Greece

Tim Cunningham<timc@ibo.org.fuel> writes ....(July 2000)

In Greece, I ran a heating stove on diesel fuel. This is sold at petrol
stations and pumped like regular diesel, but is not taxed. Diesel is pretty cheap anyway, but this stuff is cheaper. The name of diesel is Petrelaio (pron. petreleo) and the heating fuel is Petrelaio qermansh (pron. Petreleo thermansee) and has a pink colour added. For paraffin/kerosene (for use in lamps etc) ask for Parafinh (pron. parafeenee) in a hardware store Sidhropoleio (pron. Seedeeropoleeo).

As for Coleman fuel/white gas, I don't know for definite, but I guess it is imported as 'Coleman fuel' by some stores in downtown Athens. I doubt very much whether you'd get it out of the city.

Alcohol is readily available in pharmacies or Farmakeio (pron. farmakeeo) and goes by the wonderful name of mequliko oinopneuma (pron. metheeleeko eenopnevma - literally 'methylated spirit').

Greenland

<fleis@meyer.fys.ku.dk.fuel> writes.......(Aug 1998)

The names for the fuels in Greenland is the same as in Denmark, that is Petroleum (not petrolium) Benzin, Rensebenzin, Ethanol is normally called "Denatureret Sprit"

Holland

<dirk.vangulik@cen.jrc.it.fuel> writes......(Dec 1993)

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

<millenaar@jach.hawaii.edu.fuel> writes.......(Dec 1993)

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').

Hungary

<akos@belgonet.be.fuel> writes... (Aug 2001)

Reading your fuel table, I am able to replace some ???-s in the
hungarian line (column 4) : the name is spiritus or denaturált szesz.

Iceland

<ROB.JONSON@balliol.oxford.ac.uk.fuel> writes.... (Jan 1997)

I was just looking at your faq and noticed a number of blanks for iceland. I can help with the meths equivalent. I was on an expedition there in 1992 and we used 'Rodsprit' (I'm not entirely sure of the spelling) to prime our parafin stoves. Sure enough it is fairly red, but slightly less flammable than ordinary meths.

India/Bhutan/Nepal/Pakistan

<RKOHLI@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu.fuel> writes........ (Dec 1993)

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.

kirstenlatimer@hotmail.com writes........(Dec 2001)

For your information, in Pakistan, methylated spirits is known as exactly that: methylated spirits ! (bought some today in the chemist in Lahore).

Indonesia and Malaysia

<steven@moe.edu.sg.fuel> writes.....(jan 1997)

Kerosene is MINYAK TANAH Available from little roadside shops that sell watered down petrol. The watered down petrol is known as BENSINE. Other helpful words: API (fire), FLAMU (flame).

Iran

<atavakli@cftnet.com.fuel> writes..... (May 1996)

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.

Ireland

<bikehiketour@hotmail.com> writes..... (Nov 99)

Meths: In Ireland it's the same as the UK but you will need to sign for it, explaining your use/requirement of it.

Italy

Giuliano Da Broi <giuliano.dabroi@tin.it.fuel> writes...(Feb 2001)

I found your "Fuel Name Faq" very useful and complete, even if there are
some mistakes in Italian translation:

N°1
Commonly known as "petrolio" or "petrolio lampante"

N°3
"Benzina bianca" is correct but not very well known; better if you ask for
"benzina AVIO" that is a trade mark.

N°4
"Alcol denaturato" (not "denaturo")

Japan

<tsuchiya@sedona.intel.com.fuel> writes..........(Dec 1993)

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

<awaddington@acorn.co.uk.fuel> writes.......(Dec 1993)

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.

Malaysia and Singapore

<torque@pacific.net.sg.fuel> writes.....(Sept 1997)

As a backgrounder, Singapore and Malaysia are multi racial with Chinese and Malays making the majority of the population. Among the Chinese, many dialects are used, and they can sound as different as English is to say Vietnamese. So here goes:

	Teochew	Hokkien	Cantonese	Mandarin	Malay
Kerosene	Tou Yew	Thor Yeew	For Sway	Huo Yew / May Yew	Minyak Tanah
Petrol	Tiang Yew	Tian Teew	Chair Yow	Tian Yew / Chi Yew	Minyak Patrol
White Gas is Non existant in these parts, closest equivalent is unleaded petrol
Unlead Gas				Woo Chian Chi Yew	Minyak Patrol Perlombong
Methylated Spirit	Huay Chiew	Huay Chiew	For Chow	For Chiew	Minyak Sprit

Malta

<henfalz@maltanet.omnes.net.fuel> writes.......(Aug 1996)

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

<amcculloch@earthlink.net.fuel> writes ......(Oct 1996)

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.

