Can Optimus 111 (kerosene burner) run on white gas / gasoline?

Discussion in 'Stove Forum' started by Winston Smith, Oct 26, 2023.

  1. Daryl

    Daryl United States SotM Winner Subscriber

    Offline
    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2019
    Messages:
    1,660
    Location:
    Sunny SoCal Grand Terrace
    Ed, my spills came from taking 2pt house stove camping. No real way to keep fuel inside. If you close cap and air bleed then fuel spits out jet with temp or altitude change. Same problem traveling with loose cap fuel sloshes out there. Little traveling stoves can be sealed at cap and removing burner and adding plug. Had them in plastic bag inside box so no real spill, just smell. Found it easy to drain before taking large brass stoves traveling. Taking a 96 traveler no problem.
    .
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2023
  2. Winston Smith Romania

    Offline
    Joined:
    May 8, 2023
    Messages:
    44
    Location:
    Bucharest
    The fuel I bought was sold under the name of "gaz lampant", which would roughly translate to "lampenpetroleum". According to the label, it's C10-13, so, technically, it should run fine. Only that it doesn't...
     
  3. night_owl

    night_owl Subscriber

    Offline
    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2020
    Messages:
    138
    Location:
    Switzerland
    Alkanes C10 to C13 would in fact be fine in both wick and pressure devices for kerosene/paraffin. However, roughly since spring/summer 2022, I've also observed noticeable sooting even with products that previously had burned perfectly clean (so the problem may well be the fuel, and not the stove). I am not sure whether this may be possibly caused by refineries switching to different sources in the wake of the Russian war against Ukraine, but it may also just be a coincidence.

    Since last year, I've had substantial soot problems with barbecue lighter fluid and lamp oil that burned fine before (in both wick and pressure devices), and that now also smells slightly different from before. The sooting is excessive when simmering, so I suspect it's due to an increased percentage of high-boiling, long-chain hydrocarbons (contrary to what is declared on labels/safety data sheets).

    Unfortunately, the only solution seems to be trying out what is available locally. I've had no problems at all with French heating kerosene/paraffin (Qlima), but this might not be available in Romania.

    Best regards,

    Christina
     
  4. InspectorGadget Australia

    Offline
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2023
    Messages:
    200
    Location:
    Perth Australia
    Kerosene burns very cleanly…ask a 757 Captain…no fouling on their spark plug.

    You do need to prime the stove with alcohol.

    I have found with the Optimus Nova, even doing toast is fine when burning kerosene with ZERO flavour taint.

    I think though if you prime with kerosene there may be residual odours from the wick… my guess.