This is my first time to jump in the forum although I've been reading for a month since joining the internet. Who can explain all the different types of fuel? I have the gas aand diesel down but when it comes to fueling lamps and stoves etc... I am confused about the different names - coleman fuel, lamp oil are vague. Then there is Kerosene and propane, liquid paraffin etc...(Feel free to add to my list). What is the breakdown on fuels, what is interchangeable or same product but different names, safety info appreciated as is storage info and what is used for what equipment? My father is finally preparing but stated he is using citronella lamp oil for his lamps because he can buy it cheap but I am uncertain if that is safe if used indoors. Oh yes, please share the best sources(price & quantity) for stocking up. I have enjoyed all the educational info from previous threads(? lingo!) So thanks to all. Diana

-- Diana (count@428.day), October 30, 1998

Answers

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!! Oh, ok, sorry, I thought it was the OTHER one. Whew! (Good question, I'm sure somebody can help....)

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), October 30, 1998.

Wow, Diana, that's quite a shopping list. Guess you saved up all your questions for one post, eh? Let's see what we can do:

OK -- lamps and stove:

Coleman fuel is a brand of what's known as white gas. A long time ago we had regular gas and white gas. Then we removed the lead from gas (unleaded) and the two are nearly the same. Coleman fuel is a form of regular (unleaded)gas without a lot of the additives that are used in cars. It can be used in stoves that are made for gas. It can not be used for anything except appliances (lamps and stoves) that are designed to use it. One advantage of Coleman fuel is that it will keep a long time because it is sealed in cans (assuming that yopu don't open the can). I've heard of experiments where guys kept a can of Coleman for 5 years and then used it in chain saws (adding oil as required, of course). It is highly flamable.

is a form kerosene. Generally the lamp oil burns a little cleaner than kero, and is more expensive. Good storage (nearly indefinite lifetime). Don't know about the citronella lamp oil. Oh yes, the governements finally got into the act and we now have clear kero and dyed kero.....evidently somebody was avoiding road taxes by burning kero. You can use kero or lamp oil in lamps, wouldn't recommend using lamp oil in kerosene heaters simply because of the cost. Stores well (nearly indefinite life), fairly safe to handle. Can be used in heaters, lamps, and some stoves (Alpaca makes a kerosene stove)

Propane is also called LP.....it's a liquid form of gas similiar to natural gas, except that it is kept in tanks under pressure. These tanks can run from the small ones you can buy in a hardware store that fit onto soldering torches or small lamps, up to the 20 pound size that can be found with propane barbecue grills, the even large 100 pound size that comes with some campers and RV, and then the big 500 or 1000 gallon tanks that fit in the yard. You can get a lot of appliances to run on propane: hot water heaters, ranges, refrigerators, generators, furnaces, space heaters (which don't require electricity). It's very versatile. If I were to start with a clean sheet of paper and design my place for sufficiency I would choose propane as the main fuel. [I didn't do that, darn it!]. Nearly indefinite life.

Heating oil can be used for furnaces and space heaters, and for runing diesel engines. More limited life as a diesel fuel.....up to about 5 years with additives.

Cost is going to depend on location.

Because of the confusion associated with Y2K I am planning to have a choice of several fuels. For example, I will keep kerosene, and both a kerosene heater and oil lamps. I'll keep a small amount of lamp oil, but if things extend out for a period of time I expect to burn kerosene. I also have an outdoor grill and will have a total of 6 20 pound tanks filled and stored. [If I have time and resources I am also going to buy a kerosene stove.] The propane will cook most of my meals, and I have a propane lantern. I have begun to buy Coleman fuel with the intent of using it and the oil I have store in my chain saw. My home is heated from a boiler that is fired from either wood or heating oil. The entire mess should get me through several months, and I have a choice of using whatever may become available. [I also expect to have 10 people here, so we'll use a lot.]

Hope this helps. Regards,

rocky

-- rocky (rknolls@hotmail.com), October 30, 1998.

close

-- rocky (rknolls@hotmail.com), October 30, 1998.

