----------------- The Fuel Name FAQ ----------------- Version: 27 15th December 1996 Editor: Mike Buckler New: Venezuela Updated: - Contents -------- 1) Introduction. 2) Table of fuel names. 3) Editors Note: "white spirit / white gas" confusion. 4) Some notes on white gasoline. 5) Some notes on diesel fuel. 6) Some notes on kerosene. 7) Other WWW links. 8) Alphabetical listing of notes for various countries. 1) Introduction. ---------------- o This FAQ is designed to help you find the right fuel for your stove. o It is posted on a semi regular basis to rec.backcountry and started out as the "Worldwide Alternative Names for Fuels". I changed the name to allow for easier WWW indexing. o The countries are ordered alphabetically except for the USA and UK which I have left at the top for reference. o Abbreviated fuel names are put in quotation marks eg. methylated spirits is also known as "meths". o Names that are to long to fit on one line are started with < and finish with >, eg for France | | o Alternative brand names are sometimes placed inside brackets. o The document is formatted for an 80 column display and uses white spaces instead of tab characters. The table section needs to viewed using a fixed space font ( eg. Courier ). o Printing: For the weight conscious, you can print this document onto 5 sides of A4 size paper using the following settings. Font: Courier 6 pt. Margins left and right, top and bottom : 6mm (0.25 inches). Two columns with a 3mm (0.1 inch) gap and a vertical line between. o This document is also available by anonymous FTP from ftp://darkstar.cygnus.com/pub/backcountry/fuel.names.txt o *Note* Please do not send Email to the address which appears in old versions of this file. The following list contains data for approx 41 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, Philippines, China, 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. 2) Table of fuel names ---------------------- Column 1 = Decane (mostly)......kerosene/diesel is a crude oil cut from oil refineries, boiling point range is app. 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. 1 2 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S.A. | kerosene | Gasoline | White Gas | Denatured Alcohol | + | | "Gas" | Naphtha | Solvent Alcohol | Canada | | | Coleman Fuel | | | | | Blazo | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.K. | Paraffin | Petrol | Coleman Fuel | Methylated Spirit | | | | | "Meths" | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia| Kerosene | Petrol | Shellite | methylated spirits| | "Kero" | | White gas | "Meths" "Metho" | | | | Mobilite | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Austria | Petroleum | Bleifrei | Reinigunsbenzin | Brennspiritus | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belgium | Petroleum| | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Czech | Petrolej | Benzin | Technicky benzin | Denaturovany lih | Republic | Parafin | | |Denaturovany alkohol| -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Denmark | Petrolium | auto benzin| rensebenzin | Ethanol (100 %) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Egypt | al-kayruseen | ? | ? | ? | | zayt al-barafeen | | | | | zayt al-kaaz | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fiji | kerosene | ??? | White spirits | ?????? | | | | Shellite | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finland | Valopetroli |bensiini | Kevytbensiini | denaturoitu sprii | | Petroli | | Puhdistusbensiini | Sinol(tm) | | | | | Marinol(tm) | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- France | Petrole | Essence | Petrol a Bruler | Alcool a Bruler | | | | Essence filtree | Alcool Denature | | | | Blanche sans plomb| Alcool Methylique | | | | Essence C | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Germany | Petroleum | Benzin | Kocherbenzin | Spiritus | | Paraffinol | Bleifrei | Feuerzeug Benzin | Brennspiritus | | Petrol |Auto-Benzin| Katalyt Benzin | Methyl Alkohol | | Lampenoel |Superbenzine| Reinigungsbenzin | | | | | Fleckenbenzin | | | | | Wundbenzin | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greenland| Pettreleo | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holland | Petroleum | Benzine | Wasbenzine | Spiritus | | Lampen-Olie| Super | Coleman Fuel | Brand Spiritus | | | Loodvrij | | Alcohol | | | Normaal 16| | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hungary | Parafin | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iceland | ????????? | ???????? | Hreinsad Benzin | ???????????? | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- India | Kerosene | Petrol | ????????? | Meths ???? | Bhutan | | (Gasoline)| | | Nepal | | | | | Pakistan | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran | NAFT | Benzin | ??? | ??? | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Israel | Neft | Delek 91 | Delek lavan | ????? | | | Delek 