The Fuel Name FAQ
Version: 37
Editor: mbuckler@opera.iinet.net.au.fuel
New: -
Updated:
Note: Anti-spam
measure - Remove the ".fuel" from the end of all email addresses.
The following
list contains data for approx 43 countries. I would like to expand the list to
cover the rest of the world. Hope you can help. Info needed for
....
Morocco,
Algeria, Greece, Syria, Iraq, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Saudi
Arabia, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Borneo, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon,
Oman, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, New Guinea, N+S Korea,
Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan,
Ethiopia, Somali Rep, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Columbia,
Ecuador, Guyana, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Madagascar and
lots of other places.
Perhaps people
could post translations of this document to non English speaking networks.
Column 1
Decane (mostly).
Kerosene/diesel is a crude cut from oil refineries, boiling point range is
approximately 180° to 280° C. May have pink or blue colour added (U.K.).
Column 2
Pentane, Hexane. The same as
for column 1, but a boiling point range of 25° to 200° C. Slight yellow colour.
Column 3
60% Hexane + 40% Heptane? Usually colourless?
Column 4
95% Ethanol +
5% Methanol approx. Usually has purple colour and bad
taste added. May also contain propanol and water.
|
Country |
Fuel |
|||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
kerosene |
Gasoline "Gas" |
White Gas Naphtha Coleman Fuel Blazo |
Denatured Alcohol Solvent Alcohol |
|
|
Paraffin |
Petrol |
Coleman Fuel |
Methylated Spirit "Meths" |
|
|
Argentina
( |
??? |
??? |
??? |
alcohol alcohol pura alcohol de quemar |
|
Kerosene "Kero" |
Petrol |
Shellite White gas Mobilite |
methylated spirits "Meths" "Metho" |
|
|
Petroleum |
Bleifrei |
Reinigunsbenzin |
Brennspiritus |
|
|
Petroleum |
loodvrije benzine |
Wasbenzine |
??? |
|
|
Minyak Tanah AVTUR |
Benzine |
??? |
Spiritos |
|
|
meiyou Huo shui ? |
qi you |
???? |
???? |
|
|
Petrolej Parafin |
Benzin |
Technicky benzin |
Denaturovany lih Denaturovany alkohol |
|
|
Petrolium |
auto benzin |
rensebenzin |
Ethanol (100 %) |
|
|
al-kayruseen zayt al-barafeen zayt al-kaaz |
WAKOUD BENZEEN |
GAAS ABYAD White Gas |
COHOL TIBY COHOL SENAIY |
|
|
kerosene |
??? |
White spirits Shellite |
??? |
|
|
Valopetroli Petroli |
bensiini |
Kevytbensiini Puhdistusbensiini |
denaturoitu sprii Sinol(tm) Marinol(tm) |
|
|
Petrole fuel domestique |
Essence |
Petrol a Bruler Essence filtree Blanche sans plomb Essence C Essence a l'usage domestique |
Alcool a Bruler Alcool Denature Alcool Methylique |
|
|
Petroleum Paraffinol Petrol Lampenoel |
Benzin Bleifrei Auto-Benzin Superbenzin |
Kocherbenzin Feuerzeug Benzin Katalyt Benzin Reinigungsbenzin Reinbenzin Fleckenbenzin Wundbenzin |
Spiritus Brennspiritus Methyl Alkohol |
|
|
Parafinh |
|
"Coleman fuel" ? |
mequliko oinopneuma |
|
|
Petroleum |
Benzin |
Rensebenzin |
Denatureret Sprit |
|
|
Petroleum Lampen-Olie |
Benzine Super Loodvrij Normaal 16 |
Wasbenzine Coleman Fuel |
Spiritus Brand Spiritus Alcohol |
|
|
Parafin |
Olommentes benzin |
Benzin |
spiritus denaturált szesz |
|
|
??? |
??? |
Hreinsad Benzin |
Rodsprit |
|
|
Kerosene |
Petrol (Gasoline) |
??? |
Meths
??? |
|
|
MINYAK TANAH |
BENSINE |
??? |
??? |
|
|
NAFT |
Benzin |
??? |
??? |
|
|
??? |
??? |
??? |
Meths |
|
|
|
Neft |
Delek 91 Delek 96 Unleaded delek |
Delek lavan |
??? |
|
petrolio petrolio lampante Olio di Paraffina Kerosene |
Benzina per autoveicoli |
benzina AVIO Benzina bianca |
Alcol denaturato |
|
|
Toh-yu |
Gasoline |
White Gas Coleman Fuel |
Nen-ryo yoh Alcohol |
|
|
Paraffin kerosene |
unleaded gas |
??? |
??? |
|
|
This is rather complicated. See
the entry further on in this document. |
||||
|
kreosene parifin pitrolju |
Petrol octane |
??? |
Alcohol ethanol Methylated spirit Surgical spirit |
|
|
Petroleo |
Gasolina |
gasolina blanca |
??? |
|
|
Kerosene |
Petrol |
White Spirit Shellite Callite Britolite Pegasol Fuelite |
Methylated Spirit |
|
|
Parafin |
Bensin |
Renset bensin Heptan Katlyt bensin |
Rod-Sprit |
|
|
kerosene |
gasoline |
Coleman fuel |
denatured alcohol |
|
|
nafta |
"benzyna bezolowiowa" |
benzyna rektyfikowana |
Denaturat alkohol metylowy |
|
|
Petroleo |
Gasolina sem chumbo |
Benzina de desengorduramento |
"Alcool 95%" |
|
|
kerosene |
benzine |
??? |
Methyl Alcohol (metilovy spirt) |
|
|
paraffin |
petrol |
Benzine |
Methylated Spirits "Meths" |
|
|
Parafina Petroleo Keroseno Petroli |
Gasolina sim plomo |
Becina, Blanca Solvente Gasolina domestica Benzina pura |
Alcohol Metilico Alcohol de quemar (Metilico) |
|
|
Fotogen T-Gul Taendvaetska Lysfotogen |
Blyfri bensin |
Rengoerings bensin Industribensin Kemiskt Ren Bensin Statoil miljø |
T-Sprit/Roedsprit T-Roed Metanol T-br=E4nsle |
|
|
Petrol |
Bleifrei |
Reinbenzin Wundbenzin |
Brennsprit |
|
|
|
Petroleum |
Bleifrei |
Reinbenzin Wundbenzin Feuerzeug Benzin |
Brennsprit |
|
|
??? |
??? |
Benzin Gereinigt |
??? |
|
NAUM MAUN GAS |
NAUM MAUN REI SARN |
BENZENE KAOW White benzene "COMFORT" |
Alcohol |
|
|
|
Gazyagi Parafin |
Kursunsuz benzin |
White Gas Benzin |
Ispirto |
|
kerosen |
gasolina |
Gasolina blanca |
alcohol para quemar alcohol luz |
|
Editors
Note: "white spirit / white gas" Confusion. (May 1996)
Depending on which country you are
in, "white spirit" can be one of several substances. In the
In
Referring to one of the brand names
is probably a more reliable way of getting what you're after (see the entry for
The Material Safety Data Sheet for
Coleman fuel gives the following composition:
<elliot@mail.utexas.edu.fuel>
writes....... (May 1996)
Coleman fuel and white gasoline are
not the same. Coleman fuel contains components that are much less volatile than
gasoline (such as naptha). This is what makes it safer to use in a stove or
lantern. White gasoline is simply gasoline that contains no antiknock
additives. Commercial unleaded gasoline contains additives that will likely
damage your stove unless it designed to accept this type of fuel (some are).
