Author Topic: Coleman dual fuel lanterns & stoves (Read 3013 times)

burntmuch · « **on:** September 30, 2011, 08:42:21 PM »

Thinking about buying a dual fuel lantern. Anybody have any reviews.

possume · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2011, 08:57:25 PM »

i have one its a old one i got it 20 years ago i have had trouble with mine seems like the generator goes out fast when i use unleaded other than that i liked and used until i started refilling 1 lb propane tanks so now propane is just cheaper for me to use

lakota · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2011, 09:22:52 AM »

I have had good luck with mine other than always breaking the globe. I found a steel mesh replacement globe and that was that.

hillbill · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2011, 01:47:10 PM »

ive heard of problems with this new gas causeing the generators to plug up.so far ive stuck to the white gas even tho its mega expensive.i dont use mine much anymore,i purchased a couple deitz kerosene lanterns and only use the colemans when i need a lot of light.if yu look for kerosene lanterns , the wider the wick the more light they put out.

powderman · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2011, 04:57:42 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on October 01, 2011, 01:47:10 PM

ive heard of problems with this new gas causeing the generators to plug up.so far ive stuck to the white gas even tho its mega expensive.i dont use mine much anymore,i purchased a couple deitz kerosene lanterns and only use the colemans when i need a lot of light.if yu look for kerosene lanterns , the wider the wick the more light they put out.

YEP, I had the same experience using the unleaded, it was the pits. I took the new lantern back and rebuilt my old ones with new gens and pumps. I use strictly coleman fuel. BTW, I picked up nice looking lanterns at a flea mkt yesterday for $12 for both. POWDERMAN .

lakota · « **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2011, 10:17:25 AM »

I have been using unleaded fuel exclusively in mine since I got it about 5 years ago. No problems yets-knock on wood.

burntmuch · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2011, 03:48:03 PM »

I think Im gonna go ahead & try one. Try using unleaded, I ll pick up a spare generator, just to have on hand.

hillbill · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2011, 03:58:45 PM »

couple things im wondering about, could yu put sta-bil in your gas to keep it fresh?or could yu mix it 50-50 or less with white gas and still work well with the dual fuel lanterns?white gas seems to last forever.

powderman · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2011, 04:34:47 PM »

I know folks who have used nothing but unleaded in their lanters for over 20 yeas. The problem seems to be with the new lanterns. POWDERMAN.

burntmuch · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2011, 05:01:43 PM »

Powderman, so they use unleaded gas in regular lanterns with no problem??

lakota · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2011, 05:14:10 PM »

In my old "white gas only" Coleman I used unleaded in it as well. It seemed to work fine. Every now and then I would break it down and clean the needle valve out on the generator. I never had to replace the generator. The only reason I wound up buying the dual fuel lantern was because my old lantern seems to have grown a set of legs and walked off.

yooper77 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2011, 06:12:00 PM »

I converted my old white gas 2 burner stove to propane and never looked back.

yooper77

powderman · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2011, 06:30:09 PM »

Quote from: burntmuch on October 04, 2011, 05:01:43 PM

Powderman, so they use unleaded gas in regular lanterns with no problem??

BURNTMUCH. YES, thats what all of the people have told me that use the lanterns on the river camping a lot. I haven't tried it in my old lantern yet. I picked up 2 good looking lanterns at a flea mkt and need to try them out.
YOOPER. How did you convert it?? I have a coleman 2 burner stove thats probably 30 years old. Bought a new gen for it but it does not fit. POWDERMAN.

Victor3 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2011, 01:48:05 AM »

I grew up camping with white gas and my Dad cussing at it.

Stove/lantern fuel is such a tiny percentage of the cost of a camping trip that I don't know why anyone would want to mess with anything but propane. I want to get cooking and kick back. Not pour (and spill), pump, fiddle and hope that the thing lights...

bilmac · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2011, 02:05:24 AM »

I converted to propane stove and lantern years ago too, and lately have gone to LED for lights. No more worry about breaking mantles, and even the glass has been replaced with plastic. Some of my last lights were $2-$3 at Menards. Each one does not put out a lot of light but at that price, you can buy a bunch and have a lot of flexibility. Batteries last almost as long as they would sitting on a shelf, and bulbs never burn out.

I use rechargeable batteries and could recharge them with a solar panel.

I know, camping is supposed to be traditional, I like to do things the old way too, but the new stuff is just too good to ignore.

LanceR · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2011, 02:29:52 AM »

I was a Scoutmaster in a large troop for 14 years. We used mostly Dual Fuel Coleman stuff but had propane equipment for the camps that didn't allow liquid fuel. I have not had much experience with ethanol blends.

In my experience the issue is not one of actually using unleaded fuel it is one of storing the appliance with unleaded fuel in it. All unleaded fuel has a short shelf life and the shelf life of ethanol blends is much shorter than plain unleaded. I would recommend that you pour out the fuel when you are going to store the device and relight the appliance to let it burn dry so there is not fuel in it to crud things up when it deteriorates.

As has already been said for the few gallons a year we use for our own personal purposes I use Coleman fuel or the equivalent. I also use propane a lot but it does not work well when the bottom falls out of the temperature.

Coleman fuel is a lot safer when spilled since it evaporates so much faster than gasoline and presents a fire hazard for much less time.

Ozark Trail camping fuel from Wal Mart is the same stuff as Coleman's for a lot less money. Also, watch for the spring camping sales from Tractor Supply, Gander Mountain, Dick's etc for the best prices.