Good catch , Jack!!! No, I wouldn't empty my mind to meditate as a new ager, you never know what you might catch! I follow the Bible that says to meditate "ON THE WORD" (they always leave that part out) day and night. Best not get that topic started again Gayla and Uncle Deedah are watching and that subject gets sooooo messy! THANK YOU very much Rocky, your info set me straight, we have a propane grill with an extra burner so there is my stove (we are moving and hope to add a wood stove also )and I have my oil lamps and 100 hr candles. (SONLIGHTCANDLES.COM) It has been 20 yrs since I lived outside Fairbanks AK and couldn't remember using anything other than lamp oil and a wood stove (we had no electric and survived just fine thru 3 wks of 50 below weather although the outhouse was rather chilly! Still have a question about that liquid paraffin since that was mentioned by someone at Larry Burkett's ministry CFCMINISTRY.ORG go to the library for y2k. Wish I could do all that highlighting stuff to get you there direct but I'm real new to all this internet travel! Thanks, again! Diana

-- Diana (count@428.day), October 30, 1998.

Here's a few thoughts that may help:

As an alternative to (or in addition to) using propane on an outdoor grill, you may consider purchasing a Dual-Fuel Coleman camping stove. It's much smaller and more portable than a grill and can interchangably use white gas, kerosene or unleaded gasoline so it offers flexibility. A single burner stove goes for under $30 dollars (you can get one with two burners for about $20 more). These stoves use fuel much more efficiently than most propane grills. The flame is hotter and much closer to your pot which lets water boil much faster thereby using less. A five gallon can of gas should keep the stove going for months. Rotate the gas into your car every few months to keep it fresh. If storing gas is a problem, you could use a $5 hand-pumped syphon hose and pull gas from your car to use for cooking in emergencies.

I do plan on using my grill as well (with several backup tanks). But note, if your burner is a few years old, you may want to replace it now. Rust tends to open up the burner holes resulting in an inefficient yellow flame. A new burner always burns blue which is hotter and uses less fuel.

-- David (dbowerman@synertech.highmark.com), October 30, 1998.

Diane, Citronella is meant for outside use to repel insects and has a very strong odor. I can't stand the smell of them myself it makes me nauseous and I never use them outside, I'd rather feel sticky with a spray instead. If you use citronella inside for lighting, it would quickly overpower you, if not make you sick physically.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), October 30, 1998.

Chris, I used to rub on pure Oil of Citronella to keep mosquitos off while fishing. More effective than commercial preparations. So I have breathed a lot of the vapor and I'm not sick yet. It will make your skin burn a little though - so I started mixing a 4oz bottle of it with about a pound of petroleum jelly. Cuts down on both expense and the burning sensation. Nowadays I would probably try mixing with an aloe vera gel lotion (unscented) and see what that got me.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), November 02, 1998.

Direct from the horse's mouth:Info on the dual-fuel Coleman stoves - From The Coleman Co. in Wichita, Kansas.The info I collected and calculations I per- formed took about 3-4 hours.This is accurate info. Based on running stove for 365 days....... _____________________________________________________stove#414(2-burner) fuel tank capacity 56ozs.(3.5pts.).Will run 2 hours on hi-setting with both burners on -or- 4 hours on main burner. stove#428(3-burner) fuel tank capacity also 56 ozs.(3.5pts.) Will run 2 hours on hi-setting with all 3 burners on -or- 4 hours on main burner. Both stoves are 17,000 BTUs.Stove#414 has 1 main burner rated 9,000 BTU and the other auxilary burner at 8,000.Stove#428 has 1 main burner rated at 8,000 BTU and 2 auxilary burners at 4,500 BTUs each. Based on running any one of the stoves 4 hours on hi-main burner only or 2 hours on hi- all burners, each day,everyday for 1 year, you will need 160 gallons of unleaded regular gasoline.You will also need 12 stove generators (part# 414-5621,works for either stove,$13.50 each) because they stop working after about 125-150 hours of service when you use unleaded gas.With coleman fuel you get 250-300 hours out of one but with coleman fuel running at least $3.00 a gallon, it is more economical overall to use the unleaded gas.Coleman's # is 1-800-835-3278.It is much cheaper to order the stove generators directly from Coleman. Ask for Doris. I hope someone has found this info useful.Best regards, Peter.