I suppose the question really is:
Can I use white gas in my stove? Answer is: probably. If it is clean and
contains no additives, it will burn just fine. It is more dangerous to handle
since it is more volatile, but clean, pure white gas will probably not damage
your stove. At least it has never harmed my Svea 123.
<awaddington@acorn.co.uk.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
Don't forget that some multifuel
stoves will run on Diesel, which has the advantage of a very high calorific
value per unit mass. In
Editors note: The name "diesel" is used in
Italy- Gasolio
per autotrazione.
<StewartAG@aol.com.fuel> writes ..... (April 1996)
I have a recommendation for those
seeking Kerosene. The International Specifications for Kerosene are almost if
not exactly the same as commercial Jet-A Fuel. Both products have very
stringent % of sulphur content.
Since I market petroleum products in
the NW (
A good test for quality is check to
see if the jet a is water white with no smell. I would
think most airports around the world would have this product and would part
with a few gallons for the needy camper. Besides, it is usually inexpensive
compared to other kero like products.
<Geoff.Rehmet@gfsa.co.za.fuel>
writes ....(Oct 1998)
Benzene refers to the Benzene ring
molecule C6H6 (6's should be subscript) if I recall properly. This is not a
good fuel, and is also nasty stuff - I recall being warned in chemistry class
at university that it is carcinogenic. Benzine is the same as white gas. (I
actually resorted to the Concise Oxford English Disctionary a short while ago
to jog my memory on this subject!).
The following link no longer works.
If anyone knows where the file went, please let me know. "Suitability
of aviation fuels in camping stove" discussion. (Part of the
Newscastle University Mountaineering Club web pages) http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~numc/grnland/fuel.html
Optimus stove fuel information http://www.optimus.se/faq/#fuels
Alphabetical
Listing of Notes for Various Countries
<jewitt@aqua.ccwr.ac.za.fuel>
writes.........(Dec 1993)
The most practical stoves for
hiking/camping etc in most of
Paraffin is the most freely
available fuel throughout southern
Petrol throughout southern
(Editors note: Unleaded petrol is
now available (June 1996) in South Africa)
White Spirit/Coleman Fuel is rarely
available and then only in specialised camping shops and is really expensive.
Benzine is around but you might have to hunt a bit, it's quite expensive and
sometimes has all sorts of odd additives that stop it burning properly and clog
up the jets.
<bikehiketour@hotmail.com.fuel>
writes.... (Nov 1999)
Came across
your web information sheet while doing some research for our next long distance
bicycle tour. We just completed
Meths is called 'alcohol'
(pronounced al-col) or alcohol pura (somtimes alcohol de quemar)
In
In
In
In
In
In
Generally if the pharmacies don't
carry the right grade, ask in hardware or paint stores we found that someone
there always knew where to find it.
<daryl@menzies.su.edu.au.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
"white
spirits" and "white gas" are NOT the same. White spirit is some
kind of cleaning fluid, IF you can get your stove to run on it it will clog it
up fairly quickly.
Most hardware stores sell
"Shellite" in one litre plastic bottles Usually
made by "diggers." ( there are other brands
but diggers is the most common) Kerosene and Methylated spirits are usually
available from supermarkets, as well as hardware stores, again under the
"diggers" brand. In the
<jch@cs.rmit.edu.au.fuel>
writes....(Feb 1999)>
White spirit has been designed for
the dry cleaning industry and has had a flame inhibitor added to it to try and
reduce the risk of fire when using it hence why it does not burn very well. If
you cannot buy 'shellite' then you can use 'unleaded petrol' from any garage in
almost every shellite burning stove, it works fine in Coleman and all the MSR
models including the Whisperlite. The only thing to note is that unleaded
petrol has a higher flash point and requires a little bit more care in handling
to make sure you do not burn yourself. Once the fuel is in the stove there are
no problems but fill stoves and bottles well away from any flames.
Editors Note: (
June 1995 ): "White gas" is also available under the brand
name of "Mobilite" and costs about $A5 per litre in small quantities
(750ml glass bottles) from hardware stores.
<awaddington@acorn.co.uk.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
"Bleifrei" is particularly
low octane - 91 or 92, so the stuff most people use in cars is the higher
octane stuff which isn't so nice in stoves.
