Optimus Nova stove?
 

Has anyone used one of these? - MSR-like but uses ALL fuels, even diesel, and can be simmered too! It sounds like the answer (I've read the long stove discussion below but thought I'd start afresh)

Chris S

------------------
Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

I've been looking at stoves and found the reviews on Outdoor Review make interesting reading (http://www.outdoorreview.com/reviews/Stoves/). Plenty of MSR (Dragonfly) users who have gone over to Optimus but I only found one (out of 127) who had gone the other way ! But does the Nova really burn leaded fuel without getting blocked - I could not find any evidence eitherway so still none the wiser.

Ian

If it's any help I've been using an Optimus 8R Hunter with leaded petrol (though optimus don't reccomend it) here in Africa for the past three months (not every day but lots) and it hasn't blocked yet.

Happy Cooking

Hi Ian 1 & 2., I also found those reviews and so ordered one yesterday and will pass on how it goes on leaded, unleaded and Algerian 'X-tra soot' diesel - as Ian 2 says, there can be no option but to use leaded fuel in the depths of Africa and the like, despite the percieved dangers to one's health (alloy pots are also bad for you, I hear). Talking to an MSR-owning mate reminded me how much he hates that thing!
I've also used Libyan leaded on my Coleman whatever and it hasnt blocked - they say a burn up on unleaded or white fuel can clean things out.

Chris S

The Nova was not so nifty, more later

CS

Chris,

I saw the Optima's at one of the LR shows and it seemed to the answer to my quest to find a stove that runs well on Diesel?

Your postings suggest otherwise? Any chance of an update?

(Also, the sales rep from the company at the Lr show was doing them for £75 - better than the £100 at camping stores etc)

Cheers, dj

------------------

I'll try it on some diesel tomorrow and let you know here.

(I'm due for a bath, anyway...)

Chris S

Did you drown in the bath Chris?

:-)

------------------

Well it worked in diesel OK but was less powerful, as you know. And the jamming hose/bottle connection valve was a turn off. The Optimus instructions imply that this is a weak point.
So I said, the Coleman is bulkier but feels safer and is ready to go.

Chris

Hi´!
I did extensive research before buying my NOVA. During the past years I tried other burners and owned two myself. None of these burners resisted blocking using poor fuel.
The NOVA does!
I have used it now for some 100´s hours (also with russian leaded 76 octane) without any problems. I haven´t tried diesel though as I always tap the fuel from my bike.
Is everything good with the NOVA then? No!
It spoils any cosy food preparation seance with jet-planelike noice (though it is slightly less than SOME other burners). It´s nice little size (which is very practical - fits within a Trangia set) means it is not quite as effective as some bigger burners.
Is it the best burner I have ever come by nonetheless? YES!

Thomas

Yes, noisy, that was another problem with the Nova - I guess the dodgy fuel squirting valve was just on mine.

Chris S

------------------
Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

>>despite the percieved dangers to one's >>health (alloy pots are also bad for you, I >>hear).

>>I've also used Libyan leaded on my Coleman >>whatever and it hasnt blocked - they say a >>burn up on unleaded or white fuel can >>clean things out.

Hi !!!. It seems to me that there's a misconception about leaded fuel.
"Leaded" fuel is petrol mixed with nominal quantities of tetraethyl lead (TEL) , in organic and liquid form . It is not (as some people seems to think petrol plus "small" chips of lead on it .
Therefore .. it won't block a stove jet. (if that would be the case... why doesnt block a petrol injector noozle -which is smaller- , and "uses" thousands of gallons of petrol in a car's lifetime ? (not to speak about "wet" electric fuel pumps!)
TEL (aka , the "lead" in the petrol) ,is liquid , mostly volatile , and with the little ammount of petrol burn in stoves absolutely assured not to block/clog any jet. (yes ... I am using leaded with mine ).

Regarding the health issues of "leaded" .. more of the same. Leaded petrol has been replaced by unleaded , because CARS WITH CATHALISTs CAN NOT RUN ON LEADED , not because the lead itself (actually there;s a big hype about the new lead replacement thing being much much more carcinogenic than Lead .

In brief ... for the ammount of fuel burnt in a petrol stove ... theres' nothin to worry about the toxic effects of TEL , neither the jet being clogged . IMHO , coleman indicates "unleaded" just because anything "unleaded" seems more "green , techhie , and ecological" .

Cheeeeers.

Chris

Did I hear you say that Colemans will be stopping making the dual fuel stoves. As I'm thinking of buying a Sportster II instead of using my Dragonfly.

Cheers

Julio

All I know is mine is a 533 Dual Fuel, runs on any petrol and is dead reliable - so it makes sense they would stop making it ;-)

Ch

Yes, its noisy, and yes, the conection is not the best thing either. but.. the nova is easy to service,and easy to clean. Ive had mine for about three years with no problems. The only thing I havent used on it is diesel.
just mine experiense...