-- Peter (pkr1000@webtv.net), November 03, 1998.

Direct from the horse's mouth:Info on the dual-fuel Coleman stoves - From The Coleman Co. in Wichita, Kansas.The info I collected and calculations I per- formed took about 3-4 hours.This is accurate info. Based on running stove for 365 days....... _____________________________________________________stove#414(2-burner) fuel tank capacity 56ozs.(3.5pts.).Will run 2 hours on hi-setting with both burners on -or- 4 hours on main burner. stove#428(3-burner) fuel tank capacity also 56 ozs.(3.5pts.) Will run 2 hours on hi-setting with all 3 burners on -or- 4 hours on main burner. Both stoves are 17,000 BTUs.Stove#414 has 1 main burner rated 9,000 BTU and the other auxilary burner at 8,000.Stove#428 has 1 main burner rated at 8,000 BTU and 2 auxilary burners at 4,500 BTUs each. Based on running any one of the stoves 4 hours on hi-main burner only or 2 hours on hi- all burners, each day,everyday for 1 year, you will need 160 gallons of unleaded regular gasoline.You will also need 12 stove generators (part# 414-5621,works for either stove,$13.50 each) because they stop working after about 125-150 hours of service when you use unleaded gas.With coleman fuel you get 250-300 hours out of one but with coleman fuel running at least $3.00 a gallon, it is more economical overall to use the unleaded gas.Coleman's # is 1-800-835-3278.It is much cheaper to order the stove generators directly from Coleman. Ask for Doris. I hope someone has found this info useful.Best regards, Peter.

-- Peter (pkr1000@webtv.net), November 03, 1998.

Addendum:Don't forget your fuel stabilizer if your storing gas for any length of time longer than a month.STA-BIL can be found at most auto parts stores. Two 32 oz bottles run about $18.00 and will treat and preserve 160 gallons of gas for up to one year.Also you could order PRI-G fuel treatment by mail order off the Internet-treats 512 gallons for up to one year for $25.00.Just put PRI-G fuel treatment in your search engine to find the company that sells it. Peter

-- Peter (pkr1000@wbtv.net), November 03, 1998.

I have just discovered that it is not recommended using any STA-BIL fuel treated gasoline in dual-fuel stoves or lanterns.It is ok for genertors though. I am finding out if the PRI-G fuel treatment/stab- ilizer is safe for the Coleman stoves&lanterns.Will post soon.

-- Peter (pkr1000@webtv.net), November 03, 1998.

Sorry for the conflicting reports but according to the engineers at Coleman,it is okay to use STA-BIL treated regular unleaded gasoline in the dual-fuel lanterns & stoves.They als told me that when filling the tanks,only fill them 75% full. This allows for a more efficient vaporization burning process.Don't forget to oil your pumps on the stoves & lanterns every 3 months. 10 drops of light lubricating oil will do. Note: PRI-G stabilizer for the gasoline is also safe to use in Coleman DUEL- FUEL appliances.

-- Peter (pkr1000@webtv.net), November 05, 1998.

Sorry for the conflicting reports but according to the engineers at Coleman,it is okay to use STA-BIL treated regular unleaded gasoline in the dual-fuel lanterns & stoves.They also told me that when filling the tanks,only fill them 75% full. This allows for a more efficient vaporization burning process.Don't forget to oil your pumps on the stoves & lanterns every 3 months. 10 drops of light lubricating oil will do. Note: PRI-G stabilizer for the gasoline is also safe to use in Coleman DUEL- FUEL appliances.

-- Peter (pkr1000@webtv.net), November 05, 1998.

Please keep in mind that storing fuel in larger amounts can be extremely dangerous to you and to those around you. Wood or coal stoves could be a safer alternative for cooking. Seasons' Greetings

-- Peter (pkr1000@webtv.net), November 05, 1998.