Im planning a month long trip into the Knoydart area of Scotland later this year and would like to take my Optimus 8R stove but I seem to be unable to find Coleman fuel / white gas anywhere even close to me. My question is this:- Is it essential t use coleman/ white gas long term in it or can I use low grade unleaded petrol?? Ive used petrol in the past but only over a weekend more or less. The only other alternative will be to take either my Optimis 111 stove or the traditional OO stove that run on paraffin as you all know. Would a Trangia meths stove serve me better ? I have a Trangia 25 combo set but I dont know what the consumption would be over roughly a month. Any thoughts much appreciated . Jack
Just on from my last post. Anyone know if the 8R or the 111 can be converted to run on both petrol OR paraffin? Jack (again)
8R can't use kero/paraffin. The 111 with correct jet and is the model with 4 tubes for the burner can use either. Duane
@Jack Ryan You may get away with using pump petrol for the duration or the 8R burner could clog in that time as it would sooner or later. I see you live in North West England, as I do (Lancashire). Quite a few garden machinery specialists now sell Aspen 4 white gasoline, additive free, doesn’t reek like pump gas and is perfect for stoves, burning cleanly without clogging. I get mine from Horn Garden Machinery, on the A6 at Broughton, north of Preston. Be sure to get the stuff in the blue container and not the 4T in the orange containers, which has oil added to it for running two-stroke engines.
@Duck >>You might get away with using charcoal lighter fluid. Are you sure that's not kerosene based? I can't imagine anyone selling anything more volatile for charcoal.
The Trangia might not burn as much alcohol as you think. Don’t forget that to prime a kerosene stove takes a significant amount of alcohol as well. Since your trip is later in the year, why don’t you cook at home for a few days to get an idea of the amount of alcohol needed? It is surprising how much you can refine your personal techniques as well with a bit of practice. I do many operations quite differently now compared to my first uses of the Trangia. Since the burners are so small and light, I sometimes carry two so that I can maintain a longer cooking time with minimal interruption. Sometimes I will carry one burner with two lids. In this way I can change cooking temperatures with little effort. There are plenty of personal techniques and variations that can be used. Good luck. Brad
If you could get Coleman fuel/naphtha, it's pretty much lighter fluid, but one heck of a lot cheaper! I use it in lighters and liquid fueled hand warmers instead of 'lighter fluid'. @Jack Ryan, since you can't get Coleman fuel, perhaps you could get VM&P (Varnish Makers and Painters) naphtha, I've used it in Coleman lanterns and it works fine, but takes a little more heat* to get started due to its higher flash point. You may be able to find it in a paint store. At least that's what it's called here in the US. What I mean by a little more heat is that when I used it in a lantern, a flame nearby wouldn't automatically light it, but letting the flame touch the mantle would. If using an 8R, it should be no issue since you would be preheating.
@Jack Ryan Another alternative to CF would be a can of Panel Wipe from an automotive paint supplier. Nowadays there seem to be two formulations "Fast" and "Slow", which is likely the levels of VOCs. The one for stove use would be the Fast formulation with high VOCs. There are posts about panel wipe use on this site, although I don't recall seeing any reference to fast and slow formulations. Dean
@Jack Ryan If you are planning a month in Koyndart you will probably have to take all your fuel with you. You may get meths and/or paraffin locally. Clearly you can get car petrol at petrol stations, but you will probably need to buy at least 5 litres and have a suitable container. I would opt for a meths stove.
If you're walking in Knoydart carrying all your gear, I couldn't imagine carrying the weight of a 8R. Car camping that would make more sense. If you're really stuck for Coleman fuel or white gas, you can buy lighter fluid from loads of "cheap" shops (Home Bargains, B&M etc.), in small tins. Making tea, Loch Nevis, Knoydart.
With regards to the Optimus 111 with FOUR tubes that Duane mentioned can anyone please tell me if This is what Duane means? (pics below) Also i have bought a small box of parts at a car boot sale at the weekend. Most of the parts dont seem to correspond with any of my stoves. There are cleaning needles similar to those used in optimus 111 and the 8R but smaller. One has only 3 notches on it and some have only four. Plus there are some nipple / jets that vary in size and length.... Any good to anyone? View attachment 270683 View attachment 270683 View attachment 270683 View attachment 270683 Lastly can anyone please identify the regulator keys in the pics below? Thanks , Jack
@Jack Ryan Your 111 can burn Kerosene and White Gas, but I will be concerned with the late... The best option is Kero. As for the Optimus #8R, Lighter fluid is a good option. Enrique PS: The Optimus #111 as he has a pump and a "non return valve" which is prone to fail, can reward you with a "fireball" if white gas gets into the pump. With Kero it will not happen. Take care.
