!

[@ALinsdau]

You're so welcome!

[@Moosecoaster]

Hi Aaron, love you videos and just saw your Denali gear list for the first time, love it. I’ve used msr xgk stoves for ever with mostly good results. Had an epic on Cho oyu trying to burn kerosine and priming with yak dung. I’m having a grass is greener on the other side moment and considering buying in to the whisperlite stove. I’ll be heading to Denali for a 4th time with only my wife and might leave the mega mid at home, spend more time cooking in the vestibule. I read that boil times are the same for the xgk and whisperlite, while whisperlite is lighter and quieter. Do you have any experience with the whisperlite? Can you comment? The flare up always seems to be exciting in the vestibule with the xgk, wondering if that’s more controllable with the whisperlite? Second question, I’ve mostly used a plywood cook board under my stoves. Even with the board, snow melts underneath with system tilting to one side. Not really a problem. Could I really get by with just the oven pans? That would be great. Note, I’m a big guy, boil and drink a lot of water. Great time this winter to go test. Last question. The canister stoves seemed to be popular in the Himalayas. Is there something the international crowd knows that we don’t? Different canister gas ratios?

[@Inspectergadget69]

I use mine on diesel very successfully and prime with alcohol. I use kerosene also and would use Shellite last as it produces the least heat (but is the easiest to prime if you use fuel from the stove). I use kerosene on my Optimus Nova and again it puts out way more heat than petrol. These fuels are safer too in event of doing something careless. I'm not a mountain climber or antarctic explorer though. Possibly in some conditions Shellite is better.

[@ALinsdau]

It pretty much burns anything compressible.

[@bonpecheur4565]

At 18:05 , melting water , geez , thats a hell of a stove 😋

[@ALinsdau]

Thanks for watching!

[@BushCampingTools]

LOL, cut my teeth on the second generation XGK (straight pipe, poorly designed pot holder and super bendy aluminium shell around the bell) been to almost 6000m with it LOl over 30 years old and still going strong (obviously serviced several times in that period).

[@ALinsdau]

Nice - be safe out there.

[@ericice1751]

What do you think of the Primus OmniLite TI?

[@aidasberzinskas4288]

Is it accurate that it can boil water quicker off of kerosene than white gas? On the specs for this stove I saw that kerosene boil time is significantly quicker than the white gas time. However the Diesel burn time was a lot longer than both of them which doesn’t make sense to me because I already would think white gas it would be quicker. And if anything, kerosene would be pretty similar to diesel.

[@ALinsdau]

Very possible, I've not tested that. Finding kerosene might be a challenge in some locations.

[@easygroove]

Wish MSR would use a thin, flexible and longer hose like SOTO

[@ALinsdau]

That'd be nice.

[@Rompack]

Hi Aaron, I am currently thinking about getting a stove. Because you mensioned... What is gonna be the last hight you would use a canister stove system? Because of the handyness I'd prefer the MSR Windburner over the MSR XGK EX. But I am not sure if I'm gonna make a mistake, when I get it. I'll not use it above 5000m. What do you recommend me?

[@ALinsdau]

I'd skip cannister above 11k feet (3,400m). Some use it higher but cannisters become troublesome. Stay safe out there.

[@uknighthuntingvision93]

So does the MSR XGK come fitted from the factory with the white gas jet or do I have to swap it out to the other jet in the spares pack?

[@ALinsdau]

Mine came with the White Gas jet. The Diesel jet is separate in the kit.

[@GalesTales]

I've noticed some people leave the fuel pump in all the time until their bottle is empty, not put on the original cap. What are your thoughts on doing this?

[@ALinsdau]

My concern is damaging the fuel pump during the day's activities. Leaving the pump in is more efficient but higher risk. YMMV

[@the_guardians_of_the_universe]

Hi AL, I'm your viewer, subscriber with 8 accounts, liker and commentator. Sometimes I'm a KZbin premium, sometimes I got ads and I don't skip your Ad. Question: I wonder, why you don't use a burner silencer, like Quietstove 107 or Berniedawg's XGK Dawg? Thanks

[@ALinsdau]

Looks like nice products. I like to be able to hear the stove for tuning & safety. The moment the pitch/tone changes, I can tell that the fuel bottle needs pumping for maximum efficiency.

[@the_guardians_of_the_universe]

@@ALinsdau I've tried the Quietstove 107 with MSR Dragonfly, with fuel LPG (butane), white gas and biodiesel (I've run out of kerosene). The loudest was biodiesel, the sound decreased by around 50% only. But the priming time was easier and quicker. The second is my favourite but the most expensive: white gas, I can sense that the noise decreased by 90%. The quietest is when I tried with LPG (butane), I sense that the noise decreased by 90%, or maybe more. The boiling time feels the same, it does not feel to be slower. For all the 3 fuels I use the same nozzle: DG (it was because I cannot unscrew the nozzle - again). I've modified the hose to support the Lindal connector type, and then changed the pump with the one from BRS.

[@davidm8354]

Hi, sorry to deviate off your video but do air lines allow a passenger to carry two separate 26800mah power banks on board with their carry on bag

[@ALinsdau]

You'll have to verify with the airline to be safe - rules change all the time.