Low $4s here in the Mojave at the moment — depending, of course, on where you buy gas (cheaper prices are at the independent stations.) It was quite a bit higher during the summer. California requires cleaner burning blends, which helps drive prices up. ….Arch
Coleman fuel has gotten so expensive here in Canada. I went online to find the cheapest place and it is anywhere from CAD$31.99 (USD$23.98/EUR22.31/GBP19.06) to CAD$39.99 (USD$29.98/EUR27.89/GBP23.83) per 3.78L (1 Gallon).
@Johnathan I don't know what you have for refineries in Canada, but I'd try finding out and calling to see if they will tell you who is purchasing and packaging naphtha. I think you're too far from the border to make a trip to get it in the US. Perhaps you know somebody who is planning a trip.
@Johnathan If there is pre-packaged small engine fuel in your area, that might be an option for a lower cost. Make sure you only use the four stroke variety, not the oil-added two stroke variety. Trufuel at Canadian Tire Still bleedingly expensive, and beware the "gallon" tins are only 110oz, not 128oz, but might save you a bit.
I live west of Edmonton Alberta and we have 4 main refineries (Esso, Suncor, Shell, and one other one) here. Would be cool to just buy it direct from the supplier!
Ya, I had looked at that stuff as well, but it is crazy how expensive it is, mainly because it is just pure gasoline, you can buy 91 Octane without ethanol at the pump for cheaper than this stuff.
The canned fuels are alkylate based, not at all the same as ethanol free gasoline from the pump. Entirely different formulation.
It's a base stock, or first distillate of gasoline with no additives. There isn't any technical reason it should be so expensive that I'm aware. Marketing and the special packaging and transportation most likely.
The deal at Walmart in the US of buying Crown fuel gallons online for under $8 is over. Both Crown and Coleman fuel are now $14.98 per gallon. I know this remains cheaper than other countries, but it's still too high.
I want to say that it was $12 USA a gallon in my Walmart when I looked the other day? Maybe I should have bought some? I'm actually thinking about distilling my own "white gas" from pump unleaded. But the Vigreux column, condenser, and the other glassware I'd need would buy many gallons of Coleman fuel, even at $15 a gallon. Now if I could get my chemist friend to set me up with the glassware for free... thanks, ben
Are we talking about Coleman or canned fuel? As @Marc said the canned fuel is expensive, in part, because it is made from alkalate (or alkalate stock/units) -- although I am sure packaging and marketing are part of it. But if it is labeled "alkalate" it is not a distillate in the traditional sense, it is essentially an ultra-pure synthetic gasoline made from the low molecular weight gases released during the distillation process. The octane rating of the alkalate fuel depends on how many units are combined to make the final higher molecular weight product but it is generally produced as a high-octane gasoline substitute or additive (added to traditional gasoline to raise the octane rating). As with synthetic oil, it contains very few aromatics and other contaminants.
I bought this beauty from the local supermarket. Looks so blue. The Primus 41 will be fired up soon, the first time in 3 years. We were doing "self-checkout" when purchasing and it was flagged for being only available to those over 18 years of age, and a supervisor had to come over, I asked why, and she said it's due to the high alcohol content! Good breeding prevented me from causing her embarrassment
Anyone in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull-Beverley-Driffield area noted the best price for paraffin? £11.89 at my local B&Q, " 'OW MUCH!!!"(Yorkshire accent). What I have left is a few years old. It is getting a bit yellow. Does paraffin absorb water or 'go off' in some other way? I can filter it through one of my old shirts if necessary. B&Q have bioethanol, but at that price i'm not buying paraffin there unless there's a urgent need. Is there anywhere I can get 28 second heating oil by the gallon?
@Primus 96 Was your fuel stored in a metal canister or plastic? If metal, it's likely just fine. If plastic, then maybe it'll still burn but lost some energy and may not burn properly. Plastic is porous. Not porous that it can leak, but that outside air can get to it. I suggest going ahead and testing what you have to see if it will work to your satisfaction.
@Primus 96 If the paraffin is stored in plastic, it should be fine. If in a vented metal tank, condensation and therefore water buildup creates a breeding ground for microbes, and in time you can end up with 'diesel bug' which cokes burners and forms deposits on jets. Premium paraffin £40 for 20 litres, delivered, here. Heating oil suppliers will often sell from the pump at the yard- worth ringing round local supplies and ask if they do 'yard sales'.
@Blackdog I was not suggesting a vented metal can. I personally store my kerosene/paraffin in Coleman cans and they're not vented. I had one gallon turn a straw color over a couple of years, but it still burned perfectly. As far as kero/paraffin stored in plastic is concerned, I've never stored it that way, but read of folks over on the CCF having issues with kero/paraffin stored for at least a couple of years in non-vented plastic containers (such as the store bought gallons) . If storing gasoline that I may not use for at least a couple of months, I use a preservative, but I don't know if they make a preservative for kero/paraffin. My kero/paraffin is jet fuel. I am close to New York City and there's no demand for kero here, so it's very hard to find at the pumps. If you do, it's likely old to begin with. If I did buy it in the plastic jugs, I'm sure I would transfer it to a metal can.
Blackdog: That price £40 for 20L... The per gallon cost is more like what I paid for that last plastic can. I bought it & then Covid arrived. Used most of it for cleaning purposes than making heat & noise in a stove. Paraffin sold in the plastic jugs has a airtight seal on the neck of the jug as well as the screw cap. What is the average UK price for paraffin? I haven't been taking notice as I was using Panel Wipe, (white gas).
@Primus 96 Average UK prepack price is about what you saw in B&Q, i.e. ridiculous. That Rye Oil price is I believe as cheap as you'll get in the UK for C1 in that quantity. We buy C1 in 205l drums, or 200l in 25l plastic containers from Crown Oils who deliver nationwide on a pallet. Last order just before the Fuel price hikes was £270, it will have gone up a lot, and probably back down a bit, since then. Great service, they'll happily give you a quote of current price by email or phone.
For general interest I hope this entry is still sort of on topic. Found an old ad in Trove dated 1938 and Shellite in gallon tins in Australia was 4/6 so about 10 cents a litre. If only... It's now $46 AUD for just 4 litres.