<k.kretschel@dlr.de.fuel>
writes...................(July 1995)
<Werner.Koch@uibk.ac.at.fuel>
writes........(Jan 1996)
In
Denatured Alcohol would be
translated as "Brennspiritus" and white gas is "Reinigunsbenzin"
and rather expensive. Since fuel stoves are less popular over here than in the
<moh@hacom.nl.fuel> writes.......(April 1996)
BTW: in
<MucaloP@kpc.co.id.fuel>
writes.....(Feb 99)
Borneo Fuel Names also applies to
Sumatera and
Kerosene "Minyak Tanah"
available everywhere as it is the main cooking fuel.
Aviation Grade Kerosene
"AVTUR" only from registered dealers in 200l drums.
Gasoline
"Benzine" available everywhere.
2 stroke mixture" Benzine
campur" available pre mixed in most places. In small places
look for the fuel station identified by lots of 200l drums
outside.
Diesil
"Solar" available everywhere.
Methlylated spirits
"Spiritos" often died purple and put in old softdrink bottles with
crown seals.
Karbit
"carbide" available from little little hardwareshops. This is used for simple brazing in many parts of
<steven@moe.edu.sg.fuel>writes.....(Jan 1997)
Kerosene in
<mhuang@bu.edu.fuel> writes........(April 1998)
This is the first time in my life I
have heard someone would call kerosene `huo shui'. Might be
called so in some (very limitedly used) regional dialect.
In mandarin, which can be understood
across
Interestingly "mei you" for kerosene sounds nearly identical to the
chinese expression for "nothing" "there isn't", or
"don't have". If you are in a shop and ask for "mei you", the guy behind the counter repeats "mei
you", or "mei you mei you", you are out of luck. :-)
Gasoline: "qi you" ( "q" reads "ch" -- "chi you"
i.e. ``vapour oil'' )
Leadless gaseline: "wu qian qi
you" uncommon in china.
White gas: never heard of in china.
Diesel: "chai you" ( ``firewood oil'' )
One can also look for bottled
cigarette lighter fuel.
99.5% chinese
will get lost if you ask for these:
"distilled"
gasoline: "zhi liu qi you"
For experiment or as solvent : "rong ji qi you"
If you really want, you can find
chemical grade pure petrol in petroleum chemistry related stores. But only in a hand full of the largest cities. Most people
never heard of camping stove that burns anything other than alcohol or
kerosene, if they have heard of camping stoves at all.
you can find petrol whereever there is a petrol station. that is what I used. unleaded
becomes more available. some cities started to ban
leaded petrol completely. But I think you will find leaded more often
particularly in remote places.
<akhain@sequent.com.fuel>
writes.........(Dec 1993)
Petrolej, Benzin, Technicky benzin,
Denaturovany lih or Denaturovany alkohol should be commonly available in
'Drogerie' (Drug store) or 'Barvy-Laky' (Paints) stores.
<jqrn@mi.aau.dk.fuel> writes .....(June 1995)
Column 4 (95% Ethanol + 5% Methanol)
are not for sale in Denmark, but instead we use 100% Ethanol which is almost as
good when the temperature are not to low - and it seldom is in Denmark, due to
our very flat country (highest top apptoc. 180 m over sea...) anyway this
product substitutes what the norvegian/swedish people call Rod-Sprit and is
called "husholdnings-sprit" or simply "sprit."
<jkh@gnn.com.fuel> writes......(Oct 1995)
kerosene - 3 names:
al-kayruseen
zayt al-barafeen (literally, "oil of parafin")
zayt al-kaaz
<a.ferguson@chem.canterbury.ac.nz.fuel>
writes.........(Dec 1994)
While in
We were sea kayaking round the
island and I was carrying a 5 litre drum of kerosene on deck. The white spirits
was distributed around the rest of the fleet in 1/2 and 1 litre containers and
stowed in the kayaks.
<kiravuo@gamma.hut.fi.fuel> writes.......(Dec 1993)
Valopetroli, bensiini and sprii are
generic names, Sinol and Marinol are brand names, but also in common use.
<mk59200@cs.tut.fi.fuel>
writes........(Dec 1993)
White Gas (kevytbensiini) is
apparently very hard to find (maybe because nobody uses it here). According to
manufacturer's info Sinol(tm) is for unpressurized stoves (Trangia etc.) while
Marinol(tm) is for pressurized stoves (Optimus? never seen one), but in
practice they should be interchangeable.
<rtp1@midway.uchicago.edu.fuel>
writes....(Oct 1998)
Besides the listed choices,
"Lampyoljy" (lamp oil) has always worked fine for me. It's a clean kerosene, generally dyed blue or some other color.
The very best and cleanest is Shell Erikois Valopetroli, but the other stuff
works just fine.
You have to look far and wide to get
"Coleman Fuel" in
<I.G.Batten@fulcrum.co.uk.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
Coleman fuel is also available as
``Essence C' 'in French supermarkets and hardware shops. It's dirt cheap. It
worked fine in a Coleman Peak One and an MSR Whisperlite, with no fouling or
peculiar smell from either or excessive filth from priming the MSR
``Essence'', alone, is leaded 88
octane petrol.
<awaddington@acorn.co.uk.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
Petrol/Gasoline in
(Editors note: "Essence
normale" is leaded petrol/gasoline.)
<svante.wendel@wendel.se.fuel>
writes..(May 2000)
Many moons ago while traveling in
<Noah_Coccaro@HAMPSTER.BOLTZ.CS.CMU.EDU.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
I spent a year in
<PETER@EMBL-Hamburg.DE.fuel>
writes.....(April 1994)
Lampenoel (kerosene) is often
coloured and has added "smells"
Lead-Free, (bleifrei, sans plomb,
loodvrij, sim plomo) fuel is almost universal for cars that will stand it
without burning out their engines!
