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White Fuel Shelf Life?

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DuluthPak

05/19/2009 08:28PM

Does White Fuel have a shelf life? I have a 1/2 full can of Crown Camp Fuel from 2006. It has been stored indoors and the can is not rusty or anything. I use this fuel in my Peak 1 stove. Does this stuff have a shelf life? Will older fuel have less flamability or clog up the stove?

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ron1

05/19/2009 08:35PM

Well, I don't claim to be an authority, but here is my experience. I bought a stove and fuel over a decade ago, and used it once at that time. then I put both stove and fuel in storage and pretty much forgot about them for 10 years or so. The fuel has been in my basement since I bought my house in 2002. I am going to the bwca this summer so a month ago I figured I would try to fire up the stove. There was still gas in the tank of the stove, so I pumped up the tank, opened the valve and put a match to it. It proceeded to fire right up, and then both burners burned full blast for the next two hours till the tank ran dry. It's a coleman stove and coleman white gas. I would say you are good to go, but do a practice burn before heading out.
good luck!

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snakecharmer

05/19/2009 09:27PM

For what it's worth, from the FAQs on the Coleman website:

An un-opened container of Coleman® Fuel stored in a dry area with no rapid extreme changes in temperature will remain viable for five to seven years. An opened container stored in the same area will remain viable for up to two years though will be at its best if used within a year.

Coleman® Propane Cylinders can be stored indefinitely in a dry area. The propane fuel inside the cylinder will not break down.

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"
~ Henry David Thoreau

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mr.barley

05/19/2009 10:41PM

Hey Snakecharmer, me and MP are bringing 2 year old fuel on our Q trip.

Because I'm wearing one and I just did....

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Savage Voyageur

05/19/2009 10:52PM

I have one more gallon in my garage that I bought in 1999. I fired up my dragonfly stove with it last week and it burned fine for a 20 min burn.

"So many lakes, so little time."

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snakecharmer

05/20/2009 05:58AM

I've got some laying around that is probably pushing 20 years old. I tried some of it, probably 5 years ago, in a Coleman suitcase stove and it still worked fine.

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"
~ Henry David Thoreau

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05/20/2009 06:24AM

like fine wine, cheese and mr barley it only gets better with age;)

Worst case scenario-I would imagine if seal was poor some of the volatiles may evaporate leaving a thickened fuel mixture residual. might clog up a stove a little sooner but i bet it would burn.

tg

that's how I ro'

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Buffy

05/20/2009 07:09AM

If you decide you don't trust it, you can just pour it in the gas tank of your car.

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DuluthPak

05/20/2009 07:30AM

I think that I would have better luck pouring fine wine and aged cheese into my car! But thanks anyways.

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canoe212

05/20/2009 08:55AM

I've burned 5 year old gas from an opened container with no problems.

If you can earn it, why did He die?

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dsk

05/20/2009 09:33AM

It sounds like the fuel has been stored properly. Sometimes fuel leaves some sediments but this will probably be in the can, when you are carefully filling your stove. If you want to be sure, fill it over in a clean suitable container but use a filterfunnel or a funnel with a paper filter (ala coffee-maker).
Try to once before you leave home, but it should be as good as new.

dsk

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Itchy Menace

05/20/2009 11:10AM

I've also been using the same can of fuel for 10+ years now, never had any problem. Just keep it in the garage.

Maybe I should invest in a fresh supply.

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dsk

05/20/2009 12:25PM

I have never had problems myselves, but I have heard about them, especially gumming in the tank and tubes.
Once I got an old kerosene stove, and the tank was full of somthing between glue and grease. (It had been stored on the central heating unit for years)
I wouldent worry about the fuel, but i would have used my Coleman filter-funnel. And I would recommand to store the stove, empty, or upside down, then the residue wil be hanging in the top, not going with the fuel.

dsk

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Itchy Menace

05/20/2009 10:07PM

Good point. I do always use the Coleman filter funnel when I fill my stove up.

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Canoe42

05/21/2009 10:24PM

If it is over 5 years, old I mix it with lemonaide and buy new fuel.

"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" -Red Green

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benr0

05/22/2009 07:44AM

I had 1/2 gal from 1984, and used in stove for a week last summer.

Yes I tried it out in my stove several times to convince myself it was OK to bring and use.

Not a recommendation to use old fuel, but it does seem to last a long time.

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oldgentleman

05/22/2009 08:09AM

I have one of the old Coleman suitcase type stoves that I use very rarely. Old gas, old stove, and no problems. Can't say for sure how old the gas is, but at least 7 years.

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ClarkPeters

05/24/2009 05:43PM

If you value your car, don't put white gas in it's gas tank. White gas is not the same thing that you buy at the pump. Coleman fuel (otherwise known as naphtha) has an octane rating of about 50.

Pete

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground. David Icke

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rlhedlund

05/25/2009 10:20AM

I have used coleman fuel that is over 10 years old with no problems whatsoever.

Life is good, living is better. Everlasting Life is Best! Pray for Us Amok.

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