Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Cross-using brands of fuel?

2 views
Skip to first unread message

Pat

unread,
Apr 28, 2008, 6:29:23 PM4/28/08
to
Am I right in thinking that this MSR cannister will fit and work just fine
on my JetBoil stove? It is quite a bit cheaper than the JetBoil branded
stuff. The tops all look the same....

Pat in TX


Jim

unread,
Apr 28, 2008, 6:55:18 PM4/28/08
to
Should work out alright except for cold temps and high altitudes. The MSR
fuel doesn't seem to like either. 15 degrees and 3000 feet, MSR fuel
couldn't bring water to a boil. Switched to JetBoil, no problems. YMMV


"Pat" <in...@tmail.com> wrote in message
news:67n1ejF...@mid.individual.net...

y_p_w

unread,
Apr 28, 2008, 7:05:05 PM4/28/08
to

Theoretically. I have heard of a few cases where one particular
Lindal valve stove didn't pair well with a certain make of canister.
It would seem more like a matter of being out of spec. In any case,
I've never had any problem mixing and matching my MSR or Snow Peak
stoves with Snow Peak or Brunton cartridges. I just make sure that I
don't smell any of the gas odor before I light the thing..

In any case, MSR and Brunton order their cartridges from suppliers in
Korea. Could very well be the same one. Could even be the company
that JetBoil purchases from. I did notice that Brunton and MSR
cartridges have a certain appearance on the base. It's hard to
describe, but there's a distinct pattern to how the metal is shaped.

Pat

unread,
Apr 28, 2008, 8:49:21 PM4/28/08
to

"Jim" <> Should work out alright except for cold temps and high altitudes.
The MSR
> fuel doesn't seem to like either. 15 degrees and 3000 feet, MSR fuel
> couldn't bring water to a boil. Switched to JetBoil, no problems. YMMV

I noticed the Jet Boil canister had on it: "four-season mixture" or
something similar. I got this at The Sports Authority. I plan on using it in
May, in central Missouri. So, I think it'll be all right.

Pat in TX

ps56k

unread,
Apr 29, 2008, 12:20:09 PM4/29/08
to

----
Which gas should I use, Propane or Butane?

The physical properties of the two gases are very similar,
and when regulated to the correct pressure,
they will perform almost identically.
However there are some important differences.
Of the two gases, Butane has the most advantages.
It is less toxic and so can legally be used and stored indoors.
Litre for litre, it contains around 12% more energy than Propane
and so you can squeeze more running time into the same sized bottle.
(Butane is heavier than Propane though, so weight for weight it's a pretty
close call.)
Butane also burns cleaner than Propane
(although this isn't normally a serious issue in caravanning.)
Finally, while it's not strictly a property of the gas,
Butane canisters generally use clip-on type connections.
These are far more convenient than the Propane screw type connections,
especially if you swap bottles around regularly
(as you might if you also use your caravan bottle to run a barbecue.)

Conversely, Propane has only one advantage over Butane - but it's a big one!

In order to be usable, the liquid in the bottle must be able to boil into a
gas.
In the case of Butane, this will happen at any temperature above -2C,
whereas with Propane, this figure is much lower, at -42C.
In the real world, it's not so clear cut.
Whenever some of the liquid boils into gas,
the remaining liquid cools.
It is therefore possible for the temperature of the liquid
to drop to several degrees below ambient.
This can easily prevent a Butane canister
from producing a useful gas supply,
even when the outside temperature is several degrees above 0C.
A compromise can be reached by mixing Propane with Butane,
but as far as I'm aware, none of the UK 'big bottle' suppliers actually do
this.
The small gas cartridges that are produced for camping stoves and gas lamps
are often Propane/Butane mixes.
So choosing the right gas pretty much boils down
to whether you need to use it in freezing (or near freezing) conditions.
If this is likely, then Propane is a must. If not, then Butane has the edge.


y_p_w

unread,
Apr 29, 2008, 2:44:38 PM4/29/08
to

It's a blend of propane and isobutane. Most of the Lindal valve
cartridges are a blend of propane (usually 10-20%) with the bulk
butane and/or isobutane. A higher proportion of propane means better
low temp performance. If the amount of propane is increased, the can
needs to be heavier in order to safely take the increased pressure. A
Coleman style 100% propane bottle is heavy for a reason.