Murray Singleton <msinglet@dcc.govt.nz.fuel> writes....(Jan 2001)

In New Zealand another white spirit name has appeared - Fuelite. It's
available at Caltex garages and I assume it replaces the brand name Callite,
previously sold at Caltex outlets.

Norway

<paale@lie.uit.no.fuel> writes........(Dec 1993)

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).

<paale@lie.uit.no.fuel> writes.....(Dec 1993)

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" ?

<wittgens@kjemi.unit.no.fuel> writes......(Dec 1993)

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

<exualan@exu.ericsson.se.fuel> writes........(Dec 1993)

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.

<wittgens@kjemi.unit.no.fuel> writes.......(Dec 1993)

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.

<heill@phys.unit.no.fuel> Writes.........(Jan 1995)

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]".

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)

<dagstaale.karlsen@cargoscan.com.fuel> writes....(April 1999)

Regarding table of fuel names: For norway:

Column 3: You may add "Katlyt bensin"

Column 4: If you want an alternative to you may use "Isopropanol" and this is usualy possible to get in ordinary hardwear stores. The price is approx equal to "Rød sprit" = "denaturert sprit" It is sold under name "Teknisk Isopropanol" and is a blue liquid.

If you have problems with getting any of this all gasolinstations has "kondensfjerner" (condese remover) which is a fuel additive used to reduse problems caused by a small persentage of water in gasoline or diesel systems. "kondensfjerner" is a little bit more expensive, and includes additves we dont need in stoves. This may result in some soot. Usually I prefere to use "Teknisk Isopropanol".

Regarding: the Editors Note: "white spirit / white gas". In Norway white spirit is the same as in England.

Some more comments: It is possible to by gasoline stoves in Norway, but it is no import of Coleman fuel. Unleaded car gasoline is generally used on ordinary white-gasoline stoves. (This cause trouble, nobody talks about it.) Treaditionally stoves for kerosene is used, burners like multifuel burners from Optimus is used on most of the stoves, thees have less problems with clogging.

"Fritids-parafin", or "Lampe-olje" is usually ok to use as replasement for kerosene or diesel, but it may have another viscosity and it may cause problems in low temperature ore high mountains. (I dont know why.) Ordinary kerosene is widely available, and tousends of single-unit dwellings use kerosene for heating, and may have a barrel. In winter season diesel may contain near 50% kerosene in cold areas. Most backpackers uses butane stoves or alcohol stoves. Propane is widely used in cabins and caravans, and newer boats. Kerosene stoves is much used in boats, and by MC-people and scouts. Kerosine stoves is used by armed forces.

Philippines

<jappy@skyinet.net.fuel> "Juan Rafael D. Xavier" writes.... (Jan 1997)

Here is the list of available fuel when backpacking in our country.

1-kerosene (easily obtainable, even in the provinces)

2-gasoline (easily obtainable)

3-coleman fuel, available in some department stores, only in manila, but rather expensive (ironic, considering a lot of people use their stoves)

-lighter fluid; ziponol is expensive, as is other kinds. the most popular kinds are those readily available in hardware stores and supermarkets. they come in small red plastic bottles and are relatively cheap, easy to store and pack up. they usually have queer brands like "sure flash," "fuji," "caltex," and some other rot.

4-denatured alcohol (easily obtainable)

There are also some shops in manila which sell butane/propane canisters for the bluette burners (both new and old models) as well as some coleman outfits.

Poland

<jacek@appel012.hydromech.uni-hannover.de.fuel> writes.......(Dec 1993)

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.

Portugal

Tim Cunningham<timc@ibo.org.fuel> writes ....(July 2000)

I used a Trangia stove in Portugal and I used "Alcool 95%" which can be bought in most Farmácia (pharmacies).

Russia

<mtrrut@vmsa.technion.ac.il.fuel> writes........(Dec 1993)

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)

<jewitt@aqua.ccwr.ac.za.fuel> writes.........(Dec 1993)

Paraffin is freely available at garages and plenty of other stores.

