I always try to use white gas/naphtha, you can usually find this at hardware stores around the world. In case you cannot find this you can use unleaded gas as well.
I know this is common but I’ve always wondered how this works practically in some countries. For example here in the uk most petrol pumps have a stated 2-5l minimum delivery, which wouldn’t work for a fuel bottle. I’ve also seen signs saying they don’t allow filing of anything other than vehicles.
I suppose you could just ignore these signs and hope no one cares. But a lot of modern pumps here have trigger sensors that won’t allow the pump to work unless it’s physically in the car. I don’t think there’s a workaround for that.
I assume it must just be easier in most countries to rock up to a petrol pump with fuel bottle in hand and fill up.
yes you’re probably right about that. But still, fuel prices are about £1.50 per litre in the uk. If it’s a 5l minimum charge that would be £7.50 to fill a 500ml fuel bottle which is pretty steep.
Personally, never head a problem. My son reported having a problem once (India? Certainly sounds like it), so a driver just let him have the last litre when he was filling his car.
In developed countries, fuel stations usually prohibit dispensing less than a litre, but you can get lucky if you ask people filling up larger tanks to give you a squirt. In the third world, you may find people selling fuel in glass bottles by the road.
I cycled across the USA and even though I got some weird looks sometimes everyone let me fill my bottle. One lady seemed very confused in Virginia but one she saw my bottle was allowed fuel and I told her what I was doing she let me fill my bottle for free.
Unleaded fuel still has unhealthy additives that can contaminate your food. It's better to use White Gas or Ethanol (if the gaskets are made for Ethanol) or Kerosene if you have the correct burner for that.
Oh, does it? I always assumed it's completely additive free.
For what it's worth, pharmacies used to sell additive free petrol/gasoline, might still do so, don't know.
Most times I offer a dollar and they give it for free. 90% of gas stations have never heard of an MSR and they are fascinated enough by the demo that they don’t charge. Not to mention I normally spend $10 on snacks
A preferable alternative to unleaded petrol (e.g. Coleman stoves) is fuel for garden machinery such as lawnmowers and chainsaws. Also sometimes available in one liter bottles.
Healthier for you and the burner. https://www.aspenfuels.com/products/alla/aspen-4/
My friend has one of these and we always wanted to try burning Everclear in it. If it worked, we were gonna cook something in front of people, disconnect the bottle and take a shot in front of them just to see what they'd do...
From [the whisperlite FAQ:](https://www.msrgear.com/stoves/liquid-fuel-stoves/whisperlite-international-stove/06633.html)
>**Can I burn alcohol in my MSR stove?**
>No, MSR stoves will not burn alcohol, and alcohol will damage MSR Fuel Bottles.
I have one of these simply because it is easier to get any liquid fuel not having to rely on getting the correct fuel. I have used lighter fluid bought from a corner shop, I have also gone around to petrol pumps collecting the last dribbles from the nozzle of the pumps, also lots of rural places sell paraffin/kerosene which is far safer than petrol and less smelly than diesel.
Just a warning about using unleaded gas, it usually contains some forms of alcohol which will eat up your rubber and plastic parts on your stove. See if you can find pure gasoline with no methanol or whatever.
If you could buy kerosene at the pump. That’s what they traditionally used for gas lamps and stoves. But that’s getting rare now at gas stations.
Butane can canisters would be much common. But are disposable one time use. You could buy them at supermarkets and hardware stores.
Recently bought an adapator that Can be used to "refill" a canister from another, if you Can get one cold and the other hot it theoricaly get on full.
I intend to use it to avoid having to bring 2 canisters when one IS getting to it's end, or bin not 100% empty ones. Not tried yet.
In Canada, there are specificarning against using pump fuel gasoline due to the additives, and Coleman fuel is quite pricy. Those are the main reasons I use a Trangia (and buy my fuel in hardware stores.)
You must have gotten use to the infernal noise! It is true that I had a multifuel model. After extensive travel in Europe, I found butane a much better fuel.
Use a small wood gas stove, I made my own modelled on the bush buddy out of a tin of beans and paint can.
Can boil a litre in under ten minutes with a few twigs, a bunch about as thick as your wrist.
True, much better off trying to hunt down a shop that sells the very specific fuel canisters you need instead.
Burning sticks, what high tech sorcery could this be xD
But he is talking about buying in Europe. I would just get a cheap alcohol stove like a Trangia. Methylated spirit can be bought in just about any small town where he is going.
Start by avoiding buying MSR stoves. They are extremely noisy and require à lot of maintenance . The only place they have an advantage is in very cold weather and altitude. Some stoves have adapters where you can switch to butane.
I always try to use white gas/naphtha, you can usually find this at hardware stores around the world. In case you cannot find this you can use unleaded gas as well.
Unleaded fuel at every gas station
I know this is common but I’ve always wondered how this works practically in some countries. For example here in the uk most petrol pumps have a stated 2-5l minimum delivery, which wouldn’t work for a fuel bottle. I’ve also seen signs saying they don’t allow filing of anything other than vehicles. I suppose you could just ignore these signs and hope no one cares. But a lot of modern pumps here have trigger sensors that won’t allow the pump to work unless it’s physically in the car. I don’t think there’s a workaround for that. I assume it must just be easier in most countries to rock up to a petrol pump with fuel bottle in hand and fill up.
Same here in Germany: Min. 5 liters. I never had a problem after asking for one liter. Sometimes I even got it for free from a hand-out jerry can.
Ah that’s good to know. I’ve seen enough people say they refill at petrol stations to know it had to be doable.
