stoves that take unleaded gas

MSR multifuel stoves such as the XGK and its successors will run on most automobile fuel. The slight problems are that there are lots of additives in that fuel, and you might get some unexpected things going on related to clogging if you use it for a long time, but just about anything will burn in there. There are some nasty fumes that you can get from these fuels, so you better keep maximum ventilation going for purposes of your health. I've burned some gnarly fuel in mine, although it runs best on straight white gasoline (Coleman fuel).

–B.G.–

Seems like a potentially bad idea… Gasoline doesn't really burn so much as the vapours explode.

Bradley, you are confusing an internal combustion engine with a stove burner. The engine compresses gasoline vapor and then ignites it. A stove burner keeps steady-state burning going. No explosion.

This is exactly what these stoves were designed to do.

–B.G.–

Fair enough, but isn't it still the natural vapours which are burning and not the liquid? I've read tht liquid gasoline isn't actually combustible (which may be semantics as it's always producing burnable vapours anyway). The problem is that as you run low on fuel, you have a gas container with more and more vapours in it, which are extremely combustible / explosive and dangerous. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

Ted, the Whisper Int'l is about the lightest you'll readily find that'll burn unleaded. The Simmerlite is several ounces lighter, but is WG only. Depending on the type of trip, if you're going to be traveling/touring, you might look at the Dragonfly. It's a heavy beast, but only a couple ounces more than the Whisper. Benefit is great simmer capability, so if you're traveling thru a country and want to be able to cook some real meals (ie, pancakes, eggs, meat) the Dragon would be good.

But that's nothing that can't be said of pressurized gas cannisters, either.

The multi-fuel stoves are designed for this. It's as safe as anything else.

Back to the reason of this post, I would recommend the Optimus Nova or Nova+. They are really reliable and not too expensive.

+1 on the Nova, without the numbers in front of me it is lighter than the MSR and more reliable.

I've used the MSR XGK on unleaded fuel hundreds of times throughout Europe and the US. I'm no authority on this but I suspect that much of the concern of harmful additives that are often mentioned in forums like these stem from the previous use of lead in gasoline. No longer found at US gas stations, but it could be in some countries (South America, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East).

I owned an Optimus Nova as my 1st remote fuel can stove (SVEA 123 before that).

I bought the Nova to use with my Backer's Pantry fiberglass stove setup but it WOULD NOT simmer low enough to bake so I took it back to EMS and got the then-new MSR Dragonfly, which simmered low enough to bake at whatever temp I wanted.

But yes, the MSR Dragonfly is MSR's heaviest stove. Great for winter!

I'd get the Whisperlite International for fuel flexibility and lightest liquis multifuel stove. It's dead reliable.

the Swiss Borde Kocher ( also Borde Bomb ) in the US, runs on unleaded gas. Pretty cleaver, does not need priming either. It's the smallest, lightest petrol stove that I know of

"But yes, the MSR Dragonfly is MSR's heaviest stove."

That's not accurate. The XGK and its successors are heavier by a few ounces.

–B.G.–

i figured for motorcycle/car touring, unleaded gas would be best since it would be cheaper and i wouldn't need to worry quite as much for the weight, plus it would be a good winter stove. i would like to tour baja via motorcycle when college is done, so i figured getting a hardy stove would be best.

Is the dragonfly as easy to maintain as the wisperlite? I've heard that the wisperlite is extremely easy to clean and keep in good order even when using dirtier fuel.

It burns about anything any other liquid fuel stove burns, plus it can connect to canisters for true multi fuel capability.

The other thing I really like about this stove is that you don't need any tools to change the jets for the different fuels. Easy to service in the field.

Best burly stove I've ever had. If you look, you can find them on sale for $100 or so.

Edit — one other factor I really like with this stove is the dual control like the MSR Dragonfly. allows super fine tuning and simmering.

I haven't done any significant maintenance on Dragonfly or Whisperlite. Pretty much same easy w/either one for me. Every now and then check gaskets, etc. Pretty non-existent fuss.