Petrol at garages.

Methylated Spirits is available at most stores except in the Cape Province where you can only get it at chemists/pharmacies.

<incose@global.co.za.fuel> writes........(June 1996)

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.

<vulcan@global.co.za.fuel> writes........(July 1996)

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.

<Geoff.Rehmet@gfsa.co.za.fuel> writes ....(Oct 1998)

I have never seen any outdoor shop actually stocking Coleman Fuel, or benzine, for that matter. As mentioned in the FAQ, benzine is readily available at hardware stores, and can sometimes (at a price) be obtained from pharmacies. Benzine works out to be about twice the price of petrol, about ZAR5/l as opposed to about ZAR2.50/l (ZAR1.00 = USD5.87 when I last checked).

As an aside: anyone considering using South African diesel in their stove should be warned that diesel has a rather high sulphur content here. I would suspect that that will result in quicker clogging of jets and fuel lines.

Spain

<awaddington@acorn.co.uk.fuel> writes.......(Dec 1993)

Unleaded petrol/gas is "Sin plomo"

<Olcbill@aol.com.fuel> writes ............ (Dec 1994)

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.

<bikehiketour@hotmail.com.fuel> writes.... (Nov 1999)

Meths: in the northern part it can be found in pharmacies, but in the south, shops sell it as a camping fuel.

Sweden

<exualan@exu.ericsson.se.fuel> writes......(Dec 1993)

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.)

<x672 nick@mail.esrin.esa.it.fuel> and <Nick.Kew@mail.esrin.esa.it.fuel> writes ...... (June 1995)

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.

<wendel@wendel.se.fuel> writes.......(July 1995)

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. <T-Gul> (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. <Taend- vaetska> is what you should ask for if you ask for <T-Gul> by name in a store. It literally means a liquid used for lighting a fire or barbeque. The label of <T-Gul> also says "pure n-paraffin". <T-Gul> 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 <T-Roed>.

Column 2: <Blyfri bensin>, 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: <Rengoeringsbensin> (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 <Industribensin> or industrial gas/petrol, which can be bought at specialized paint shops. Both can be used instead of Coleman Fuel.

Column 4: <T-Roed> which is a brand name for a spirit which is used as fuel for Trangia stoves (and similar) and for cleaning windows (!). <T-Roed> is what the bottles read nowadays. It's actually the same as <T-sprit> and <Roedsprit>, it's only a change in name. When asking for it by name <Roedsprit> 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: <T-Roed> 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 <Metanol> (which is methanol or wood-alcohol) which can be had in paint shops. A 50-50 mixture of <T-Roed> and <Metanol> is the best. Heating as much as the <T-Roed> and leaving as little soot as the <Metanol>.

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 temperatures. 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 <butangas>. 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).

<m88sol@talita.tdb.uu.se.fuel> writes ........(July 1996)

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.

<wendel@wendel.se.fuel> writes.........(Oct 1996)

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.

<rtp1@midway.uchicago.edu.fuel> writes....(Oct 1998)

A few remarks:

(Kerosene) In my MSR XGK, I have found that T-Gul works, but it is a bit sooty. At most gas stations (e.g. Statoil) you can get something called "T-Blå," or "Statoil Blå" which seems to burn cleaner. "Tändvatska" is charcoal lighter fluid, and is the most sooty of them all. The bigger STF facilities (e.g. Saltoluokta) do well at stocking both alcohol (T-Röd) and kerosene (T-blå), so you can pretty much count on getting off the plane, taking the bus, and buying fuel at one of these places.

<dagstaale.karlsen@cargoscan.com.fuel> writes...(April 1999)

I have just received some information from optimus in Sweden. I asked for a sugestion of fuel to my 123R Svea Stove, and a trademark as an example.

The anwer was that "Statoil miljø" was the best product commonly available in scandinavien.

Statoil is a major oilcompany here, approxematly of the same size as Shell. Statoil miljø is a product designed as fuel for garden-maschines with a 4-stroke gasoline engine. This product is almost free of benzene and other additives.

This information is not schecked or tested by me, but it seems OK.

<mtkorv@freeler.nl.fuel> writes ...(Feb 2003)

(Information from Optimus)

Heptane is not so common is Sweden but it is called Heptan. Very similar. Environmental gasoline is found on every gas station. Most commonly in 5 liter cans. The vary in name but use to be called: Miljöbensin, Alkylatbensin or Gräsklipparbensin.

