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Thread: Will Coleman fuel last indefinitely?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Will Coleman fuel last indefinitely?

    I just finished the reading the mantle thread and remembered I have a couple cans of Coleman fuel that are quite old, one can is unopened the other about 2/3 full. I'm not sure when I bought them and both have the plastic cover but they have to be at least 20 years old. I have 2 double mantle lanterns and a gas stove that have been sitting unused for 18 years and I want to fire them up. I know new fuel is quite pricey and scarce in these parts.
    Last edited by Maineboy; 07-15-2021 at 05:06 AM.
    Maineboy

  2. #2
    Boolit Mold
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    AS far as I know, as long as the seal holds you should be good.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
    Buzz Krumhunger's Avatar
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    Unopened cans last a long time. The opened can will eventually evaporate even with the lid screwed on. I’ve never had it “go bad” like auto gas will.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    I am in the same boat. Used three lanterns. And the Deluxe Coleman stove. For many years. Now they sit unused. And I also have fuel. My question is if the one opened does evaporate. Is it just the volatiles in mix that evaporates and leaves an inert liquid? Or does it evenly evaporate?

    Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

  5. #5
    Boolit Master BJK's Avatar
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    It's white gas. There are no additives. It's just gas.

  6. #6
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    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
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    every once in a while I find a partial can of coleman fuel at a garage sale or the County's household hazardous waste "free/exchange room". As long as the inside of the can is not rusty and the fuel has a good smell, I'll use it. BTW, I haven't found a bad can yet.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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  7. #7
    Boolit Master hoodat's Avatar
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    I've never run into any that was bad. And I've had some that looked to be fifty years old. Seriously. jd
    It seems that people who do almost nothing, often complain loudly when it's time to do it.

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
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    Pretty sure as long as it doesn't get contaminated with water or evaporate it doesn't go bad. Unlike modern gas, it doesn't have additives to do bad and is a more highly refined homogenous mixture.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I have a 42 year old Coleman stove and lantern that hadn't been used in years. I opened up the cap on the tanks and the fuel still smelled as fresh as a new un-opened can for fuel. I was going to get rid of the stove because I didn't think I'd ever use it again. A few drops of oil in the pump and it pumped up pressure good as new. Since I got a pellet grill the Coleman stove and a cast iron fry pan gets put to good use to sear burgers and steaks when they come off the grill.

    Love the Coleman hiss.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    What is Coleman gas, Is it 93 octane white gas or Av-gas?

  11. #11
    Boolit Master


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    Coleman fuel is a naphtha product marketed by the Coleman Company . Historically called white gas

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
    barrabruce's Avatar
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    All true it is Naphtha ,white gas.
    It is actually petrol but in the 1940’s sense. Pure that is.
    It don’t go off and leaves very little waxy easters behind.
    They use special decantered and filtered stuff in the Antarctic as a failure is more life threatening.They also use special seals and things too.

    People think that you can use petrol but with the additives they will gum up the evaporator and turn you into a pumpkin head.

    My 1946 2 burner Coleman stove still works well when I fire it up.
    We use Shellite which our equivalent.
    Price has gone up 4x as much as metho and kero and is sort of prohibitive.
    Americans tend to use white gas stoves and is ozzies and britts kerosene.
    The Old m42’s and 52 trench stoves are sweet to fire up every now and again.
    The locked pump non return valve is one of the best pump systems used in fuel stoves.
    Last edited by barrabruce; 07-15-2021 at 11:24 AM.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    Lasts forever or until the can rusts through for it to evaporate.. Ask me how I know,,lol

    Im pretty sure Kerosene is the same, or at least the older stuff was.
    Back in the 80's I emptied a 250gal kerosene tank that was probably 50yrs old at the time,, and it all burnt just as good as new..

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    For years I used Coleman fuel as 1 of the ingredients in Ed's red bore cleaner. Recently, C.E.(Ed) Harris, the original formulator of Ed's red, told us to use K1 kerosene in place of the Colman fuel. So, at least for me, I no longer need Colman fuel.
    It's all chicken, even the beak!

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
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    Some of our Whitegas (Coleman Gas) sits in Caches for years before its used. Previously opened Cans may contain condensation Water and or Rust. Poor the whole Can into a White 5 Gallon Can, Rust and Water will settle on the Bottom and easy to see and and avoid when pooring the Whitegas back into original Can or filling Lamps.

    Cheers

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    I don't know how the computerized automobile would like it, but as a kid if we ever ran out of gas while camping we always had a gallon or two of Coleman Fuel. Always got us home without any problem.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master BJK's Avatar
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    It might work in a gas engine in an emergency, but I wouldn't make a habit of it.

  18. #18
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Smell it.

    It'll tell you if its still good.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


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  19. #19
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    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
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    Coleman fuel or white gas has a very low octane rating, if any at all. My father had an old Sears Water Witch outboard motor. Back then you could still find white gas for sale. It worked great in that motor, but I am sure it would knock like heck in a modern gas burning car.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    you are fine if the can dont rust from outside
    as a note . most towns have a place or 2 that carry RV non alch gas . its works the same ,but about 1.50 more . a gal
    look up RV gas in your town. in wv its about 3.75 gal
    but lot cheaper than the 15.00 i have seen on Colman
    and NO it is not low its 90 octane

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