propane vs white gas 2-burner stoves

[dudleydoright]

used white gas years ago when roughing it, never used propane, is it cheaper ? what are advantages and disavantages?

thanks,

mike

[roadinspector]

Your telling on yourself when you talk about white gas. I remember buying it from a gas pump back in the stone ages.

I am not sure about cost difference, but propane will burn hotter. I have considered changing over to propane but can't justify the addition cost of a new stove when my 40 yr old coleman gas stove and lantern still work like a champ.

[pete42]

I too remember white gas I still have my coleman 2 burner stove and pump up lantern.

I live east of you near Xenia been hot huh?

[Toytaco2]

I have both. I can't argue with propane being a lot more convenient to use. But, I enjoy the nostalgia of the white gas stoves and lanterns. Every time I strike up one of my restored stoves or lantern, something about the sound and experience takes me back to trips with my dad when I was a kid. Also, if I totally fill the gas tanks before leaving, they last a whole weekend and I don't have to have several of the small bottles rolling around (I really don't want to deal one of the bigger bulk tanks). I've heard that white gas/coleman fuel burns a lot better in really cold weather, but, personally I've never had any trouble with the propane appliances during cold weather hunting trips when our temps around here get down into the teens. I think it just boils down to what you like better.

Good Luck,

Mike

[tearhead]

Okay, this story will also betray my oldness. First some background. We have a 35 or so year old Coleman that we bought new. (Shopped for a new stove this year; didn't find anything we thought was better.) So of course we carry Coleman fuel. Fortunately we didn't use it all on the camping trip to be described below.

I drive a Subaru Forester (2005). Mark drives it some, too, but mostly me. In the course of driving it in late 2005, early 2006, I discovered that if I let it get below 1/4 tank and made a sharp turn, the car would quit. (Later the vehicle was recalled for a one-way fuel valve problem in the tank. But this event happened before the recall.) I handled the problem by filling the tank more often because it never quit if it was above 1/4 tank. However, I neglected to mention this phenomenon to Mark and at the end of a camping trip in a pretty unpopulated area of Wisconsin, he let the gas level go down until the fuel light came on. Almost immediately the car was inoperable--no gas (or at least no gas that the car could get out of the tank). So we were out in the middle of nowhere on a hot Sunday in rural central Wisconsin with no gas. AAA would come, but it would take 90 min. Then I remembered overhearing a discussion about how Coleman fuel is basically unleaded (what we used to call white in contrast to the color of leaded) gas. So, we put some of the Coleman fuel in the tank (Mark had to pick a milk weed plant to use to get the flapper thing in the gas tank to stay open while he put the Coleman fuel in). The car started and we drove the six miles or so to the next town and filled up with regular fuel, breathing huge sighs of relief. This did not harm the car--I've driven it another 100,000 miles or so with no problems and no repairs.

Interesting--when I started writing this (and also at the time) I thought I was pretty smart to come up with this successful solution. Now I'm thinking the whole thing could have been averted had I simply told Mark about the fuel issue It's amazing he's put up with me for 37 years!

[dudleydoright]

yes i'm a little older (70), i use to ride a T-rex when i was a kid, but i'm starting a new phase in my life, and going to build a nice v- nose 6 x 14 sa into a nice camper. i'm going to stick with the white gas 2 burner coleman and old coleman camp oven that i've had for years. thanks for all your great input, i'm sure i'll have lots of questions as i go thru my build process. thanks again, mike

[ebonbetta]

I also have a white gas coleman. But I do believe propane burns hotter.

[High Desert]

I've used both, personally prefer the gas stuff. Seems to have more character but that's just me. As to cost, as long as you're not paying more than $10 or so a gallon for gas it's cheaper than the 1# bottles I think. On the new gas lanterns Coleman even advertises to that effect.

A little side by side water boiling test would be interesting. But I'll admit it wouldn't change my preference

[Quarterbore]

But the White gas Coleman stove, and a duel fuel (Coleman and Gassoline) makes it more versitile in an emergency situation. Then buy one of the propane adapters...

http://camptip.blogspot.com/2010/07/propane-stove-conversion.html

Best of both worlds!

[Ron Dickey]

You will find it fun to buy an old colman at a yard sale for $4 to $10, I have 5 now. But I also have a butane as a backup.

the problem is if you are not skilled like many of those on the forum are. You will be cooking and suddenly find the fuel which is liquid at the start. The stove tank under pressure takes advantage of the vapors off the top and becomes the fuel for the fire and the tube that carries the gas goes through the fire to increase its evaporation. However from time to time and if the system is not regularly cleaned you will find it comes out liquid before getting to the burner and you have a small fire. You shut off all burners remove the pans and let it burn out. Or as I did last year use a fire extinquisher.

The Propane on the other hand will shut off as you unscew it from the mount. However they to have falt and I have had on more then one occasion had the spring inside the unit fail and gas still coming out. I would set a side away from any fire and try to find someone who was cooking at the time who could finnish it off for me. Water with a little dishwater soap will tell you if it is leaking.

If you keep you eye out places will often put colman white gas on sale as the season ends. keep it in a cool place and away from any flame like your hot water heater.

[nevadatear]

We have a small gas one burner, a propane two burner coleman and gas lantern. I like the convenience of the propane two burner, and when you turn the heat up high, it really heats, but turning to a low is almost impossible. It is pretty much high, medium pretty high, and off. The gas one burner I can turn to a simmer. Since I don't often cook at a simmer on my stove (more likely to use the DO for that), it isn't too much of a problem, but some times it is a PITA.

[Shadow Catcher]

The energy density of propane is 91,690 BTU per US gallon for gasoline it is 125,000 BTU per US gallon for naphtha it is 127,500 per BTU per US Gallon.
Coleman fuel is Naphtha.
Cost per gallon of propane is about $3.878 US average. And BTW Blue Rhino reduced the amount the put in their tanks, and kept the same price.
Propane is more convenient. However the small green tanks holds 16.4 oz at about $3 each, and you end up with a huge waste of the container.

What folks are experiencing in variation of heat output is probably more related to the design of the appliance.

[starleen2]

White Gas ALL the way Baby! You guys can say all you want about propane - but I have used both and I see really no difference either in convenience or cost. It takes me the same amount of time to fuel up a coleman and pump it up than it does to attach a propane cylinder - (you do detach them when not in used - don't you?)

[caseydog]

When I worked for REI, we told people these pros and cons...

White Gas: Good heat, works at all temperatures and elevations, cheap. Spills can be dangerous. Can leak in your camper/tow vehicle. "Flame ups" can rattle the easily rattled.

Propane: Easy, good heat, no spills, safe. Works okay at moderately low temperatures, and moderately high altitudes, but not as well as white gas.

Butane: Very easy (the easiest of the three), safe, and generates good heat. Not good for low temperatures or high altitudes.


I have a chef grade butane stove that I love, because it does everything from high temperature searing, to low temperature simmering -- and is VERY adjustable, so I can really control my heat. That is a high priority for me.

But, if it is going to be cold overnight, and I want breakfast in the morning, I have to keep my butane canisters warm, or eat cold cereal. Butane sucks in cold weather, and at high altitudes (not a big problem down here).

CD

[starleen2]

I've used white gas - coleman fuel - to jump start a campfire - can you do that with propane?