LP-Gas or Multi-Fuel Stove

Ian — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:28:08 GMT

Current revision posted to Knowledge by Ian on 18/05/2009 18:28:08

LP-Gas or Multi-Fuel Stove

Filed under: Stoves

LP-Gas Stoves

For most camping trips especially in the UK an LP-Gas stove is sufficient. These stoves normally use a mix of Propane and Butane as the fuel. Gas stoves are generally easier to use, cleaner and lighter than Multifuel stoves.

Most modern lightweight gas stoves use EN417 gas canisters. These canisters have a standard threaded, re-sealable valve so the stoves will fit any canister that complies with this standard. These fuel canisters are readily available, easy to change and store. Note: EN417 type 200 pierce able gas canisters are not compatible.

The disadvantage of a gas stove compared to a multifuel stove is their performance suffers in the cold. This is explained in more detail in our Knowledge Article “[Using “Using a gas powered stove in cold weather]” Also in some foreign countries it can be difficult to get hold of gas canisters.

Multi-Fuel Stoves

A multi-fuel stove has the flexibility to run on several different liquid fuels (some will even work with LP-Gas as well). This is a big advantage where travelling when gas may not be readily available. Liquid fuel stoves will also cope with the cold much better than LP-Gas stoves so are ideal for use in the colder months in the UK.

Using a multi-fuel stove is slightly more complicated than a gas stove. First off, the fuel has to be pressurised in order to make the stove as hot as possible. The gas in a gas bottle is already pressurised when you buy it from the shop, but the liquid fuel you put in your fuel bottle is not. Multi-fuel stoves have a built in pump so you can pressurise the bottle yourself.

You also need to preheat the stove for a short time using a squirt of fuel. This involves heating up the burner to such an extent that the fuel is vaporised as it passes through the burner’s nozzle. Vaporised fuel burns efficiently with a blue flame and a hissing sound.

Where possible, it is advisable to run a multi-fuel stove on white gas such as Colman white gas or Optimus Artic fuel. These fuels are specifically designed to work with multi-fuel stoves and burn very clean, with a high energy output. Be careful when using Petrol, apart from being highly volatile, it contains additives which give off nasty fumes when burnt in a stove. Ensure your cooking area is well ventilated. Heavier fuels such as Diesel or Aviation fuel will produce a lot of soot and the stove will quickly become clogged so it is advisable to familiarise yourself with how to clean your stove in the field. Preheating the stove with a different fuel may help to reduce clogging.

LP-Gas or Multi-Fuel Stove

Ian — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:27:34 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Knowledge by Ian on 18/05/2009 18:27:34