I've discovered that Fire Paste or pre-heat paste works very well for pre-heating the generator. Just dab a good ribbon of it on the generator and let it burn for a while, turn on the gas as you notice the fire paste burning out. You can buy it at REI or any backpacking, camping, or outdoor recreational store or sporting goods store. They usually stock it with the matches and fire starters. Good stuff for pre-heating any stove or lantern in extream cold weather.
If you have acess to other Coleman generators for parts you can improve the performance of this by rejetting the lanterns. For example use the smaller TD gastip from the 201 lanter onthe 200 or 242 ( or some propane lanterns ) to lean up the lantern. Use the 6 tip form the 200 on 220 lanterns. I am going to link a generator packing modification that helps with this by trapping osme of the crude that clogs the tip.
I am a collecter and I tryed this with a few of my gasoline models after I seen this and it works in just regular gas ones too and I made a 502 stove burn kerosene, and your right any kinda gernerator
Cool idea. Thanks! Maybe I'll try it on an old beater Dual Fuel Lantern that I have. I won't attempt it with my newer one. Coleman designs those for White Gas or regular unleaded gasoline only. White gas is $10 a gallon now at the cheapest. But it's still cheaper than propane in the long run. You could probably use your method with diesel or Jet-A as well, both being kerosene fuels. I don't like working with gasoline if I can help it, it can combust too easily when handling it.
Great alternative. Very soon I'm going to purchase a farm in Oregon. Familiar with corn production. Never used E85 (ethanol). Wonder what the flashpoint is. I like to use Kero because of the low hydrocarbon content. A lot safer to work with.
Nice to see your 285 "Dual Fuel" running on Kerosene. I have heard of burning Kerosene in Coleman lanterns meant to operate on White Gas (Coleman fuel) or Unleaded but I've been looking for a red 200a lantern to do it to since most reported that particular model worked the best as it only had to supply 1 mantel. Might have to try it on the more common 288 lantern. Anyway, the key is to make sure your generator is adequately preheated. Looks like all you did was add the pre-heater cup.
Little bit of heat and pressure, you can use most anything. Even if it's not carbon base fuel. Someone should try to tweak vegetable oil or lard for lantern use You are thinking outside the box gentlemen.
I came up with using a torch tip on a propane bottle to heat the generator up to burn Kerosene using a regular generator. The correct generator for the fuel is nice but a regular one will work in a jam. I just remove the glass, heat the tube up and then turn on the gas and it lights up! Also I tried mixing Veggie Oil with Kerosene about 40/30 and that burns just fine! The torch also works well for starting fires and lighting in a rush!
Yes, any Gas Lanter will start off with a High flame, whenever their new. It takes a while for the white gas to burn the new mantles to where they're supposed to be. We've had different models; and they all start with a High flame. After all it's a gas. What happens whenever you put a match to any gas? The Cylinders are meant to withstand an explosion of gas. Once the White gas burns off the excess; it will burn nice and bright. It only takes a little while for it to get bright.
The dual fuel lantern he has will run on unleaded gasolene which is less expensive than kerosene. In fact even the old single fuel ones will so what is the point of using kerosene in the first place?
I've been running my "Powerhouse" lantern on unleaded gasoline for years and it hasn't clogged up the generator yet. On the other hand, my Colman 2 burner stove clogs up quite quickly. Unleaded gasoline is cheaper than both Coleman fuel and Kerosene. I wouldn't run gasoline inside the house though. I wouldn't advise using E85 in a lantern, even if it runs correctly, it will eat away the parts.
Cool video. I'd rather use kerosene any day. Not only is it cheaper, it is MUCH safer. Coleman does make lanterns made just for kero. The generator on them is specifically designed for kersoene. I've had my 214B Kerosene for about 10 years and still haven't had to replace the gen. I wouldn't trade it for any white gas/ dual fuel lantern.
I caught myself on fire reaching across a campfire in a jacket like that. I got it off before I got hurt, but it looked like I'd murdered a goose... Great video. Does kerosene work in dual fuel stoves as well?
Coleman fuel like Kerosene is a petroleum distillate. White Gas (paraffin) was used in Coleman products but was too volatile so Coleman fuel was developed. Kmart, Wal-Mart, any retail store you can purchase Coleman fuel and a retail price. Kerosene can be bought at half the price. That's what jet fuel is. J-5 is what the airline calls it. It's just more economical. Hope that helps.
I wondered how cold weather could affect the performance of straight kerosene startup burn. I live in Southern California so I hunt for game birds. Never gets that cold in the high desert. Good tip.
so will this work in non duel fuel lanterns do you need a special generator, if you use a different lantern. Do they make a generator just for kerosene of diesel fuel that will fit most other models . thanks dave
All about the petroleum distillate. You will investigate further to find kerosene is a lot safer. They use it in watercraft. Coleman fuel burn brighter, but It's very explosive. Risk versus reward.
Kerosene may be cheap but if everyone rush to fill their tank up, you will be left empty and there is only one gas station that carry it in 50 mile radius...so not a good long term light fuel..
As of 11/20/11, kerosene is now $5.70/gal. here, in northern California. They gouged it up $1.20. Last yr. it was $4.50/gal. Anyone know if alcohol fuel works in kerosene lanterns/heaters?
In my area, I’ve seen Coleman fuel from $12/gal. to $17/gal. Insanely expensive. I guess I could run unleaded gasoline in it. That’s usually less than $3/gal.
That's tough. Don't know how to get around that. Unleaded Will eventually foul the generator. Trick I learned from an old timer(geez, I'm an old timer) Pump the lantern 50 or 60 strokes. It won't hurt the lantern, it will handle 150+. That will limit the generator carbon buildup.
Aquacentric Thanks! I’ve also cleaned them with denatured alcohol. A .22 caliber gun cleaning rod will fit in the generator to use as a scrubber. I like kerosene, but it’s more expensive than gasoline.
if people think coleman fuel is expensive then you shouldn't run a lantern at the first place. coleman fuel burns way way cleaner then kerosene and never clogs up or just go propane if you want less hassel. it's not like most folks lives in the wild anyways...
kero is A LOT safer though for in-door use(cabin/camper). a kero genereator tube doesn't use the cardboard filter tube either which makes for easy cleanout.
He may be new at this as there was a lot of pauses in his speech. Good vid though and I appreciate seeing the Kero experiment as I may try it myself or as a mix with white gas, but first I will mix a small amount of those together in a clear glass container and watch for separation.
