Storing Stoves and Lanterns

[Kevin & Sandy]

I camped next to a "Coleman Nut". (If one lantern is good 4 is better kinda guy.) We had just a few things in common to discuss!

Most of his stuff was relatively new with the exception of an old lantern he held dear to his heart because his Dad had bought it to take him and his brother on a camping trip to Yellowstone.

ANYWAY, when the weekend was over, he put a filter/funnel in his Coleman fuel can and drained every drop from every stove and lantern back into it. I might do this when putting stuff away for the season, but he does it every time he puts stuff away for the week (or two)?

Whaddya think? How long can you leave Coleman fuel in the lantern or stove?

[Wolffarmer]

Decades

[Wolffarmer]

But serious. Why store the fuel in the original gas can. The lantern has a much better sealing system than the cheap made, thin sheet metal, pour spout and flimsy cap compared to the lantern/stove. About the only thing that accomplishes is it fills the gas can with fuel leaving less air space. And that will keep it from sucking in more moisture. But this is all very small. I have a Optimus back packing stove. It had been setting around about 15 years at least maybe 20 until last year when I got it out, fuel smelled good. fired right up.

Randy

[campmaster-k]

I think also that if you keep the fount full there is less chance for moisture to develop and create rust. If I stored them empty I would leave the cap off so water wont get trapped.


-Certifiable Coleman Nut.

[Justin & Katy]

I'm a big believer in draining them at the end of the season. I don't worry about it if I'm using them regularly. However, I will definitely do it if the lantern/stove is going to sit for a while. I also open the valve and the filler cap. I don't want condensation or pressure to affect it in anyway. That may sound funny since it is a pressure appliance. However, I don't want to take the chance on a stress fracture, especially in my older brass founts. I can't tell you how many stories I’ve heard of people who found a nickel lantern that was sitting in storage for sixty years only to find that it has a stress fracture in the fount because the fluctuation in pressure over the years. If the valve had been cracked, it probably wouldn't have happened. I also don't want the fuel to sit on the check valve. It's not impossible to fix one if it gets gunked up, but it is a pain is the @$$.

[Kevin & Sandy]

I haven't been emptying mine, but I might start on ones I rarely use.

I'm gonna keep a couple full and ready to go during winter weather.

[starleen2]

Soo - there you have it - both sides of the question. There is only one reason for me to drain the fuel out of a fount - if it is coming inside to be a display piece. I really don't want fuel in the house

[rainjer]

I keep fuel in some of mine and drain some. My 2 burner stove, lantern, 500A stove that live in my teardrop are fueled all the time. My Mil-spec an a couple others I keep in the garage have fuel in them also in case the power goes out. My lamp also has fuel in it and it lives in the house. the rest that are on display are mostly empty. (The may have a few talbespoon of fuel in them)

Jeremy

[Mark72]

Just think about it You have a collection. (more than anyone really NEEDS) You fire one up for fun then put it back on the shelf. Years later the cap is frozen on and the generator is full of gunk formerly known as fuel. Now, If you really think that you would never get side tracked enough to forget about it for that long, just go look through your closet and tell me how long it has been since some of the clothes in there where stylish.. Now I know why My parents where so out of style!

Mark

[doug hodder]

I usually have several stoves/lanterns fueled up through the winter sitting in the house. Like mentioned...they're ready to go when the power goes off.

On the older stoves, especially on the old cylinder type tanks...you can't just pour fuel out of them like the newer ones. They have a sleeve in them that won't allow it to completely empty. I have a little tool, courtesy of Dave A for pumping fuel out, works great on top fill items, but needs an extension on the cylinder types. Some of them also have a combination pump and filler neck all in one piece...can't pump them out at all. I try to just do a splash and go on the old stoves to run them. Doug

[Dave A]

Another trick is to get them as empty as possible and then use an inexpensive fish tank air pump to circulate air untill the fuel has evaporated.
Or if you have an air compressor blow them dry.

Dave