96 | | | | | Unleaded delek | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italy | | per autoveicoli>| | | | Kerosene | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan | Toh-yu | Gasoline | White Gas | Nen-ryo yoh | | | | Coleman Fuel | Alcohol | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kenya | Paraffin |unleaded gas| ???????? | ???????? | | kerosene | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malta | kreosene | Petrol | ???????? | Alcohol | | parifin | octane | | ethanol | | pitrolju | | | Methylated spirit | | | | | Surgical spirit | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mexico | Petroleo | Gasolina | gasolina blanca | ??????? | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- New | Kerosene | Petrol | White Spirit | Methylated Spirit | Zealand | | | Shellite | | | | | Callite | | | | | Britolite | | | | | Pegasol | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norway | Parafin | Bensin | Renset bensin | Rod-Sprit | | | | Heptan | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poland | nafta | "benzyna || alkohol metylowy | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portugal | Petroleo | | desengorduramento>| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ex-USSR | kerosene | benzine | ????????????????? | Methyl Alcohol | (Russia)| | | | ( metilovy spirt )| -------------------------------------------------------------------------- South | paraffin | petrol | Benzene | Methylated Spirits | Africa | | | | "Meths" | + | | | | | Zimbabwe| | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spain | Parafina | Gasolina | Becina, Blanca | Alcohol Metilico | | | | Solvente | | | Petroleo | sim plomo | | quemar> (Metilico)| | Petroli | | Benzina pura | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweden | Fotogen | | bensin> | T-Roed | | Taendvaetska | | Industribensin | Metanol | | Lysfotogen | | Kemiskt Ren Bensin | T-br=E4nsle | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Switzerland| Petrol | Bleifrei | Reinbenzin | Brennsprit | | | | Wundbenzin | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Switzerland| Kerosen | Bleifrei | Reinbenzin | Brennsprit | German sp. | | | Wundbenzin | | part | | | Feuerzeug Benzin | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Switzerland| ??? | ??? | Benzin Gereinigt | ???? | German/ | | | | | Italian sp | | | | | part | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turkey | Gazyagi | | Benzin | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Venezuela | kerosen | gasolina |Gasolina blanca | alcohol para quemar | | | | | alcohol luz | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Editors Note: "white spirit / white gas" confusion. (May 96) --------------------------------------------------------------- Depending on which country you are in, "white spirit" can be one of several substances. In the UK it is "turpentine substitute" ie. paint thinner and is not recommended for burning. In Australia it is a cleaning solvent but it is not the same as the stuff in the UK. Again it is not recommended for burning. In New Zealand white spirit used to be a common name for white gas but now days it may be mis-understood as meaning "turpentine substitute". Referring to one of the brand names is probably a more reliable way of getting what you're after ( see the entry for New Zealand). The Material Safety Data Sheet for Coleman fuel gives the following composition: Solvent naphtha (CAS #64742-89-8) 45-50% Aliphatic petroleum distillates (CAS #64742-88-7) 45-50% Xylene (CAS #1330-20-7) 2% Toluene (CAS #108-88-3) 2% 4) Some notes on White Gasoline ------------------------------- writes....... (May 96) 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. 5) Some notes on diesel fuel ---------------------------- writes.......(Dec 93) 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 UK, this is "Diesel" or "DERV", the latter for road vehicles specifically. Its also possible to get hold of agricultural or "Red Diesel", which is free of excise duty, but under no circumstances should you use it in a road vehicle ! In Spain, diesel is "Gazoleo A". Editors note: The name "diesel" is used in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Israel, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and the UK, Japan - Keiyu. Italy- Gasolio per autotrazione. France - Gas oil. 6) Some notes on Kerosene ------------------------- writes ..... (April 96) 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 (Seattle-Vancover,BC and parts of Alaska) I have been purchasing Jet A in bulk and selling it as Kero for years. It works very well. 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. 7) Other WWW links ------------------ "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 8) Alphabetical listing of notes for various countries ------------------------------------------------------ Africa ------ writes.........