Hi,

Could anyone tell me what is white gas and what are the advantages of a white gas stove over an ordinary gas stove.

It's basically very refined petrol, also, I think, known as Naptha and available most commonly in the UK as Coleman Fuel. In Peru it's called benzina blanca, or 'white petrol'. Because it doesn't contain additives to improve performance which burn off in car engines but not stoves, it leaves less contamination in the stove innards and burner and burns cleaner. Smells less hideous as well. The downside is that it costs less. I have a vague memory that it's also used in bodyshops as panel wipe, but don't quote me on that. In Coleman fuel form it's a lot more expensive than petrol and available only in small cans.

So basically white gas is liquid fuel rather than gas

Wha Jon say's is correcct.

Gas Vs White gas..........

Whats you intended use Bob?

Generally gas stoves are much cheaper to buy and cheaper to run for most UK conditions.

Gas is readily available in the UK and its mostly a case of screw in or plug and play. (depends on stove)

I have and use a white gas, homemade meths and gas stove for different conditions and situations. For the most part I use the gas stove/meths stove. I would only really reccomend a white gas/multi fuel stove if you were planning a trip in extreme cold or altitude. Or heading off for far enough where fuel can be hard to get or for long enough for the fuel effuciency to be a major factor.

Whats your intended use Bob? they all have advantages/disadvantages over each other.

Just for reference, it's worth being aware that while you can burn white gas in any stove designed as a multifuel burner that'll cope with petrol, the converse isn't always the case. There are a few stoves on the market designed to burn white gas which, if you use them with petrol, will eventually / quite rapidly foul up (depending on how dirty the fuel is, don't get me started on the purity of Bolivian petrol) leaving you needing either a new stove as a worst case scenario, or more likely a new generator tube.

For UK use, as BBF says, gas canisters are a much more convenient, though more expensive, option. Or meths burners if you're not in a hurry to cook anything   Liquid fuel burning stoves are good up to about 6,000 metres, though high altitude mountaineers tend to use adapted gas stoves with some sort of pre-heater. You don't really want to be messing around priming your MSR in a state of semi-exhaustion on the South Col of Everest, I'm told.

Ooops, that's drifted well off topic

If you can cope with the cost of white gas in the UK then I have to say it is a great clean fuel and is easy to prime etc but -

colman fuel is a RIP OFF!  (IMHO)

If you do a lot of cooking then parafin is a much cheaper option but is more difficult to light and messy in comparison.  I use it because I can be a tight barsteward at times...

they should be ok but I like these.

Aloksaks 

I use the big one as a mapcase and the small/medium ones for food. You could also try "double bagging" just incase there is a wee leak.

Hayden can I use parrafin in my MSR dragonfly then? Also where can I get it?

I generally use coleman fuel in it and agree it is total rip. I have also used unleaded and diesel successfully a few times. wouldnt do it long term though, too smelly and to much maintenance for me.

The main difference between most multi-fuel stoves and those that burn petrol only is the interchangable jets, oh, and some stoves have complicated generator tubes that may clog up quickly if you do not use the recomended fuel. 

I have burned parafin on my primus omnifuel with the gas jet which has the biggest hole and it does work but is certainly not very efficient and you get more yellow flame than with the smaller jets.  It seems to work pretty good burning parafin on the petrol jet but again more yellow flame(not very noticable at all)  than when used with the specified parafin jet. 

Petrol, parafin and canister gas will all work reasonable well on my stove on the petrol jet. 

If the dragonfly comes with only one jet I would imagine it is the 0.37 petrol one as used on the omnifuel.  If it has two jets you will probably have the 0.28 parafin/ kerosene/ jet A1/ deisel jet and the 0.37 petrol one.  The omnifuel has a third jet for canister gas which is 0.45.  The jets have the size stamped on them on the top.

The burner on the dragonfly looks the same as the one used for the omnifuel and according to the specs but with a different plumbing -

 MSR DragonFly Stove

In a world that expects liquid-fuel stoves to have one setting (hot), the MSR DragonFly stands out. Since its debut in 1998, it has won numerous awards for its innovative dual-valve design, which offers an unrivalled range of continuous and immediate flame control. Simmer a delicate sauce over a candle flame or melt snow quickly over a blowtorch with a twist of the flame adjuster. The continued popularity and performance of the DragonFly can be attributed to the many features invented by MSR.

CoolFuel Valve: First ever dual-valve design offers an unrivalled range of flame control - simmer to boil with a twist of the flame adjuster. Extra Wide Pot Supports: Three wide pot supports hold larger MSR pots or fry pans for gourmet cooking. Multi-Fuel: Burns white gas, kerosene and unleaded auto fuel. Compact: Folds to 1/3 of its working size for easy storage. Remote Burner: Pioneered by MSR, the separate fuel bottle and pump keep the flame away from the fuel, which allows the use of a windscreen to make the stove burn hotter and more efficiently. Self-Cleaning Shaker Jet: Clean out jet debris for high performance with a flick of the wrist. Suspended Burner Cup: The suspended burner cup enables the stove to burn hot and strong while reducing heat lost to the ground.

Minimum Weight: 14 oz. (395 g) Packaged Weight: 18 oz. (510 g).

So your stove should be able to burn parafin.

BTW most garden centres sell lamp oil which is parafin and about a fiver per gallon!

One last thing -

Using parafin in my omnifuel for a two week camping trip and using the stove to cook breakfast and evening meals plus tea etc in morning and evening for two people, I had to strip the stove once in the middle of the trip and clean it and again when I got home. 

I can do this in complete darkness without a torch and it is not difficult but can be a pain if you are desperate for a brew.

Deisel is very messy, coleman fuel is very clean, as is canister gas but you can't burn gas in your stove unless you make some kind of adapter.

Yeah it comes with 2 jets. One is for white gas(naptha) and unleaded, the other is for diesel, kerosene and jet fuel. Im guessing parafin is a different name for kerosene then. I will look into using parafin if its as cheap as you say. I did stockpile some white gas though, as the stove was filthy/clogged after I used the diesel (stank too). I think I'll only use that again if I am left with no choice.

I wouldnt have thought it possible to make a cannister gas adaptor, although I am interested now.

Anything is possible and if you do try to make a canister gas adaptor be careful.  It will probably end costing a bit of cash and also a lot of time so -

If you want to go down that route I would flog the msr and get the omnifuel and you can then just burn whatever fuel takes your fancy.  On long trips I often take a gas canister to make the first 'reviving' brew in the morning and alow me to cook in relative safety inside the tent and switch to parafin when I emerge from my bag.  I have a gas powered lantern so will have carried the gas anyway.

I have used both stoves and the omnifuel was a better all round stove in my opinion.  Maintenance is also very easy.  Not cheap though.