<k.kretschel@dlr.de.fuel>
writes................... (July 1995)
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
Petroleum Paraffinol Petrol Lampenoel |
Benzin Bleifrei Auto-Benzin Superbenzine Loddvrije bensine |
Kocherbenzin Feuerzeug Benzin Katalyt Benzin Reinigungsbenzin Reinbenzin Fleckenbenzin Wundbenzin |
Spiritus Brennspiritus Methyl Alkohol |
Not quite correct:
Col 1 main name is
"Diesel"; "Petroleum" is a cleaned version. The other names
are unusual. One more name is "Heizoel", but you need that only when
you want some 1000 liters for your big tank. The only difference to Diesel is
the tax ;-)
BTW: "Sprit" is a generic
name for gas as well as for alcoholics, no matter if drinkable or not. Each
liquid that burns may be called "Sprit", either in the throat or in
motor or a stove.
<P.VOLLMAR@LINK-GOE.de.fuel>
(Peter Vollmar) writes... (Dec 1996)
Lampenoel ist
*not* petrol. This stuff killt my msr xgk2 generator.
In pharmacies they often use METHANOL for Methyl Alkohol.
<mbelow@post.uni-bielefeld.de.fuel>
writes........(Sept 1998)
The line about
The second column: Benzin is a good
general name for petrol. Bleifrei means unleaded -- that's standard now, so in
daily life the names
Tim
Cunningham<timc@ibo.org.fuel> writes ....(July
2000)
In
stations and pumped like regular diesel, but is not taxed. Diesel is pretty
cheap anyway, but this stuff is cheaper. The name of diesel is Petrelaio (pron.
petreleo) and the heating fuel is Petrelaio qermansh (pron. Petreleo
thermansee) and has a pink colour added. For paraffin/kerosene (for use in
lamps etc) ask for Parafinh (pron. parafeenee) in a hardware store Sidhropoleio
(pron. Seedeeropoleeo).
As for Coleman fuel/white gas, I
don't know for definite, but I guess it is imported as 'Coleman fuel' by some
stores in downtown
Alcohol is readily available in
pharmacies or Farmakeio (pron. farmakeeo) and goes by the wonderful name of
mequliko oinopneuma (pron. metheeleeko eenopnevma - literally 'methylated
spirit').
<fleis@meyer.fys.ku.dk.fuel>
writes.......(Aug 1998)
The names for the fuels in
<dirk.vangulik@cen.jrc.it.fuel>
writes......(Dec 1993)
cat 1: Lampen-Olie... sometimes okay, often more like a
vegetable oil.,the 'non-smelling' version is almost always good: "reukloze
lampen-olie" but contains a perfume which makes my stove
(Whisper=Lite" clog up once in a while.
cat 2: "Super" = high octane,
"Loodvrij"= unleaded.
cat 3: Wasbenzine, Colman fluel, both well known
<millenaar@jach.hawaii.edu.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
The name 'coleman fuel' or 'coleman
brandstof' is commonly used in
<akos@belgonet.be.fuel>
writes... (Aug 2001)
Reading your fuel table, I am able
to replace some ???-s in the
hungarian line (column 4) : the name is spiritus or
denaturált szesz.
<ROB.JONSON@balliol.oxford.ac.uk.fuel>
writes.... (Jan 1997)
I was just looking at your faq and noticed a number of blanks for
<RKOHLI@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu.fuel>
writes........ (Dec 1993)
Petrol(Gasoline) is available at any Petrol Pump. Buy the
higher grade if you are not sure.
Kerosene is available at most
roadside grocery shops or "ration" shops.
Methyl Alcohol-Most Drug Stores
stock it. I have never used it in any stove so can't vouch for it.
White Gas-Could never find it.
<steven@moe.edu.sg.fuel>
writes.....(jan 1997)
Kerosene is MINYAK TANAH Available
from little roadside shops that sell watered down petrol. The watered down
petrol is known as BENSINE. Other helpful words: API (fire), FLAMU (flame).
<atavakli@cftnet.com.fuel>
writes..... (May 1996)
In
<bikehiketour@hotmail.com>
writes..... (Nov 99)
Meths: In
Giuliano Da Broi
<giuliano.dabroi@tin.it.fuel> writes...(Feb
2001)
I found your "Fuel Name
Faq" very useful and complete, even if there are
some mistakes in Italian translation:
N°1
Commonly known as "petrolio" or
"petrolio lampante"
N°3
"Benzina bianca" is correct but not very well known; better if you
ask for
"benzina AVIO" that is a trade mark.
N°4
"Alcol denaturato" (not "denaturo")
<tsuchiya@sedona.intel.com.fuel>
writes..........(Dec 1993)
Gasoline is available at gas
station. Usually they also have kerosene, ie. Toh-yu.
"Toh" is pronounced like in "TOFU", and "yu" is
like "you".
White Gas (most likely the one sold
by Japan Coleman) is available at bigger sports goods retailer. Sometimes also available at hardware store (again, bigger one).
Alcohol is available at drug store. Ask "Nen-ryo yoh" (the one as
fuel), or you will get the one for disinfection. Pronounce something like
"Al-coal" for "Alcohol".
<awaddington@acorn.co.uk.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
Paraffin/Kerosene is available
everywhere in
Unleaded gas is pretty much
unobtainable, but there must be plenty of diesel about
- we saw a tanker of it lying in the road spilling the stuff everywhere while
people variously stood about smoking and waving traffic onto the edge of the
road.
<torque@pacific.net.sg.fuel>
writes.....(Sept 1997)
As a backgrounder,
|
|
Teochew |
Hokkien |
Cantonese |
Mandarin |
Malay |
|
Kerosene |
Tou Yew |
Thor Yeew |
For Sway |
Huo Yew / May Yew |
Minyak Tanah |
|
Petrol |
Tiang Yew |
Tian Teew |
Chair Yow |
Tian Yew / Chi Yew |
Minyak Patrol |
|
White Gas is Non existant in these
parts, closest equivalent is unleaded petrol |
|||||
|
Unlead Gas |
|
|
|
Woo Chian Chi Yew |
Minyak Patrol Perlombong |
|
Methylated Spirit |
Huay Chiew |
Huay Chiew |
For Chow |
For Chiew |
Minyak Sprit |
<henfalz@maltanet.omnes.net.fuel>
writes.......(Aug 1996)
1) kreosene,parifin,pitrolju
2) Petrol,octane
3) ?
