Coleman lantern -- white gas?

[Rock2]

Soon I need to buy a container of white gas at Walmart. I haven't check price but in the past their price is crazy. Many moons ago I remember when i was a boy, Dad stopped by gas station to fill up white gas. Usually behind of station. Anyway now day you don't see that anymore. Is there any kind of gas which is same as white gas? What about denatured alcohol? Thank for your time!

[manualman]

Campfire Time wrote:
Boy, this thread brings back some fond, and not so fond memories of fooling around with these lanterns and white gas.

We went to a battery operated florescent lamp tube almost 30 years ago. Never missed that white gas, never missed screwing around with those mantels.

As said above, LED is the way to go now:

Fine for camping. Not so great for Zombie Apocalypse / EMP attack survival! 🙂 You'd need about 300 batteries to last as long as my 2 gallons of naptha. Stuff lasts forever in the lanterns.

Fussing? With what? I fill twice per season with fuel. To light, you pump up the tank pressure, screw the pump shut, flip the lever, turn the gas on low, light up, wait 30 seconds, flip the lever down and go. If you want, you can turn night into day at full throttle.
I haven't had a mantle go bad in about 3 years. Love these old things!

[msb1766]

Nothing sounds better than the hiss of a Colman Lantern.

[Campfire_Time]

Boy, this thread brings back some fond, and not so fond memories of fooling around with these lanterns and white gas.

We went to a battery operated florescent lamp tube almost 30 years ago. Never missed that white gas, never missed screwing around with those mantels.

As said above, LED is the way to go now:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=led+lantern

[ryegatevt]

Back in the 1950s Dad used to buy all his stove gas at AMOCO, and later in the 60s we always made sure to fuel our sports and racing cars at AMOCO as well. English cars, at least, were not designed to run on leaded gas.

[Dave_H_M]

Bipeflier wrote:
I've been using unleaded pump gas in my stove and lantern for several years now. Originally I figured I would need to clean the "generator" once in a while but so far so good.

Just try to find without or the least ethanol you can find.

I did the same thing for years. :W

[wa8yxm]

manualman wrote:
\Never buy the little plastic bottle of Coleman fuel. Long term, it's not fully impermeable to naptha!

Did not know that.. DO know Coleman fuel does not break down nearly as fast as Gasoline.

Last two months I spent the last Saturday sitting in an un-heated "Barn" passing out bags of groceries to folks in need.

I brought a collection of Coleman lanterns

The dual mantal propane provides lots and lots of Lumens

The Single Mantal Gas provides Lots and Lots of BTUs

Both provide both heat and light.. Made a big difference in my comfort

I have one more propane I'll take with me if I need it..

My metal gallon can: at least 10 years old. The single mantal lantern closer to 30.

Short story of the night the lights went out in Detroit...
My daughter was in the middle of doing her homework.. She calld me at work (We have E-power) and I told her to catch a nap and I'd fix when I got home.. Afew hours later I got home,went out to the trailer and grabbed the tub marked LIGHTS.

Hung a couple of Coleman Lanterns in Living room on pre-existing hooks and she finished her homework

Next day she turns it in, all finished,, Her classmates are crying "But the lights went out we could not finish our homework)

Her first initial and grade for the day... both the same "A".

[nineoaks2004]

Coleman fuel is really naptha. If you have a duel fuel, the gas will eventually clog the system. It is best to buy the regular fuel, Wally World has a gneric brand that is cheaper. But a gallon will last a long long time...

[Bipeflier]

I've been using unleaded pump gas in my stove and lantern for several years now. Originally I figured I would need to clean the "generator" once in a while but so far so good.

Just try to find without or the least ethanol you can find.

[pitch]

Neither my coleman lanterns or my Coleman stove was designed to run on Coleman Fuel. There was no such thing in 1959 and 1961. They were designed to run on gasoline. It was sold as White Gas. Nowadays it is sold as unleaded.
That said I run mine on the naptha fuel sold as Coleman Liquid fuel.
I have used pump gas when I have run out,but the Naptha does not stink as bad.

[352]

vic46 wrote:

Rock2 wrote:
Soon I need to buy a container of white gas at Walmart. I haven't check price but in the past their price is crazy. Many moons ago I remember when i was a boy, Dad stopped by gas station to fill up white gas. Usually behind of station. Anyway now day you don't see that anymore. Is there any kind of gas which is same as white gas? What about denatured alcohol? Thank for your time!

Buy the Coleman fuel. That is the fuel that is properly used in a Coleman lantern. The generator in the fluid fuel lamp is designed to operate on the Coleman fuel. I have a Coleman stainless steel lantern
that is about 50 years old that still works like a champ. I have had to replace the generator and the pump leather.

Are you really serious? (
Buy the Coleman fuel. That is the fuel that is properly used in a Coleman lantern. The generator in the fluid fuel lamp is designed to operate on the Coleman fuel.)

[manualman]

If you have an older NON "dual fuel" Coleman you don't want to use pump gas in it. Not only will it eventually foul the generator, but I recall the manual saying that the gasoline carb/FI injector cleaners will eat up the lining on the interior of the fuel tank, subjecting it to corrosion (when empty, at least).

Never buy the little plastic bottle of Coleman fuel. Long term, it's not fully impermeable to naptha! Leave it sealed in your garage for a few years and you'll pick it up to find an intact foil seal on the bottle top but NOTHING in the bottle! Ask me how I know....

Still can't beat the old metal can.

I use Coleman fuel for both my lantern and stove. Can't beat the stuff. I HATE 1# LP tanks, but am stuck with them for my portable water heater (popup camper with no onboard HW).

[wa8yxm]

Coleman does market a few multi-fuel products

HOWEVER the owner's manual SPECIFICALLY WARNS you not to use White Gas.

Use only Coleman fuel..yes,there is a differnce... I'm no longer sure what it is but can think of several possibilities..

[kknowlton]

Some of the newer lanterns & stoves can use alcohol, but not gas; others - and all the older ones - use "white gas." Gasoline from a pump cannot be used in either one, is my understanding.

[hotbyte]

For a brighter light, go with "hi test" gas 🙂 🙂 🙂

Some of Coleman's products used to be rated as dual fuel (Coleman and gasoline). I'm not sure if there was really a difference or if it was just marketing. I've not shopped any in several years so no idea about current ones.

[Bobbo]

The gas at the gas station was "unleaded" gas. Exactly what everyone sells now if you can find it without ethanol in it.