It depends on how much . In any case, using a blended fuel at
freezing temps supposedly depletes the propane at a faster rate than
the butane or isobutane. I've heard of cases where the canister just
stops when the proportion of propane is insufficient for the
temperature. You also need to account for the refrigeration effect
from boiling off liquefied gases. At moderate temps, the propane and
butane/isobutane should turn into a gas at about the same rate.

Booker Bense

unread,
Apr 29, 2008, 3:36:26 PM4/29/08
to
In article <d8ea1fc9-c61c-4910...@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,

y_p_w <y_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>On Apr 28, 5:49 pm, "Pat" <in...@tmail.com> wrote:
>> "Jim" <> Should work out alright except for cold temps and high altitudes.
>> The MSR
>>
>> > fuel doesn't seem to like either. 15 degrees and 3000 feet, MSR fuel
>> > couldn't bring water to a boil. Switched to JetBoil, no problems. YMMV
>>

From reading the labels, I can't tell any difference between MSR
and Jetboil content. In the case above the initial temp ( and
maybe even size/shape ) of the canister could make a huge
difference. That temp/altitude is right at the limit of these
stoves.

However, there have been some recent advances in technology for
butane stoves that greatly improve their cold weather
performance. Both MSR and Jetboil now have new stoves that
are realistic for cold weather use. ( MSR Reactor and JetBoil
Helios )

_ Booker C. Bense

y_p_w

unread,
Apr 29, 2008, 7:44:51 PM4/29/08
to
On Apr 29, 12:36 pm, bbe...@slac.stanford.edu (Booker Bense) wrote:
> In article <d8ea1fc9-c61c-4910-bd03-0d22366fe...@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,

>
> y_p_w <y_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >On Apr 28, 5:49 pm, "Pat" <in...@tmail.com> wrote:
> >> "Jim" <> Should work out alright except for cold temps and high altitudes.
> >> The MSR
>
> >> > fuel doesn't seem to like either. 15 degrees and 3000 feet, MSR fuel
> >> > couldn't bring water to a boil. Switched to JetBoil, no problems. YMMV
>
> From reading the labels, I can't tell any difference between MSR
> and Jetboil content. In the case above the initial temp ( and
> maybe even size/shape ) of the canister could make a huge
> difference. That temp/altitude is right at the limit of these
> stoves.

MSR IsoPro is a blend of 20% propane and 80% isobutane.

http://www.msrgear.com/stoves/isopro.asp

As for JetBoil, they say it should be compatible with EN417 (Lindal)
spec valves, but can't guarantee safety with another brand. They
don't have any specific information on the proportions, but they do
verify that their fuel is a blend of propane and isobutane.

http://www.jetboil.com/Contact/FAQ#f20

Tom Biasi

unread,
Apr 29, 2008, 7:55:14 PM4/29/08
to

"ps56k" <pschuman_...@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:ZUHRj.1820$506...@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...

Maybe you will find some interest in michael's article here:

http://www.adventuresportsonline.com/propfueltest.htm

Tom

None4You

unread,
May 29, 2008, 1:29:37 AM5/29/08
to

"Tom Biasi" <tomb...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:0eSdnYp7Ga39KIrV...@giganews.com...
>You forgot that propane is much cheaper. And the tanks are refillable. And
>propane last much longer because the tanks have more pressure in them. In
>the real world , I wouldn't depend on butane below 20F. The biggest problem
>with Propane is there is a law that prevents Propane from being sold in
>lightweight containers like butane canisters. And you aren't allowed to
>transport refillable containers over state lines. If it wasn't for that.
>Propane would put butane out of business. Because everyone would be
>filling their lightweight propane hiking canisters off of their 17 lb.
>barbeque tanks for free. Instead of buying disposable butane canisters and
>tossing them in the trash. The tank issue is why its sold as a mix
>with butane . And not by itself. Because the law states you cant use
>lightweight canisters for propane. That market protection keeps butane
>alive. And expensive. .


0 new messages