4) Alcohol, ethanol,Methylated spirit,Surgical spirit
Localy Kerosene is illegaly used as
a cheap substetute for Diesel in diesel engines of over 3l. capacity
in a ratio of 40% ker & 60% diesel. In
<amcculloch@earthlink.net.fuel>
writes ......(Oct 1996)
In Mexico, at least in the area
around the volcanoes, your "Column 3" fuel ("white gas" or
"Coleman fuel") is called "gasolina blanca".
White spirit (4
brand names) available from garages. Probably safer to ask for one of the brand names rather than just
"white spirit". Meths from hardware stores.
Murray Singleton
<msinglet@dcc.govt.nz.fuel> writes....(Jan 2001)
In
available at Caltex garages and I assume it replaces the brand name Callite,
previously sold at Caltex outlets.
<paale@lie.uit.no.fuel> writes........(Dec 1993)
Parafin is available at most garages,
at times under the name "Fritids-parafin", or "Lampe-olje"
(the latter is a more refined version, doesn't smell).
Bensin is available at garages, and
so is White Spirit.
Rod-Sprit is available at stores
selling paint etc. and also Liquour-shops!!! (even if
it is poisonous).
<paale@lie.uit.no.fuel> writes.....(Dec 1993)
The problem is the product called
"White spirit" in Norwegian. It is a somewhat kerosene-like product,
but more refined. It is intended for use as paint-thinner removing paint-stains
etc. It is cleaner and lights easier than kerosene, but it is not at all
comparable to petrol. I use it from time to time as a substitute for kerosene
in my stove, and it works great.
On the other hand there is
"Renset bensin", which is unleaded, highly refined petrol. It is sold
at pharmacies, and is intended for removing stains, and also medical use. This
product is very expensive, very explosive: not exactly the ideal stove fuel.
But what confuses me is: this seems
to be the product referred to for a lot of other countries. So what do you
think? Are you looking for "White spirit" or "Renset bensin" ?
<wittgens@kjemi.unit.no.fuel>
writes......(Dec 1993)
Actually you are looking for
something in between, my Whispherlight get some hick'up when using "White
spirit" because the petroleum jet is to big for
using "White spirit" directly, the white gas jet is somewhat small,
so you don't get enough fuel through it. Another popular use of "White
spirit" is lighting a barbeque with it.
Never use "Renset bensin"
you just waist your money, use unleaded 98 octane fuel. Some gas station sell a
gasoline typ with an additive based on potassium, this one should not be used
in MSR's or Coleman's
<exualan@exu.ericsson.se.fuel>
writes........(Dec 1993)
While in
There are some interesting cultural
differences with regard to the "explosive" fuels.
It is sold at pharmacies, and is
intended for removing stains, and also medical use. This product is very expensive,
very explosive: not exactly the ideal stove fuel.
This is quite true for
Now, in the
<wittgens@kjemi.unit.no.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
True, the norwegian's
get slighty crazy if they someone light a stove fired by gasoline, normally
they move about two meters away. They learn gasoline == dangerous, kerosene ==
safe. Further it is forbidden in
<heill@phys.unit.no.fuel>
Writes.........(Jan 1995)
A minor correction to your
information on Norwegian names in the FAQ: Your "Rod-Sprit" in column
4 (Denatured Alcohol/Solvent Alcohol) should be spelled "R{/o}dsprit" where "{/o}" is a slashed
"o" (can be compared to the German (e.g) umlauted "o".
Extra hyphenation and capitalization
is an ill decease spreding into the Norwegian language (from English)! [Oh,
BTW: :-)] It means, literally, "Red spirit/alchohol]".
Searching for
Coleman fuel. A merry chase around
=> Coleman Fuel in
(See the entry on
<dagstaale.karlsen@cargoscan.com.fuel>
writes....(April 1999)
Regarding table of fuel names: For
Column 3: You may add "Katlyt
bensin"
Column 4: If you want an alternative
to you may use "Isopropanol" and this is usualy possible to get in
ordinary hardwear stores. The price is approx equal to "Rød sprit" =
"denaturert sprit" It is sold under name "Teknisk Isopropanol"
and is a blue liquid.
If you have problems with getting
any of this all gasolinstations has "kondensfjerner" (condese
remover) which is a fuel additive used to reduse problems caused by a small
persentage of water in gasoline or diesel systems. "kondensfjerner"
is a little bit more expensive, and includes additves we dont need in stoves.
This may result in some soot. Usually I prefere to use
"Teknisk Isopropanol".
Regarding: the Editors Note:
"white spirit / white gas". In
Some more comments: It is possible
to by gasoline stoves in
"Fritids-parafin",
or "Lampe-olje" is usually ok to use as replasement for kerosene or
diesel, but it may have another viscosity and it may cause problems in low
temperature ore high mountains. (I dont know why.) Ordinary kerosene is widely
available, and tousends of single-unit dwellings use kerosene for heating, and
may have a barrel. In winter season diesel may contain near 50% kerosene in
cold areas. Most backpackers uses butane stoves or
alcohol stoves. Propane is widely used in cabins and caravans, and newer boats.
Kerosene stoves is much used in boats, and by
MC-people and scouts. Kerosine stoves is used by armed
forces.
<jappy@skyinet.net.fuel>
"Juan Rafael D. Xavier" writes.... (Jan 1997)
Here is the list of available fuel
when backpacking in our country.
1-kerosene (easily obtainable, even
in the provinces)
2-gasoline (easily obtainable)
3-coleman fuel, available in some
department stores, only in manila, but rather expensive (ironic, considering a
lot of people use their stoves)
-lighter fluid; ziponol is
expensive, as is other kinds. the most popular kinds
are those readily available in hardware stores and supermarkets. they come in small red plastic bottles and are relatively
cheap, easy to store and pack up. they usually have
queer brands like "sure flash," "
4-denatured alcohol (easily
obtainable)
There are also some shops in manila
which sell butane/propane canisters for the bluette burners (both new and old
models) as well as some coleman outfits.
