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Any problems using unleaded for cooking? Any problems using unleaded for cooking?
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  #1  
Old 4 Feb 2010
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Any problems using unleaded for cooking?
In the thread about how to get fuel for cooking out of the tank, I suppose a lot of people use unleaded for cooking.

I have done that too in my Optimus Nova+ and after a few days I had to clean it every second day and even after cleaning, it didn't work very well.

Optimus says unleaded CAN be used, but is not recommended because of all the additives in unleaded.

Is this a general problem with unleaded or is it a problem with some brands of burners ?

Which burners can be used for a length of time on unleaded without cleaning ?

I've used diesel without problems except soot on the cooking vessels.
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  #2  
Old 4 Feb 2010
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I use a Coleman dual fuel burner, it works well. The downside to unleaded is that it makes toast taste like shit!
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Old 4 Feb 2010
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I use Unleaded all the time in my MSR Dragonfly, never had to clean it yet (apart from mud ' n food spils), and I've been using it for three years.

It's just a tad noisy.......
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Old 4 Feb 2010
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Unleaded seems to vary massively. I've used "motorway" unleaded without problems, this tends to be fresh and from a branded petrol station. I've had hassle with old fuel and stuff from small garages. My feeling is that modern fuels are highly intolerant of water and don't stay fresh for long. A squirt of white spirit in the tank helps, but you'll still end up cleaning the jet.

Andy
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Old 4 Feb 2010
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My colemans 533 is as reliable as a rock. I often fill my bottle with old fuel if I have it lying around the garage and it works just fine. The only time I've had soot problems is when I'm above 2000m but it still has enough power to cook quickly. Even then I haven't had to clean it.
Last edited by Flyingdoctor; 4 Feb 2010 at 21:48.
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Old 4 Feb 2010
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My coleman is fine with unleaded; burns a clean blue flame almost straight away and I haven't had to clean it yet.

It didn't like 50:1 two-stroke pre-mix but after a tank of unleaded, it regained it's composure.
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Old 4 Feb 2010
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I am still digesting the written materials that came with My Primus omnifuel. One thing I notice is that paraffin/kerosene will burn for more than 25% longer than petrol. They seem to say it works best with cannister gas but you 'can' burn other fuels, then lists the disadvantages of all other fuels.
from the manual, albeit abridged.
white gas, coleman type is good, leaves some deposits.
petrol: should only be used in exceptional circumstances due to deposits being left in fuel system and for health reasons.
kerosene, more difficult to prime, more soot and necessitates frequent cleaning. Back in the 50's and 60's many people used these daily and then they caused no problem whatsoever, never seen one taken apart. Is the roarer burner the reason ??
Diesel should only be used when there is nothing else available as is worse than kerosene for soot/preheat/cleaning.


I have to say it is disappointing as coleman fuel is difficult to obtain locally and if I have to use Gaz I might as well stick to my ten year old £10 camping gaz stove which is many times smaller.
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Old 4 Feb 2010
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The Duvals put me on to a good tip!

When the stove starts to carbon up, go and buy some fuel injection cleaner. Drop some in the Coleman tank and the rest in the bike tank and the problem is solved

Glen
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Old 5 Feb 2010
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I cannot believe that anyone would make toast over a gasoline flame !
Injest those petroleum byproducts at your peril .
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Old 5 Feb 2010
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how many?
Quote:
Originally Posted by loxsmith View Post
I use a Coleman dual fuel burner, it works well. The downside to unleaded is that it makes toast taste like shit!

how many slices to a litre??
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Old 6 Feb 2010
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It definitely looks like there is a difference between unleaded bought on a polynesian atoll and a danish gasstation.

I just let my Nova+ burn for 80 minutes on unleaded and it worked perfectly.

Kind of irritating as I wanted to test the idea of using injection cleaner. I added it anyhow and there was a small improvement in flame stability when simmering.

400ml is supposed to be enough for 50 liters of gasolin, so 4ml for 1/2 liter of gas for cooking !
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Old 7 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by loxsmith View Post
I use a Coleman dual fuel burner, it works well. The downside to unleaded is that it makes toast taste like shit!
toast bread on the bottom of a dry frying pan, works better.

i used unleaded in my coleman for years with no probs
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Old 8 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DAVSATO View Post
toast bread on the bottom of a dry frying pan, works better.
Bread soaked in beaten eggs with Maple syrup even tastier
Primus multi stove and Optimus Nova+ - as was said B4, add a little fuel injector cleaner to your fuel bottle.
Bon appetit!
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