coleman fuel

[Scrapman]

Anybody know how long coleman fuel will last in storage ??

 

[ellsworth848]

I bought a bunch in 1999 for y2k and I am still using it in my lawnmower. I did not treat it with stabil or pri-g, just left it in the cans sealed and it works fine. It is probably much cheaper to buy Amoco silver (super premium gasoline) and treat it with PRI-G at regular intervals as the coleman price has gone through the roof.
Also check Walmart and see if they still sell a cheaper generic brand (same stuff as Coleman just different name on the can). The coleman fuel is very close to naptha in chemical composition which means that it comes out of the refinery distilling column a little higher than premium gasoline. I have used it in late model cars (ie computer controled fuel injection) and it works just great.
Steve - in Florida

 

[A.T.Hagan]

It's been my experience that so long as the can hasn't rusted through and the cap was tightly sealed on it doesn't go bad. I've used Coleman fuel that was ten years old stored here in Florida that seemed to work just fine.

.....Alan.

 

['plain o joe']

The coleman fuel is very close to naptha in chemical composition which means that it comes out of the refinery distilling column a little higher than premium gasoline. I have used it in late model cars (ie computer controled fuel injection) and it works just great.
Steve - in Florida

Naptha ???

Liquid Mothballs???

 

[Doc1]

Why?

Scrapman,
My experience with Coleman fuel over the years is similar to the other posters here. It lasts 'almost' indefinitely if you don't break the seal. Same deal with the cheaper, generic camping fuel. We have a couple of old cans which are still good and even survived the Katrina flood.
But the bigger question is why would you want to use it? If you get kerosene lanterns, you can burn kero, diesel and several other fuels which are safer and have even greater shelf life. Same deal with various other kerosene appliances.
We have Petromax and Coleman kerosene mantle lanterns, Dietz wick lanterns, Petromax and Butterfly kerosene stoves and a couple of kero heaters. You can't (safely) burn gasoline in the other kero appliances, though you can in the Petromax and Coleman mantle lanterns (though we never do).
As fuel becomes scarcer and more expensive, everyone should try to incorporate as many multi-fuel items into their preps as possible.
Generally, gas appliances only run on gas. You often get a much broader range of use from kerosene appliances.
Coleman fuel is a great barter item and you can dump a gallon or so into a gasoline vehicle in an emergency, but otherwise heavier oils are the better prep course.

Best regards
Doc

 

[Para36]

A couple years ago I opened a can that to the best of my recollection was close to 30 years old. I had it back with some stuff left over from building my house. Although the outside of the can had a lot of surface rust , the fuel was clear and burned fine. I still have the 2 burner Coleman stove and lantern I used back then and they work fine. Just had to replace the pump rubbers a couple times. I keep a good supply of Coleman fuel...It's not all that expensive considering the packaging convenience and its storage stability.
Para.

 

[vulcan]

Yes, I've used 10 year old coleman fuel also. It keeps better than regular gasoline because it doesn't have additives. Coleman also sells a "dual fuel" line of stoves and lanterns, they use unlead gasoline.

 

[idelphic]

It's been my experience that so long as the can hasn't rusted through and the cap was tightly sealed on it doesn't go bad. I've used Coleman fuel that was ten years old stored here in Florida that seemed to work just fine.

.....Alan.

I suppose it makes a difference as to the location of storage, and what it is stored on. While I haven't needed or wanted KG in quite a long time,.. the last can I did get,.. Ididn't get to use more then about a pint of it. Can rusted and it evaporated..

My DW got me a backpackers stove - the GigaPocket w/ peizo.. I have a few of the fuel cans here,.. but that is all I have. I am looking at a old KG backpacker stove and am considering yard selling it.. I just don't go camping like I wanted to... thought I would. So canned fuel keeps longer for me... No mess.. YMMV,.. Am really considering alcohol stoves a bit... something that I can make at home..(not the alcohol... hee hee..)

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Once the seal is gone it will evaporate pretty quick. Keeping it tightly sealed is vital.

.....Alan.