<jacek@appel012.hydromech.uni-hannover.de.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
|
|
|
|
Kerosene |
hm, I am not sure, but try to ask for 'nafta', or
express it slightly longer 'nafta do lamp naftowych', what means that you
want something which is burned in the lamps... There exists something called
'olej parafinowy' but I do not know how it works. Better forget it.'Nafta'
burns easily, but if you think of the fluid of the Indian kerosene kind,
which does not burn when you light a match and drop onto the fluid surface, I
am wrong. |
|
Gasoline |
'Benzyna', different octane
numbers, leaded: the lower ones are called 'niebieska benzyna' (blue
gasoline), the better 'zolta benzyna' (yellow gasoline), unleaded gasoline
(probably the best when used in stoves) 'benzyna bezolowiowa'. Fuel for
diesel engines is oft called 'olej napedowy', or in slang 'diesel'. |
|
White gas |
'benzyna
rektyfikowana', 'benzyna oczyszczana', or when not undestood, 'benzyna -
rozpuszczalnik do farb i lakierow', or 'benzyna do wywabiania plam', what
means, that you want a fluid with which you may remove paint stains or
solvent or thinner for some sort of paints. Beware of 'rozpuszczalnik do farb
olejnych' - thinner for oil paints. Just explain somehow, that you need it
for a stove ('benzynowa maszynka do gotowania', people use also the name of
the German firm: 'juwel'). |
|
Denaturated Alcohol |
'Denaturat', 'alkohol metylowy',
usually with a beautiful skull and crossed bones symbol, and with horrible
violet-colour addition. You may try also to burn 'spirytus', but this is 99
per cent pure alcohol for consumption and extremely expensive just to use as
fuel... |
Availability: 'benzyna rektyfikowana'
in the shops with the chemical products what in
'farby i
lakiery', etc. Some hardware shops probably too. There you may ask also for
'nafta', but try to explain, what you want to do with it... ('do
lampy naftowej'). 'Denaturat' could be also probably bought there, but usually
you may get it in the liquor shops (yes!) 'monopolowy'
or even in the shops with food or hardware (smaller towns, villages).
'Benzyna' - fuel stations, but
sometimes there are problems when you come with a PLASTIC bottle, for just 1
liter...
They may say it is dangerous and
would not sell you anything. In such a case try to come with a metal bottle or
bigger (2-5 liter) can (pol.: 'kanister') or try to ask some driver for help.
Burning qualities: The division of
the qualities is clear - 'nafta' for lamps or stoves, where you may highly
pressurize the fuel, 'denaturat' for the slightly old-fashioned alcohol stoves,
where a surface of the liquid burns, 'benzyna rektyfikowana' is probably the
best thing for stoves with limited or no possibility to pressurize the fuel
(Whisperlite, Coleman). 'Benzyna' - if you have to use it, use the unleaded
super ('bezolowiowa super'), when not available - down the octane scale. 'Diesel' the worst.
Tim
Cunningham<timc@ibo.org.fuel> writes ....(July
2000)
I used a Trangia stove in
<mtrrut@vmsa.technion.ac.il.fuel>
writes........(Dec 1993)
Petrol could be obtained in
fuel-station, if you find one. But usually there are very long lines for fuel
and nobody is permitted to buy without order. TIP: ask driver of lorry/bus/taxi
to sale (or just present) several liters. It usually works if you ask <2-3
liters. If you need more, repeat procedure. Taxi drivers usually sale benzine about 4-10 times more expensive
than in fuel stations.
Don't try to find white gas. Nobody
knows what it is. Learn to use petrol (if your stove isn't intended for petrol,
be ready to clean it in the field). Trying to buy methyl alchohol (or cheap
alchohol) isn't good idea.
Kerosene may be obtainable, but you
can never predict it. Besides that some places don't sale goods to visitors. If
so, you can usually ask somebody in the place to buy it for you.
The best obtainable fuel is a solar.
Fuel stations don't sale it to travelers but most drivers of big lorries let you suck it. Bring house >2 m long (if you
buy petrol from car/bus/... you need to suck it too!)
It is good idea to have somebody
speaking Russian and preferably local language for negotiations. Foreign
language and cash may attract crimes.
In general, you usually can find
fuel in the initial point of your trip (you can't bring it in the plane) but it
takes time. Consultations are highly recommended! In 1990 we had to delay start
to 20-days mountain expedition in Tyan'-Shan' for 1 day because we couldn't
obtain fuel!
<jewitt@aqua.ccwr.ac.za.fuel>
writes.........(Dec 1993)
Paraffin is freely available at
garages and plenty of other stores.
Petrol at
garages.
Methylated Spirits is available at
most stores except in the
<incose@global.co.za.fuel>
writes........(June 1996)
Unleaded petrol is now available
throughout
<vulcan@global.co.za.fuel>
writes........(July 1996)
Benzine (can be found in any
hardware store in
<Geoff.Rehmet@gfsa.co.za.fuel>
writes ....(Oct 1998)
I have never seen any outdoor shop
actually stocking Coleman Fuel, or benzine, for that matter. As mentioned in
the FAQ, benzine is readily available at hardware stores, and can sometimes (at
a price) be obtained from pharmacies. Benzine works out to be about twice the
price of petrol, about ZAR5/l as opposed to about ZAR2.50/l (ZAR1.00 = USD5.87
when I last checked).
As an aside: anyone considering
using South African diesel in their stove should be warned that diesel has a rather high sulphur content here. I would suspect that
that will result in quicker clogging of jets and fuel lines.
<awaddington@acorn.co.uk.fuel>
writes.......(Dec 1993)
Unleaded petrol/gas is "Sin
plomo"
<Olcbill@aol.com.fuel> writes ............ (Dec 1994)
Last summer in
<bikehiketour@hotmail.com.fuel>
writes.... (Nov 1999)
Meths: in the northern part it can
be found in pharmacies, but in the south, shops sell it as a camping fuel.
