I have an MSR Whisperlite and mostly use Coleman Gas in it, as it burns much more cleanly than unleaded petrol. The problem is that it costs 5 quid for a tin, and with the amount of use my stove gets, I'm sure it would be cheaper to buy the fuel in bulk.
Does anyone have any idea where I can buy this fuel in larger quantities?

Ben..have you tried contacting coleman Uk to ask them if it is available in bulk from them I have exactly the same problem with fuel for my XGK2....

Good idea - Will contact them and let you know how I get on..

I'm sure I've seen something about it beng availale in hardware stores in the US, sold in gallon containers for a few dollars.

Now, I'm aware this isn't the US, but if you can find out what its used for, then maybe you could get it from a trade suppliers over here?

IE if its used as a paint solvent, then a specialist paint supplies company may be able to help.

Sorry if thats all a bit vague!!

Si(C)

I have a feeling that there are legal reasons why white gas / Coleman fuel is only available in small cans - might be wrong though.

The cheapest option is to burn petrol, but feasibility depends on which stove you have and how often you're prepared to strip and clean it. Easy with an XGK for example, less clever with a Wisperlite.

In Peru you can buy it for pennies in hardware stores under the name 'benzina blanca', but I admit that doesn't help much over here. Big advantage of white gas / Coleman fuel is that it's cleaner and if you do spill it, it evaporates leaving no smell or residue.

Pump petrol, on the other hand, is nasty stuff with a load of additives. Many of them won't burn at mere stove temperatures, so leave a residue which eventually blocks jets and valves.

If anyone does find a cheap source of white gas in the UK, please let me know :-) It's apparently a Naptha, which means it's basically a more refined petroleum product than say, unleaded petrol, viz, it watches opera, speaks with a funny accent etc.

Right, had a quick look and its "White Gas" that is available wideley in the states. However a couple of sites state that its very hard to find outside the US. Damn.

Coleman fuel is, apparently, a Naptha - but thats not a lot of help.

Si(C)

I can confirm that coleman fuel is supplied in gallon cans (a USAF friend of mine got me one for £5). I've not seen them available in the UK tho'.

Not too keen on burning petrol in my stove purely (sorry) because of the additives.
Benzene is the real killer (literally - it's a carconogen). It's the reason why the govenment is considering vapour recovery devices at petrol stations.

The least dangerous fuel is white gas because it is so cultured, er, refined.

Good luck with coleman, Ben

Yea benzene and other anti knock compounds in petrol are the main problem....
I suspect (and this is only a guess) that the problem is that the uk refineries are only allowed to produce it in small quantities...probably owing to a contractual limitation.
Naptha aint easy to get hold of either...can't think of any use for it...

Moth balls was the only thing I could think of.... which is a bit worrying realy.

Si(C)

Just spoken to Coleman who only distribute in half litre tins, but they could give me no reason why. Oh well, maybe I should try melting down some mothballs..

thats wierd..but there ya go...(only available in 0.5l tins!)

You'll certainly NOT be able to get mail order / internet as it can't be posted.

I use normal petrol and clean both a whisperlite and Dragonfly by soaking in cheap coca cola to remove the soot after trips.

ahh I hadn't thought of that one....the properties of phosphoric acid in cola can be so useful sometimes...I presume the cola baths haven't caused any long term problems?

Not so far, didn't work as well with fanta!

If I remember my hazmat regs correctly, flamable liquids transported in tins of 1 litre or less are dealt with by different regs than for the larger tins which may be treated under the bulk fuel regs. Storage of bulk fuel in UK stores is proably a no-no as well.

Bob, that sounds very familiar. I have a feeling that you're right. Personally I bite the bullet and mostly burn gas in the UK and whatever I can get hold of and will run an XGK when I'm away.

Should you wish to order in bulk you need to order over 300 quids worth in order to get them to deliver it to you, which may be worth thinking about!

i jusdt use petrol!! woks well enough and its cheap

Working in a petrol station I can infrom you that we can sell petrol up to five litres in plastic containers and 23 ltires in metal containers, if they meet BS standard.