Warning re: Coleman white gas stove

[bd100]

Regarding the white gas stoves where you pump air into the tank before lighting. I had this happen: Add 30 pumps and cook something. Shut it down. Drive to high altitude. Now there is extra pressure from the low altitude still in the tank. Per the instructions, add 30 more pumps of air and light it off. There was so much pressure that there were leaks around the gaskets, and I could not shut it down. I had to run it at high power for a while to burn off some of the tank pressure before it would finally close off without leaking around the seals. Three foot flames coming off the burner for a few minutes. Under a tree. No way to move it, no way to shut it down. Great fun.

So every time before cooking, WHILE THE STOVE IS COOL, first open the fuel tank fill cap for a moment to equalize pressure, then close it and add the 30 pumps of pressure. Venting the tank before adding pressure is not mentioned in the instructions, although maybe newer versions do.

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[Geoarch]

Regarding the white gas stoves where you pump air into the tank before lighting. I had this happen: Add 30 pumps and cook something. Shut it down. Drive to high altitude. Now there is extra pressure from the low altitude still in the tank. Per the instructions, add 30 more pumps of air and light it off. There was so much pressure that there were leaks around the gaskets, and I could not shut it down. I had to run it at high power for a while to burn off some of the tank pressure before it would finally close off without leaking around the seals. Three foot flames coming off the burner for a few minutes. Under a tree. No way to move it, no way to shut it down. Great fun.

So every time before cooking, WHILE THE STOVE IS COOL, first open the fuel tank fill cap for a moment to equalize pressure, then close it and add the 30 pumps of pressure. Venting the tank before adding pressure is not mentioned in the instructions, although maybe newer versions do.

 

[Geoarch]

Bummer. I had one of those for years. I didn’t know they even made them anymore. I use propane now.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I’ve always removed the pump from the tank after use with all white gas stoves. I replace it with a cap instead, so it’s always without pressurization when being stored. Most of my experience is with MSR tanks though.

 

[Rusty PW]

Changing altitude plays hell with things. I had a Sleep Number mattress in my motorhome. I live at 1,000ft roughly. Have family in Colorado. Here I set the mattress to 50. In Colorado, it's goes to 100. So I have to reset it back to 50. Leave Colorado and get home. The mattress is at 5. So I have to reset it again.

Just had this happened on our trip. Have a 32 oz Yeti bottle with a flip top and straw inside of it. At the bottom of Vail Pass. I took a drink and closed the top. At the top of Vail Pass. I wanted to take another drink. Went to open the flip top. It sprayed the inside of the windshield and me with my drink. The pressure inside the Yeti was greater than the outside pressure.

Buy bottled water in Denver and open the cooler at a lower altitude. The plastic bottles will be crushed.

 

[Rusty PW]

I’ve always removed the pump from the tank after use with all white gas stoves. I replace it with a cap instead, so it’s always without pressurization when being stored. Most of my experience is with MSR tanks though.

I have a MSR stove that I backpack. I always remove the tank from the stove after I'm done with it.

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

Besides my vehicle fire extinguisher I carry 2 aerosol can type extinguishers. One I keep in my chuck box next to my stove. I never had to use one so I don't know if it would work on 3 foot flames spewing out of a pressurized burner. I've been using propane for years now, Partner Steel.

 

[BGH]

I used those stoves for years and they were always a pain the ass. If I’m camping near my car or boat I now use propane or even backpacking stoves. I still have one liquid fuel stove for cold weather backcountry use but it ain’t the old green monster.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Changing altitude plays hell with things. I had a Sleep Number mattress in my motorhome. I live at 1,000ft roughly. Have family in Colorado. Here I set the mattress to 50. In Colorado, it's goes to 100. So I have to reset it back to 50. Leave Colorado and get home. The mattress is at 5. So I have to reset it again.

Just had this happened on our trip. Have a 32 oz Yeti bottle with a flip top and straw inside of it. At the bottom of Vail Pass. I took a drink and closed the top. At the top of Vail Pass. I wanted to take another drink. Went to open the flip top. It sprayed the inside of the windshield and me with my drink. The pressure inside the Yeti was greater than the outside pressure.

Buy bottled water in Denver and open the cooler at a lower altitude. The plastic bottles will be crushed.

I live in that area. My 37” tires will be at 33psi in Denver, and when I drive back up to home at 8600’, they’ll be at 39. Lots of almost daily adjustments. Water bottles don’t stand a chance.

 

[KWin]

okay I got the formula for this thread:

Insert warming anecdote about prior personal experience with the ideal gas law.

Thank OP for heads up.

talk smack about other people's camping equipment.

identify brand of my current camping equipment effected by PV=nrT and how it's better.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Besides my vehicle fire extinguisher I carry 2 aerosol can type extinguishers. One I keep in my chuck box next to my stove. I never had to use one so I don't know if it would work on 3 foot flames spewing out of a pressurized burner. I've been using propane for years now, Partner Steel.

We have the 18” partner. We love it. Best stove ever. That size was the largest one that would fit in the stove pull out in the trailer.

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