<exualan@exu.ericsson.se.fuel>
writes......(Dec 1993)
In
<x672
nick@mail.esrin.esa.it.fuel> and <Nick.Kew@mail.esrin.esa.it.fuel>
writes ...... (June 1995)
Searching for Coleman Fuel: I
explained everywhere "like the petrol you put in cars, but without the
additives. "Vit Bensin" didn't work. Did I
mean "Rod Sprit" (meths), or parafin? Yes they'd heard some people
use low-octane unleaded petrol. No joy - but I only tried garages as everywhere
else was shut.
<wendel@wendel.se.fuel> writes.......(July 1995)
Column 1: Fotogen means kerosene
(generic). It's fine to buy some kerosene provided you buy 5 gallons or more.
It's what you buy if you (very few do) use it for heating a room or a home. <T-Gul> (meaning T-Yellow, just like T-Roed means T-Red.
Both indicate the color of the label, T-Roed itself is also pale red whereas
T-Gul is colorless) is what it says on the label of the 1-liter plastic bottles
that you can buy in any gas station, grocery store or supermarket. <Taend-
vaetska> is what you should ask for if you ask for <T-Gul> by name in
a store. It literally means a liquid used for lighting a fire or barbeque. The
label of <T-Gul> also says "pure n-paraffin". <T-Gul> is
the fuel to use for your Whisperlite or other multi-fuel stove. As a primer
(for preheating) you could use a small quantity of <T-Roed>.
Column 2: <Blyfri bensin>,
meaning unleaded gas/petrol. Available from the green nozzles
at *any* gasstation anywhere in the country. Bil bensin, Teknisk bensin,
Ren bensin, Industri bensin mean leadedgas/petrol which you should *not* use in
your stove.
Column 3: <Rengoeringsbensin>
(where oe actually is an "o" with two dots over like the German
o-umlaut), which is a spot-removing liquid bought at pharmacists (Apotek). The
other entry is <Industribensin> or industrial gas/petrol, which can be
bought at specialized paint shops. Both can be used instead of Coleman Fuel.
Column 4: <T-Roed> which is a
brand name for a spirit which is used as fuel for Trangia stoves (and similar)
and for cleaning windows (!). <T-Roed> is what the bottles read nowadays.
It's actually the same as <T-sprit> and <Roedsprit>, it's only a change in name. When asking for it by name
<Roedsprit> would be the best name to use. It is sold in 1-liter plastic
bottles (and 5-liter plastic containers if you do a lot of cooking) at gas
stations and almost all grocery stores (except for the smallest ones). You
might have to ask for it by name at the counter. A tip: <T-Roed> leaves a
lot of sooty residue on your pots and the inside of your Trangia (or similar)
stove. If you mix it with 10-15 percent plain water you don't get as much soot.
Or buy <Metanol> (which is methanol or wood-alcohol) which can be had in
paint shops. A 50-50 mixture of <T-Roed> and <Metanol> is the best.
Heating as much as the <T-Roed> and leaving as little soot as the
<Metanol>.
I would also like to comment on
butane cartridges. The ones available in
When planning a trip to
|
T-Gul |
SEK 20.00/liter |
|
Unleaded gas |
SEK 7.50/liter |
|
T-Roed/Roedsprit |
SEK 33.00/liter |
|
Metanol |
SEK 40.00/liter |
|
Industribensin *) |
SEK 44.00/liter |
Butane/propane cartridges
|
220 gram |
SEK 49.00 each |
|
450 gram |
SEK 79.00 each |
Which means
that the cheapest way to cook would be to bring a Coleman Peak1/MSR or similar
stove for unleaded gas along with you. The unleaded gas/petrol is also available everywhere. Fuel for a
multi-fuel MSR or Coleman (T-Gul) is also available almost everywhere.
(The most common stove among Swedish
backpackers is a methylated spirit burner like the Trangias).
<m88sol@talita.tdb.uu.se.fuel>
writes ........(July 1996)
Recently I bought an Optimus 111b
which runs on White gas. I had no idea where to get it, but after some
searching I found "Kemiskt Ren Bensin" (heptan/heptane) at a paint
shop. It was sold in 1 litre (34 SEK/approx. 5 US$) and 5 litre (a bit
cheaper), which is much cheaper than at the chemist't.
<wendel@wendel.se.fuel> writes.........(Oct 1996)
Changes to the info covering
Column 1: Kerosene (100% pure
paraffin) is available at most gas stations under the name
"Lysfotogen" in plastic 1 liter bottles and 5 liter cans.
Column 4: A new alcohol fuel named
"T-br=E4nsle" is available at most gas stations in plastic 1 liter
bottles and 5 liter cans. It's an optimized mix of ethanol and methanol that
leaves no soot on your pots and burns hotter than previously available alcohol
fuel.
<rtp1@midway.uchicago.edu.fuel>
writes....(Oct 1998)
A few remarks:
(Kerosene) In my MSR XGK, I have
found that T-Gul works, but it is a bit sooty. At most gas stations (e.g.
Statoil) you can get something called "T-Blå," or "Statoil
Blå" which seems to burn cleaner. "Tändvatska" is charcoal
lighter fluid, and is the most sooty of them all. The
bigger STF facilities (e.g. Saltoluokta) do well at stocking both alcohol
(T-Röd) and kerosene (T-blå), so you can pretty much count on getting off the
plane, taking the bus, and buying fuel at one of these places.
<dagstaale.karlsen@cargoscan.com.fuel>
writes...(April 1999)
I have just received some
information from optimus in
The anwer was that "Statoil
miljø" was the best product commonly available in scandinavien.
Statoil is a major oilcompany here,
approxematly of the same size as Shell. Statoil miljø is a product designed as
fuel for garden-maschines with a 4-stroke gasoline engine. This product is
almost free of benzene and other additives.