(Dec 93) The most practical stoves for hiking/camping etc in most of Africa are simple "meths burners" - meths is relatively cheap and availability isn't usually a problem. Meths stoves can be a bit difficult to get going if it's cold but I've always managed - even in temperatures well below freezing. Paraffin is the most freely available fuel throughout southern Africa - but I haven't found a small stove that really works with it. Petrol throughout southern Africa is leaded - it can be used in an emergency in pressurised stoves, but clogs up the jets really quickly. (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. Benzene 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. Editors note: ..(July 96) There is some confusion with the names benzene and benzine. I do not know which is correct. See the message from in the section on South Africa. Austria ------- writes.......(Dec 93) "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. writes...................(July 95) Austria uses the same names as Germany writes........(Jan 96) In Austria kerosene is called "Petroleum" and should not be mixed up with "Kerosin" which is jet fuel! 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 US, it is very difficult to get stove fuel in sport shops. Ask for "Reinigungsbenzin" or "Brennspiritus" in the next "Drogerie" or take auto gaz "Benzin Bleifrei" at the petrol station. Australia --------- writes.......(Dec 93) "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 Northern Territory you will often not find Methylated spirits on display. Ask at the check-out, or counter. Also N.T. (and Qld. ??) Methylated Spirits is dyed purple, this has no effect on the stove. Editors Note: ( June 95 ) "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. Belgium ------- writes.......(April 96) BTW: in Belgium (Dutch speaking part of Vlaanderen) the list for Holland can be used. Czech Republic -------------- writes.........(Dec 93) Petrolej, Benzin, Technicky benzin, Denaturovany lih or Denaturovany alkohol should be commonly available in 'Drogerie' (Drug store) or 'Barvy-Laky' (Paints) stores. Denmark ------------- writes .....(June 95) 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." Egypt ----- writes......(Oct 95) kerosene: al-kayruseen zayt al-barafeen (literally, "oil of parafin") zayt al-kaaz Fiji ----- writes.........(Dec 94) While in Fiji in September we were using kerosene and white spirits/Shellite. No problems getting either in villages on Vanua Levu. 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. Finland ------- kiravuo@gamma.hut.fi writes.......(Dec 93) Valopetroli, bensiini and sprii are generic names, Sinol and Marinol are brand names, but also in common use. mk59200@cs.tut.fi writes........(Dec 93) 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. France ------ writes.......(Dec 93) 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. writes.......(Dec 93) Petrol/Gasoline in France is called "Essence", but the relevant stuff for stove fuel is unleaded, which is called "Sans plomb", or, more easily, just comes out of the green nozzles at filling stations ! (Editors note: "Essence normale" is leaded petrol/gasoline.) Germany ------- writes.......(Dec 93) I spent a year in Germany, and discovered that White Gas, or Coleman fluid, as we call it here in USA is known as Reinigungsbenzin (literally, cleaning gas). I purchased it in an Apotheque (Apothecary). writes.....(April 94) 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! writes................... (July 95) |> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |> Germany | Petroleum | Benzin | Kocherbenzin | Spiritus | |> | Paraffinol | Bleifrei | Feuerzeug Benzin | Brennspiritus | |> | Petrol |Auto-Benzin| Katalyt Benzin | Methyl Alkohol | |> | Lampenoel |Superbenzine| Reinigungsbenzin | | |> | | | | bensine> | Fleckenbenzin | | |> | | | Wundbenzin | | |> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ;-) Col 2: "Benzin" is the generic name. "Bleifrei" means unleaded, "Superbenzin" ("Superbenzine" is plural) is higher octane. "Loddvrije bensine" is not German but Dutch. Col 3: Never heard "Katalyt Benzin". Col 4: Better don't ask for "Methyl Alkohol", I never heard someone use it for "Spiritus" since that is mostly Ethanol. 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. Holland ------- writes......(Dec 93) 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 writes.......(Dec 93) The name 'coleman fuel' or 'coleman brandstof' is commonly used in Holland (or The Netherlands). Stangely enough I can't recall a pure Dutch term (I don't think there is one). It is sold in all outdoor equipment stores and in some recreational stores ('kampeerwinkels'). India/Bhutan/Nepal/Pakistan --------------------------- writes........ (Dec 93) 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. Iran ---- writes..... (May 96) In Iran the product mentioned in first column is called NAFT second is BENZIN then there is less refined substances for diesel and heating followed by bitumen that is called GHIR. The NAFT is used for lamps as well as cooking,and in the heating stoves, different grade of Benzin for cars and airplanes. Japan ----- writes..........(Dec 93) 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". Kenya ----- writes.......(Dec 93) Paraffin/Kerosene is available everywhere in Kenya, because its what they use for lighting charcoal cooking fires. Having said that, there was a desperate shortage of it everywhere in January/February when we were there, and I suspect that this occurs unpredictably but perhaps quite frequently from time to time. 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. Malta ----- writes.......(Aug 96) 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 Malta kerosine is 60cents/british gallon & Diesel is at 72cents. With this mixture Diesel engines work very well with only a slight reduction in output power & sadly a high polution exhaust emission. Mexico ------- writes ......(Oct 96) In Mexico, at least in the area around the volcanoes, your "Column 3" fuel ("white gas" or "Coleman fuel") is called "gasolina blanca". New Zealand ----------- 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. Norway ------ writes........(Dec 93) 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). writes.....(Dec 93) 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" ? writes......(Dec 93) 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 writes........(Dec 93) While in Norway and Sweden recently I looked closely at "Renset bensin" and "tecknisk bensin" for use in my SVEA stove. The Norwegan product was clearly marked as a mixture (60/40??) of Hexane and Heptane (with 1 or 2 percent of other "-anes", like pentane). The Swedish product was not labelled as to contents. I did purchase about 200 ml, good for about 1 hour cooking, but now I don't recall from which country. There was no problem since the stove is designed to use explosive fuels. Later I switched to Primus (TM) brand of butane and a new stove because it was much more available and cheaper. 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 Norway and Sweden. If you go to a pharmacy and say you are going to use this product in a stove they will just as likely call "the men in white coats" to take you away. But if you say you are going to use it to clean wounds, this is OK. Now, in the US if you went to a sports store and said you were going to use Coleman Fuel (TM for extra pure white gasoline) - someone would say you were very crazy. writes.......(Dec 93) 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 Norway to sell stoves fired by gasoline. Writes.........(Jan 95) 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]". and writes ...... June 95) Searching for Coleman fuel. A merry chase around Trondheim.... Most people had no idea what I wanted, although a variety of unsuitable fuels were offered. One hardware shop even displayed a Coleman-Fuel stove, but the staff couldn't tell me where to get the fuel! Eventually a knowledgeable assistant in a sports shop came up with the answer - a chemists! The second chemist I tried produced a half-litre glass bottle of "heptan" (no fancy name). At last, the right stuff! Pour into stove+Sigg bottle and ... hot food, melted snow! => Coleman Fuel in Norway (probably Sweden too): "Heptan" from a chemist. (See the entry on Sweden) Poland ------ writes.......(Dec 93) USA: Poland: 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 Poland means, that there is sold everything from the soap and washing powder up to thinners and paints: 'sklep chemiczny', '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. Russia ------ writes........(Dec 93) 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! South Africa (Lesotho and Swaziland) ------------------------------------ writes.........(Dec 93) Paraffin is freely available at garages and plenty of other stores. Petrol at garages. Benzene is available at most hardware stores - beware of buying stuff called benzine - it doesn't work. Methylated Spirits is available at most stores except in the Cape Province where you can only get it at chemists/pharmacies. Editors note: ..(July 96) There is some confusion with the names benzene and benzine. I do not know which is correct. See the message from further on. writes........(June 96) unleaded petrol is now available throughout South Africa. It was introduced at the start of 1996, and should be easy to find in most places. Its also a little cheaper than standard petrol. writes........