Switzerland

<olaf@ulaf.uu.ch.fuel> writes........(Dec 1993)

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.

<Olcbill@aol.com.fuel> writes ............ (Dec 1994)

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.

<ar@bluewin.ch.fuel> Aischan Rupp writes...(Dec 1996)

Living in the German speaking part of Switzerland, I would like to add some comments to the list. The names are mostly the same in Austria, Germany and the North and Eastern part of Switzerland - they use all the same language (German):

Column 1

"Kerosin": You won't find this in the stores - it's jet fuel

"Petroleum": (or abbreviated Petrol): Used for stoves and laterns. Easy to find in any bigger supermarket or hardware-store (usually in 1 Liter plastic bottles).

"Diesel" (for cars): You find that at most, but not at all gas stations

Column 2

"Bleifreies Benzin" or "Bleifrei": What you get at any gas station. If you want to use such gas for stoves, you should get unleaded gasoline, which is called "Bleifreies Benzin" or simply "Bleifrei". Leaded gas = verbleites Benzin.

Column 3

"Rein-Benzin" (or "Reinbenzin" or "Benzin gereinigt"): White gas (USA). Much cleaner than Bleifrei, and so better for most stoves (e.g. MSR Whisperlite). Costs about 4 times more than Bleifrei. You get that in any pharmacy ("Drogerie").

"Feuerzeugbenzin": Forget it, it's gas for lighters - quantity is small and the price high.

"Wundbenzin": surgical spirit. Too expensive to burn in stoves...

Column 4

"Brennsprit" or "Spiritus": (for stoves like the Trangia). You find that at any bigger store and also in many smaller ones. It's used in spirit burners which are quite common in Swiss kitchens (ever heard about Swiss cheese fondue or Raclette?). Usually sold in 1 Liter plastic bottles. I think the difference to alcohol is just that there's something poisonous added that you can't drink it (and so it's cheaper - less taxes).

Switzerland is a country with 4 official and 3 really used languages (German/French/Italian). Everything sold in stores is always labeled in all three languages. But if it would be useful, I could check the Italian and French names of the fuels.

Thailand

<anuchit@mvlsi.eng.kmitl.ac.th.fuel> writes .....(May 1999)

White gas/Coleman Fuel: also know as "BENZENE KAOW" or "White benzene" available from large stationary stores, under the brand name of "COMFORT(r)" and costs about $US 4 per gallon.

Naphtha: One can also look for bottled cigarette lighter fuel under brand name of "RONSONOL" and costs about $US 0.5 per bottled( 4.5 fl.oZ - 128.5 ml).

Kerosene: "NAUM MAUN GAS" available everywhere in THAILAND. Usually has blue colour and costs about $US 0.5 per liter.

Diesel: "Diesel" avaliable from gas stations.

Alcohol: "Alcohol" available from drug store.

Unleaded gas: "NAUM MAUN REI SARN" available from gas stations.

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 or from any pharmacy at the perscription counter. It has a coloured dye in it.

U.S.A

<dnewcomb@whale.st.usm.edu.fuel> writes......(Dec 1993)

"Charcoal lighter" is a clean substitute (for Kerosene) and available in any store.

<damouth@wrc.xerox.com.fuel> writes..... (Jan 1995)

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.

<bikehiketour@hotmail.com.fuel> writes.... (Nov 1999)

Column 4: In the United States and Canada it is available in Hardware stores as denatured alcohol, but if you get into more northern states (ie. they have cold winters) you can use DryGas or gas-line antifreeze which is meths as well and much cheaper than denatured alcohol. Be sure it is gas-line antifreeze, bottles will actually say under the poison instructions that it is meths. In Canada they also sell it as Fondue fuel in grocery stores, but it is much more expensive this way if in smaller bottles.

Venezuela

<jelattkebravo@ucdavis.edu.fuel> (John E Lattke) writes.........(Dec 1996)

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

<jewitt@aqua.ccwr.ac.za.fuel> writes.........(Dec 1993)

Paraffin at most garages and stores.

Petrol at garages - not reccomended - I'm reluctant to run my car on this stuff!

Benzine at hardware stores - may be difficult to find.

Meths at most hardware stores and chemists and in some other stores.