[pct-l] Re: Unleaded Gas in Whisperlite Stove

[aandg at telusplanet.net (Alistair & Gail Des Moulins)]

Michael

We used an MSR X-GK stove on our thru-hike last year and did not have a
problem getting white gas for it. The only place where we were lucky was at
Shelter Cove in Oregon where we took the last white gas they had. We used
about 1 litre of fuel a week - cooking an evening meal and a morning drink
for 2 of us.
At most places we came to there was a 'hiker can' in the store so we would
fill up our bottle(s). Where there was not a hiker can we bought a gallon
and left the rest to be used by those behind us on the trail. I think we
bought 3 gallons on the trip.

As for the use of gasoline in the stove: I know the X-GK comes with 2 jets.
 Quoting from a recent MSR leaflet:
"Use the GK jet for white gas, kerosene, automobile gasoline and aviation
(AV) gas. Use the X jet for diesel, poor quality kerosene and other low
quality fuels that burn with a sooty, yellow flame when using the GK jet."
An older leaflet about the XGK II shaker jet stove says:
"Use the SG jet for white gas, automobile gasoline and aviation (AV) gas.
Use the SK jet for kerosene, diesel and jet fuel".
So this implies that white gas and automobile gasoline have similar
characteristics for the stove if you can only find gasoline. I've never
gasoline in my stove. I've used kerosene but that works better with some
priming stuff.

I can go into more detail on where we got white gas offline if you like.

Alistair

----- Original Message ----- > ------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 06:52:03 -0700
> From: Michael F Heintz <kandmheintz@juno.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Unleaded Gas in Whisperlite Stove
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <20040301.065204.1312.0.kandmheintz@juno.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>         I have an MSR Whisperlite stove (the Shaker model) which I intend
> to bring on my 2004 PCT thru-hike. My understanding is that at many of
> the resupply points along the trail, one will only find automobile
> gasoline available for fuel. I have never used anything but white gas in
> my stove before, although the manufacturer says unleaded gas may also be
> used. My question is maybe a silly one. Does it matter what grade
> (octane) one chooses at the pump, and how do I actually go about filling
> one those little orange MSR bottles without covering myself and half the
> town with gasoline? I'll bet most gas stations aren't real excited about
> selling forty seven cents worth of gas to some guy trying to dispense it
> into a tiny container. What experiences have people in the past had with
> this problem? I tried to contact MSR about this, but the email address
> they listed at their web site was invalid. thanks.
>
>