This information is not schecked or
tested by me, but it seems OK.
<olaf@ulaf.uu.ch.fuel> writes........(Dec 1993)
Most supermarkets throughout the
country sell kerosene and methanol. White gas is available in chemists and pharmacies
(Apotheke, Drogerie), but they might insist on using special bulky glass
bottles and will inform you about the danger of the stuff you buy. You better
tell them that you know what you're doing and keep a funnel at hand to fill
your own fuel bottles outside the shop and return the bottles afterwards.
Kerosene and methanol are sold at about twice the price of normal, unleaded gas
(bleifrei), whereas white gas sells at about 4 times the price of unleaded.
<Olcbill@aol.com.fuel> writes ............ (Dec 1994)
Two years ago while camping is
<ar@bluewin.ch.fuel> Aischan
Rupp writes...(Dec 1996)
Living in the German speaking part
of
Column 1
"Kerosin": You won't find
this in the stores - it's jet fuel
"Petroleum": (or
abbreviated Petrol): Used for stoves and laterns. Easy to
find in any bigger supermarket or hardware-store (usually in 1 Liter plastic
bottles).
"Diesel" (for cars): You
find that at most, but not at all gas stations
Column 2
"Bleifreies Benzin" or
"Bleifrei": What you get at any gas station. If you want to use such
gas for stoves, you should get unleaded gasoline, which is called
"Bleifreies Benzin" or simply "Bleifrei". Leaded gas =
verbleites Benzin.
Column 3
"Rein-Benzin" (or
"Reinbenzin" or "Benzin gereinigt"): White gas (
"Feuerzeugbenzin": Forget
it, it's gas for lighters - quantity is small and the price high.
"Wundbenzin": surgical
spirit. Too expensive to burn in stoves...
Column 4
"Brennsprit" or
"Spiritus": (for stoves like the Trangia). You find that at any
bigger store and also in many smaller ones. It's used in spirit burners which
are quite common in Swiss kitchens (ever heard about Swiss cheese fondue or
Raclette?). Usually sold in 1 Liter plastic bottles. I
think the difference to alcohol is just that there's something poisonous added
that you can't drink it (and so it's cheaper - less taxes).
<anuchit@mvlsi.eng.kmitl.ac.th.fuel>
writes .....(May 1999)
White gas/Coleman Fuel: also know as
"BENZENE KAOW" or "White benzene" available from large
stationary stores, under the brand name of "COMFORT(r)" and costs
about $
Naphtha: One can also look for
bottled cigarette lighter fuel under brand name of "RONSONOL" and
costs about $US 0.5 per bottled( 4.5 fl.oZ - 128.5
ml).
Kerosene: "NAUM MAUN GAS"
available everywhere in
Diesel: "Diesel" avaliable
from gas stations.
Alcohol: "Alcohol"
available from drug store.
Unleaded gas: "NAUM MAUN REI
SARN" available from gas stations.
Paraffin
available from some garages. Coleman fuel only from some camping stores. If you ask for
white spirit, you will be given "Turpentine substitute" ie. paint thinner.
Meths from hardware stores or from
any pharmacy at the perscription counter. It has a coloured dye in it.
U.S.A
<dnewcomb@whale.st.usm.edu.fuel>
writes......(Dec 1993)
"Charcoal lighter" is a
clean substitute (for Kerosene) and available in any store.
<damouth@wrc.xerox.com.fuel>
writes..... (Jan 1995)
Denatured alcohol is almost
universally available in the
The last alcohol I bought cost $10
for a gallon. As a comparison, Coleman Fuel is about half that price, and
unleaded automobile gasoline is currently about $1.10 per gallon.
<bikehiketour@hotmail.com.fuel>
writes.... (Nov 1999)
Column 4: In the United States and
Canada it is available in Hardware stores as denatured alcohol, but if you get
into more northern states (ie. they have cold winters) you can use DryGas or
gas-line antifreeze which is meths as well and much cheaper than denatured
alcohol. Be sure it is gas-line antifreeze, bottles will actually say under the
poison instructions that it is meths. In
<jelattkebravo@ucdavis.edu.fuel>
(John E Lattke) writes.........(Dec 1996)
Here is my contribution to your fuel
FAQ. I'm from
Throughout the country one can
obtain "kerosen" (+kerosene, column one) be it in a large supermarket
or a small store in a remote area. In small stores one usually has to take your
own container. Only once did I have problems with adultered kerosen that caused
problems. Once I tried using chopper fuel in my trusty Optimus 111, its called
kerosina, worked great!
Regular gasoline,for
automotive use, is simply "gasolina", unfortunately it is all leaded.
"Gasolina blanca"
is white gasoline, and is what I use for the white gasoline lamps or stuff that
needs Coleman Fuel. It is harder to come buy, but one
should ask at gasoline stations or if there is a printing shop in the vecinity
ask them. It is regularly use for cleaning in such situations. In any case get
it while in the big cities or towns as it is unavailable in small towns and
rural areas.
Finally methylated spirits is
"alcohol para quemar" or "alcohol luz".
Not readily obtainable but if you ask around you will eventually get it. Ask
for it at drug stores or "farmacias" It is usually sold in its own
container but it is a good idea to bring your own as sometimes the container
will be a glass bottle with a cork on top.
For those that use camping gasz, the
blue fuel canisters are available in the cities and some large towns. Look for
them in sporting goods stores or hardware stores (ferreteria). They are
expensive and a cheaper, compatible brazilian version
may be available. It is also worth asking for camping fuels in hardware stores
as they frequently stock stoves and lamps. Hope this is of use for anybody
wanting to enjoy
<jewitt@aqua.ccwr.ac.za.fuel>
writes.........(Dec 1993)
Paraffin at most garages and stores.
Petrol at garages - not reccomended
- I'm reluctant to run my car on this stuff!
Benzine at hardware stores - may be
difficult to find.
Meths at most
hardware stores and chemists and in some other stores.
End of FAQ