One word of caution for both fuels in cold weather is to be very cautious about getting any on your skin. Since the both evaporate very fast (Coleman fuel much faster even that gas) they supercool your skin. At zero degrees F both can cause almost instant frostbite.

Lance

hillbill · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2011, 02:29:17 PM »

i think the above post by LanceR may of hit the nail on the head. its not the useing of unleaded but the storeing of the lantern with the gas in it that causes problems.if you let it burn dry everytime and then refill with fresh fuel next time you use it, like he said, you may be way ahead. just a thought!

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2011, 04:19:08 PM »

Quote from: LanceR on October 08, 2011, 02:29:52 AM

One word of caution for both fuels in cold weather is to be very cautious about getting any on your skin. Since the both evaporate very fast (Coleman fuel much faster even that gas) they supercool your skin. At zero degrees F both can cause almost instant frostbite.

Lance

I'll agree but always attributed it to the fact it is a liquid at those low temps something one can't encounter with water, the liquid we are most familiar with. Anti freeze will give you the same effect at those low temps, and it is sorta oily.

possume · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2011, 06:35:08 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on October 08, 2011, 02:29:17 PM

i think the above post by LanceR may of hit the nail on the head. its not the useing of unleaded but the storeing of the lantern with the gas in it that causes problems.if you let it burn dry everytime and then refill with fresh fuel next time you use it, like he said, you may be way ahead. just a thought!

i dissagree i think unleaded burns to hot and dirty and messes up the genorators back in the day when i used mine during the summer i could burn coleman fuel for weeks but a weeks worth of burning with unleaded you could tell a difference in how it would light burn a few tanks of coleman fuel it would get better and i never stored mine with fuel in it

Victor3 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2011, 01:13:04 AM »

Quote from: bilmac on October 08, 2011, 02:05:24 AM

I know, camping is supposed to be traditional, I like to do things the old way too, but the new stuff is just too good to ignore.

That's the way I feel. My Wife and I still always pack some of the gear our parents & granparents used just for ol' time's sake even though a few items are antiquated.

Fun to use the old stuff where it's half-way practical, but that bulky old canvas tent with 20 tubes - match-marked with nail polish to show how they go together - went out to the curb long ago. I don't miss that clusterfudge one bit.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2011, 07:04:33 AM »

Quote from: Victor3 on October 09, 2011, 01:13:04 AM

Quote from: bilmac on October 08, 2011, 02:05:24 AM
I know, camping is supposed to be traditional, I like to do things the old way too, but the new stuff is just too good to ignore.

That's the way I feel. My Wife and I still always pack some of the gear our parents & granparents used just for ol' time's sake even though a few items are antiquated.

Fun to use the old stuff where it's half-way practical, but that bulky old canvas tent with 20 tubes - match-marked with nail polish to show how they go together - went out to the curb long ago. I don't miss that clusterfudge one bit.

Those physical links to the past, solidify the emotional links. That old dutch oven, or aluminum wash pan, hunting with the old 30-30 with the shot out barrel, skinning with the old knife whose handle is held on with a yard of electrical tape. Touching those things brings back a flood of memories.

If everything in the past were really that good we would all be sitting around knapping flint to put on grand daddy's old spear shaft for this falls hunt.

hillbill · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2011, 02:30:00 PM »

Quote from: possume on October 08, 2011, 06:35:08 PM

Quote from: hillbill on October 08, 2011, 02:29:17 PM
i think the above post by LanceR may of hit the nail on the head. its not the useing of unleaded but the storeing of the lantern with the gas in it that causes problems.if you let it burn dry everytime and then refill with fresh fuel next time you use it, like he said, you may be way ahead. just a thought!
i dissagree i think unleaded burns to hot and dirty and messes up the genorators back in the day when i used mine during the summer i could burn coleman fuel for weeks but a weeks worth of burning with unleaded you could tell a difference in how it would light burn a few tanks of coleman fuel it would get better and i never stored mine with fuel in it

well that info right there is good to know!im thinking of alternating white gas with unleaded now. maybe 2 tanks of unlead to 1 tank of white gas?that would cut the price quite a bit right there.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 10, 2011, 04:43:15 AM »

Bought 2 old ones at a recent yard sale.Paid $3 for both. Neither worked. Tore then apart. used carb cleaner. Let stuff soak. Man, that stuff works.
Put everything back together, bought some new items. added some gas and ....it worked. One did anyway.

The other one won`t give up the ghost. I`ve got time, I`ll get it working sooner or later.

The "working" one works great. Lots of light. They only issue is the amount of heat it gives off. In the winter that would be ok but in the summer.....not so good.

powderman · « **Reply #23 on:** October 11, 2011, 06:22:51 AM »

The walmarts here stopped stocking the ozark trail fuel, strictly coleman now. POWDERMAN.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #24 on:** October 11, 2011, 08:04:10 AM »

What would happen if a person treated that no lead with Seafoam or the like? It is a cleaner and works well as a stabilizer as well. I would darn sure avoid Ethanol blends.

powderman · « **Reply #25 on:** October 11, 2011, 06:04:47 PM »

I bought 2 nice looking dbl mantel lanterns at a flea mkt 2 wks ago. I looked at several the first day and they were $18- $28 ea, had new mantles and booklet. Decided that night to go back next day and buy one. We went a different direction and I found 2 without a mark on them but the pump didn't work in one of them, he had $10 ea on them. He said he'd take $15 for both, I showed him that ones pump didn't work, bought em both for $12. As I was walking along I noticed a guy watching me. Finally he walked over and asked where and how much, I told him. I can't repeat what he said but he was disappointed he didn't see them first. POWDERMAN.