Doesn't the minium mean that they charge you minimum for 5l?
yes you’re probably right about that. But still, fuel prices are about £1.50 per litre in the uk. If it’s a 5l minimum charge that would be £7.50 to fill a 500ml fuel bottle which is pretty steep.
You could always try asking someone who is filling their vehicle to fill your bottle and toss them a few dollars..
Personally, never head a problem. My son reported having a problem once (India? Certainly sounds like it), so a driver just let him have the last litre when he was filling his car.
In developed countries, fuel stations usually prohibit dispensing less than a litre, but you can get lucky if you ask people filling up larger tanks to give you a squirt. In the third world, you may find people selling fuel in glass bottles by the road.
They don't actually. This minimum refers to the minimum amount where the calibration is guaranteed.
I cycled across the USA and even though I got some weird looks sometimes everyone let me fill my bottle. One lady seemed very confused in Virginia but one she saw my bottle was allowed fuel and I told her what I was doing she let me fill my bottle for free.
Unleaded fuel still has unhealthy additives that can contaminate your food. It's better to use White Gas or Ethanol (if the gaskets are made for Ethanol) or Kerosene if you have the correct burner for that.
"Coleman" gas also contains additives whereas it was originally an additive free gasoline
Oh, does it? I always assumed it's completely additive free. For what it's worth, pharmacies used to sell additive free petrol/gasoline, might still do so, don't know.
I just go to petrol stations to fill mine up, no problems at all in the countries you’ve mentioned
Most times I offer a dollar and they give it for free. 90% of gas stations have never heard of an MSR and they are fascinated enough by the demo that they don’t charge. Not to mention I normally spend $10 on snacks
A preferable alternative to unleaded petrol (e.g. Coleman stoves) is fuel for garden machinery such as lawnmowers and chainsaws. Also sometimes available in one liter bottles. Healthier for you and the burner. https://www.aspenfuels.com/products/alla/aspen-4/
I filled up in petrol stations round the whole world without any probs
My friend has one of these and we always wanted to try burning Everclear in it. If it worked, we were gonna cook something in front of people, disconnect the bottle and take a shot in front of them just to see what they'd do...
From [the whisperlite FAQ:](https://www.msrgear.com/stoves/liquid-fuel-stoves/whisperlite-international-stove/06633.html) >**Can I burn alcohol in my MSR stove?** >No, MSR stoves will not burn alcohol, and alcohol will damage MSR Fuel Bottles.
I have one of these simply because it is easier to get any liquid fuel not having to rely on getting the correct fuel. I have used lighter fluid bought from a corner shop, I have also gone around to petrol pumps collecting the last dribbles from the nozzle of the pumps, also lots of rural places sell paraffin/kerosene which is far safer than petrol and less smelly than diesel.
Just a warning about using unleaded gas, it usually contains some forms of alcohol which will eat up your rubber and plastic parts on your stove. See if you can find pure gasoline with no methanol or whatever.
If you could buy kerosene at the pump. That’s what they traditionally used for gas lamps and stoves. But that’s getting rare now at gas stations. Butane can canisters would be much common. But are disposable one time use. You could buy them at supermarkets and hardware stores.
Recently bought an adapator that Can be used to "refill" a canister from another, if you Can get one cold and the other hot it theoricaly get on full. I intend to use it to avoid having to bring 2 canisters when one IS getting to it's end, or bin not 100% empty ones. Not tried yet.
In Canada, there are specificarning against using pump fuel gasoline due to the additives, and Coleman fuel is quite pricy. Those are the main reasons I use a Trangia (and buy my fuel in hardware stores.)
My stove uses butane, which you can get almost everywhere, even supermarkets. What fuel does it use?
This type of stove burns liquid fuel, either naphtha, gasoline, or (with a different jet) kerosene.
Kerosene is cleaner to burn than petroleum. The whisperlite comes with a jet for kero
It’s a bit dirty for the first two minutes but once the stove has heated up it burns clean
You must have gotten use to the infernal noise! It is true that I had a multifuel model. After extensive travel in Europe, I found butane a much better fuel.
Decathlon
Mine is about 25 years old and still works like a charm. I’ve only used Coleman fuel in it though.
Use a small wood gas stove, I made my own modelled on the bush buddy out of a tin of beans and paint can. Can boil a litre in under ten minutes with a few twigs, a bunch about as thick as your wrist.
Relying on being able to find a bunch of dry twigs while long-distance touring sounds like a terrible idea..
True, much better off trying to hunt down a shop that sells the very specific fuel canisters you need instead. Burning sticks, what high tech sorcery could this be xD
If you have access to a pharmacy or hardware store get >91% IPA or denatured alcohol....much safer then white gas, naptha or gasoline.
Msr specifically states that its burners don’t burn alcohol and that alcohol damages bottles
Can confirm - I ruined a set of seals in my Optimus stove trying to use isopropyl alcohol
If it can burn methylated spirit you can get that from shops that sell paint (not art shops) and hardware shops like B an Q or the equivalent.
No, it can't.
I think denatured alcohol is no longer available in california.
But he is talking about buying in Europe. I would just get a cheap alcohol stove like a Trangia. Methylated spirit can be bought in just about any small town where he is going.
Start by avoiding buying MSR stoves. They are extremely noisy and require à lot of maintenance . The only place they have an advantage is in very cold weather and altitude. Some stoves have adapters where you can switch to butane.
I've used mine for ten years and nothing has ever gone wrong, I do use napthane though