# What's Coleman fuel?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-coleman-fuel/139037>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 27, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-coleman-fuel/139037 "2002-11-27T04:47:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-coleman-fuel/139037/1 "2002-11-27T04:47:55Z")

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Well, the wind knocked out the power this morning. I had three Coleman lanterns of various vintages (one of which is dual-fuel), but they’re in the storage locker behind (literally) a ton of stuff. So I got another lantern today, virtually guaranteeing that there will not be another power outage.

I also have a nifty little stove I take camping. It runs on Coleman fuel, white gas, auto gas, aviation gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene and Stoddard Solvent. Mogas and avgas I understand. And I know what kerosene. But what is “white gas”? Is it low-octane gasoline? What octane? What is Coleman fuel? Is it gasoline? Or is it something else? What’s Stoddard Solvent (and does it have anything to do with Stoddard Springs off of I-15 on the way from L.A. to Las Vegas)?

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**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-coleman-fuel/139037/2 "2002-11-27T05:00:42Z")

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Coleman fuel is a naptha, white gas is a step or two lower in the cracking process

> [@](#):
>
> "Although Coleman fuel and other camp fuels are routinely called white gas, they are actually a naphtha. The two are very similar in characteristics. Naphtha is refined one more step and is therefore considered cleaner. It also has a slightly lower boiling point than unleaded gasoline, although it is in practicality undetectable. Coleman fuel has some additives to help prevent rusting of internal parts and facilitate long shelf life.
> 
> I feel confident in recommending it for other brands of stoves that burn “white gas,” but it would be prudent to check with the stove manufacturer.
> 
> Jim Reid — Coleman, Director of Public Relations

from [here](http://www.gearreview.com/gearfaq/wgcoleman.asp)

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-coleman-fuel/139037/3 "2002-11-27T05:00:43Z")

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My WAG would be that Coleman gas is either Butane or Propane in Colemand brand (especially if the C is capatalized in Coleman gas) containers, those little ones (1lb maybe 2lbs) that you take camping stuff.

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**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-coleman-fuel/139037/4 "2002-11-27T05:01:17Z")

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naphtha