Hello again, I've been using Panel Wipe and Petrol (Aspen 4) as liquid fuels in my stoves and I've got an unused jar of Paraffin which I fancy trying out now. Could you help me out, please? What fuel jet should I use with it? I know the rule of thumb is the cleaner the fuel, the larger the jet hole but I've no idea about Paraffin. Should I use the jet for White Gas or the one for Kerosene/Diesel? And another question! Do you ever mix Paraffin with another fuel? I remember hearing about this idea a while ago but don't know how it would operate in a multi-fuel stove. Thank you for the help - always very much appreciated, Mark
Hi Mark, Paraffin is the UK name for kerosene. I don't know about mixing fuels, I doubt if it would do much harm, but I don't what you'd gain from it. Cheers, Joe
Cheers, Joe. I'll use the Kerosene jet then. I just can't remember now what the benefit was to mixing Paraffin with another fuel but there was some reason for it. Unless it would make the flame hotter or smoother running but, of course, that's only me guessing, I've no idea why! Mark
Hi Mark. It depends on what stove you are using. Although some stoves are multi-fuel, most are not. It's not just a case of changing the jet. The whole design of the stove is different, especially the burner. I've never found the need to mix paraffin/kerosene with anything and can't recall speaking to anyone who has. Maybe it has some extreme cold weather benefits; others may know. Terry Edit - just re-read your post and realise it is a multi-fuel stove. If you tell us which one, users of that stove will be able to give more accurate advice.
@Roefisher Pretty basic question for you Mark and that's what stoves are you referring to? It isn't as straightforward always as swapping jets for different fuels as on a modern bottle stove like a Primus Omnifuel. The primary difference between paraffin and petrol (Aspen) is the greater volatility of the petrol, meaning in stove terms that it'll vapourise (become a gas) much more easily and will keep vapourising while the stove's in use. A stove burner designed for petrol exploits that fact and if you try to use paraffin as fuel, although you might get the burner hot enough to vapourise the fuel just after priming it'll stop vapourising and will revert to liquid seconds or minutes later. A smaller jet wouldn't prevent that happening. It's possible to get something like a Coleman 502 to run on paraffin by wrapping brass wire around the vapouriser to transfer more heat to keep the fuel vapourising but that trick doesn't work on the majority of stoves designed for petrol. Mixing the fuels? Theoretically, with a small amount of paraffin added you might get away with it but that'd be like putting a bit in the tank of your petrol-engined car and it might get you from A to B (or maybe even to C too) but will pack up sooner rather than later. John
At worst a stove would flare and thus be a bit unsafe if mixing petrol and paraffin, I do not know any advantage of such a mix. Kerosene/paraffin/diesel is the same jet. A paraffin jet would be slightly smaller, for a traditional brass No 1 paraffin stove .30 mm or some would prefer .28. But, you would need a stove that actually can burn paraffin, so what stoves are we talking about? If it is a 111T triple fuel, it could the same jet – no change required. As an example or a modern stove type Omnifuel, the jets are .45 for canister gas, .37 for petrol and .28 for paraffin. Paraffin also needs a bit longer pre heat (compared to white gas) to get the stove going. All the best, e
Thank you for the replies, folks. Much appreciated. To answer the stove model question, well, I'd either be using my MSR WhisperLite Universal or Primus OmniLite Ti. I'm stumped about where I read about mixing Paraffin with another fuel or why you'd even want to do it but I agree with the point raised here - if they need different jets to work best then it wouldn't exactly run smoothly. I'd love to know why it was originally suggested, though! Mark
Hi Mark. I think the suggestion cropped up originally in a discussion about the comparative price of paraffin and Aspen/Coleman fuel as a way to reduce running costs of stoves fuelled by the latter.
I can say that changing the jet on the MSR WhisperLite Universal is enough to change the fuel from gas to kerosene. It may need an extra prime depending on the situation. I have primed this MSR stove with kerosene. I added an extra fiberglass wick to improve it, but it works that way from the factory. There is a 3 page (so far) thread here.... on the MSR Whispwerlite on Kero? Ken in NC
I think the point of mixing the fuels was to get the easy lighting and easy vaporizing characteristics of gasoline/petrol, while still burning mostly paraffin/kero for economy.
I add an ounce or two of Coleman fuel to a kerosene fill up in my 111. I figure it may help keep the burner tubes clean. Not sure it does but like the way it burns.
??? Shouldn't be a problem priming or maintaining vapourisation with kero in a stove intended for it without resorting to this, but hey.
Thank you all so much for the wonderful advise and tips. On a side-note, I never realised the WhisperLite Universal was so popular! I absolutely love mine too Mark
There are very few "experts" to whom I would listen regarding the wisdom of mixing fuels where the manufacturer does not endorse this practice. The few experts I would listen to are predominantly on this forum and if they do not recommend mixing fuels, I would strongly recommend you follow their advice. There appears nothing to be gained from it and a potential for "great balls of fire" if you do it.
Only stoves Ive heard it suggested that mixing kero and gasoline for are the chinese multifuels. There documentation often says suitable butane white gas and kero but the generator is stainless steel and does not conduct well enough to give a satisfactory burn on pure kero. (It will run but flat out only and need an extra large prime) Mixing some white gas in allows it to run better. How ever as far as Im concerned they are not designed for kero so I only use gas in mine. Mixing the fuels brings out the worst aspects of each fuel not the best.
I agree, and here in the states, depending on where you buy, kero and Coleman fuel cost within pennies of each other.
On mixing fuels: I've heard, so it's hearsay at best, that the Amish will sometimes mix in about 20-25% kerosene to Coleman fuel for use in Coleman stoves (and maybe lanterns). Suppose save a little money. I suppose if you use a lot of the stuff even a few % savings will add up. Not a big savings for the rest of us casual uses. I've a Coleman 550B which is advertised as a multi-fuel stove. I'd call it a white-gas stove that can burn kerosene fairly well with the right generator replacement. However, my stove with the kero generator and just kero runs with a lot of yellow in the flame, but if I add a little Coleman fuel (maybe 20-30%) it burns with a nice blue flame. I'm guessing that even with the smaller jet there is just not enough oxygen and mixing to get a clean burn with pure kero. I have no doubt that a different stove, generator, or fuel source may give different results. And I am not recommending mixing, just stating what happens.
The best I can do with Coleman Fuel is, when it is rarely available WW for 7.64 USD or 9.99 USD at the Coleman Outlet. Kerosene, clear, untaxed, and undyed, at the pump is less than 4 USD. Try looking for a kerosene pump at a gas station. Look for undyed, untaxed, clear. or, you may find Jet A (not jet A1) at an airport that may let you fill a container. Ken in NC