(July 96) Anyway, the fuel of choice in the USA is "White Gas", something that just does not exist in South Africa, and according to Mike's FUEL.FAQ, the equivalent is Benzene. I spoke to an organicchemist at the Technikon. He explained that Benzene and Benzine are two COMPLETELY different substances, with Benzine having almost no chemical similarity to Benzene. Benzine (can be found in any hardware store in South Africa, and is quite cheap) is perfectly safe to use as a fuel in a stove or lamp. Obviously follow the same precautions that you would when handling it, as you would with any fuel, i.e. try not to get in on your skin (although it no more dangerous than turpentine), don't inhale it excessively, and obviously don't drink it. Benzine is almost odorless, and is completely clear, like water. Spain ----- writes.......(Dec 93) Unleaded petrol/gas is "Sin plomo" writes ............ (Dec 94) Last summer in Madrid we bought something called Benzol in a store that sold paint supplies. It burned well with a high heat content but "ate" the rubber "O" rings on my whisper-light international. Sweden ------ Alan Malkiel writes......(Dec 93) In Sweden, Vit Bensin is also sold as "teknisk bensin". (Technicial Gasoline) (It is used as a cleaning solvent, sold in small bottles, and rather expensive.) and writes ...... (June 95) 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. writes.......(July 95) 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. (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. is what you should ask for if you ask for by name in a store. It literally means a liquid used for lighting a fire or barbeque. The label of also says "pure n-paraffin". 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 . Column 2 , 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 (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 or industrial gas/petrol, which can be bought at specialized paint shops. Both can be used instead of Coleman Fuel. Column 4 which is a brand name for a spirit which is used as fuel for Trangia stoves (and similar) and for cleaning windows (!). is what the bottles read nowadays. It's actually the same as and , it's only a change in name. When asking for it by name 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: 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 (which is methanol or wood-alcohol) which can be had in paint shops. A 50-50 mixture of and is the best. Heating as much as the and leaving as little soot as the . I would also like to comment on butane cartridges. The ones available in Sweden nowadays are Primus brand butane/propane mix, which can be had in 220 gram and 450 gram sizes. The cartridges are grey. The 80 pc butane/20 pc propane mix means that it burns better at low tempe- ratures. Due to a law that says that butane-cartridges and other gas-containers should be kept in a safe area in case of fires there are now fewer places that sell them. Sporting goods stores and (major) supermarkets do, but you might have to ask for them by name . I asked for butane cartridges at a couple of gas stations today, but they no longer had them, because of the law. When planning a trip to Sweden some approximate prices could be interesting: 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). writes ........(July 96) 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. writes.........(Oct 96) Changes to the info covering Sweden: 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. Switzerland ----------- writes........(Dec 93) 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. writes ............ (Dec 94) Two years ago while camping is Switzerland, I discovered that you could go to a pharmacy (Drogerie) in the German/Itilaian sections of Switzerland and ask for Benzin Gereinigt which seemed to be the same a Coleman fuel. You need to have your own fuel bottle as they filled your bottle from a larger container. U.K. --- 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. U.S.A ----- writes......(Dec 93) "Charcoal lighter" is a clean substitute (for Kerosene) and available in any store. writes..... (Jan 95) Denatured alcohol is almost universally available in the USA, but, you have to look in the right place. A common use is as thinner for Shellac - a common wood finish. So you can find it in paint stores or in the paint section of more generalized hardware or building supply stores. It may be labelled "shellac thinner", but will usually also say "denatured alcohol" or "alcohol stove fuel" in smaller print. 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. Venezuela --------- (John E Lattke) writes.........(Dec 96) Here is my contribution to your fuel FAQ. I'm from Venezuela. 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 Venezuela. Zimbabwe -------- writes.........(Dec 93) Paraffin at most garages and stores. Petrol at garages - not reccomended - I'm reluctant to run my car on this stuff! Benzene at hardware stores - may be difficult to find. Meths at most hardware stores and chemists and in some other stores. -------------- End of FAQ