I haven't personally tried gas in my coleman stove but it is possible with the little research i did but would be a dirty burn which would cause deterioration in the fuel tank if it has the old leather to help the pump keep pressure, when pressurizing. It would probably produce black soot and the taste of gas may cook into your food. I know if its windy you burn more fuel with the old coleman stove and have to keep topping up the tank much more quickly which can be a pain.

I bought a conversion kit for my coleman stove to burn propane which might me a better option. With propane you can use the small 1Lbs bottles or get a adapter to use 20/50/100+ lbs bottles. I got mine from this website.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___86801

 

My old coleman stove from the early 80`s is a dual fuel. Don`t know about the older ones. I would use caution trying something that is not supposed to be there.

 

I have a really old coleman. The problem with burning gas in them was the lead plugged up the generators. Unleaded should work fine. I converted mine to use propane with the adapter from like century. Because the fuel goes over burner it is one of the few propane stoves that will work good in sub zero temps. I have a coleman post that takes a lantern on top and has two extra ports for the stove and a heater. It fits on a 5 gal barbque bottle. No pumping, no fuel on hands, no mess.

 

I was comparing my new dual fuel Coleman with my friend's older white gas model. The new one uses a different generator screwed onto the fuel valve. I think you could convert an older stove by purchasing a unlead replacement generator, if own a lathe, and could turn a thread adapter.

 

unleaded gas can be used but it's best to use amoco 'white gas'. red gas has additives that can over time build up. the burners are replaceable and they can be taken apart for cleaning too.

 

I think it has been over 20 years since I have used the expensive Coleman fuel or white gas in my Coleman stoves. I bought 3 old Coleman stoves at garage sales and have used almost totally unleaded gas. Even using some 5 year old gas mixed half with new unleaded gas. The old gasoline takes a while to get a blue flame and just has a yellow flame for ten or so minutes but when the pipe gets hot enough finally I get a blue flame. A good way to use old gasoline.

I have never had a Coleman stove plug up. If you use 91 high octane gasoline it is best. And still much less expensive than Coleman fuel / white gas.

 

old school

when I was a kid 45 years ago Dad said he could not afford coleman fuel. All we ever run was regular gas. He would catch a little in a coke bottle when he filled up the old station wagon on our way to the creek for the stove and lantern. He taught me how to pull the generator and burners and clean them bout once a year. I now use coleman fuel in both of mine and never have to clean them.

 

When in doubt don't do it. Best bet would be to ask Coleman. The last thing you want to happen is a stove to blow up in your face.

Ask Coleman

 

Yes, people should be very careful when handling gasoline, propane, Coleman fuel etc. As I have said I have never had any trouble using only unleaded gas in regular old Coleman stoves. Using it everyday from June to about Nov. when working and Living on my mtn place.
But if people feel safer and wish to spend twice as much for fuel then go ahead Coleman fuel is probably best in Coleman stoves.

Not sure what Coleman will suggest to use but I doubt it would be unleaded gas, possibly not Coleman fuel? :

 

out of necessity, i used unleaded gas in my coleman stove, for a very long time. when it did not want to light, i put a couple of drops of gas on the burner and lit it up.
this is not a recommendation! this is just what i did to get by

 

As a bonus for paying double, the coleman fuel lasts forever

 

I was burning high grade gas (premium) in Coleman lanterns long before Dual Fuel hit the market. They didnt burn quite as bright but it wasnt enough difference to worry about. Never tried it the stoves, didnt have one at the time, but I would expect similar results.

Off course that was before they started adding ethanol around here so I definitely wouldnt let it stand in the tank long term. No telling what kind of nightmares that could cause.

 

I JUST joined and becuase of similar reasons I actually envy ANYONE who still owns one of these hand pump "white gas" Colemans. my sister/ we the family had one I guess in the 1970s and I thought it just a superb product for some reason. SO the the member here who has his father's I so relate to and admire your sentimental value to the stove. I have NO idea what ever happened to the one "we" had B U T well, I now own a 1970 Ford mini motor home. Honey bought a propane fired cookstove for back up for the camper under my protest I wanted another Coleman 3 burner BUT has Coleman discontinued them??? SO I keep watching garage sales! I bet I will be warned that the white gas stove CANT be used inside the camper..............its a me thing we;ll be o.k. providing I find another one of my own! Uhm so today's unleaded gas CAN be used in a vintage pump it pressurised "white gas" stove then??? THANK YOU everybody!

 

When I was a kid all the gas at the staions was leaded gas except for the "white gas" which was unleaded.
White gas is what we used in stoves and lanterns ... I didn't even know Coleman made gas till I was up in my 20's or so (late 1970's).

Now, I'm not sure that the "white", unleaded gas we used then is comparable to the unleaded of today so don't go doing anything on my account.

The folks at this forum will be able to answer ANY questions about Coleman (and other brands) Lanterns and Stoves http://colemancollectorsforum.websitetoolbox.com/

 

The new gas being 10 percent corn gas, should if anything, burn cleaner, and not clog your stove up as fast as in the old days. I still have the dual fuel lanterns, not sure what ever happened to our Coleman stove either. Speaking of Coleman, remember the old coolers, they rocked. The aluminum ones.

 

Yes you can...

Unleaded gasoline can be successfully used in coleman stoves - as long as the fuel contains less than 10% ethanol (from Coleman website). More than 10% alcohol will start breaking down the rubber o-rings in the valve assembly. If you're not sure, mix your gasoline 50/50 with charcoal starter - easier to find than Coleman fuel, not as volatile, cuts alcohol content in half, burns fine.

If you're worried about additives gunking up your generator:
1. add a bottle of Gumout to your fuel mix - I add it to Coleman fuel too when firing a really ratty old stove I just picked up for cheap at a garage or estate sale, or a thrift store (avoid Goodwill or Salvation Army - they seem to be afraid to sell them).
2. use the cheapest grade of regular unleaded gas you can find. More expensive grades have more gunk-building additives

A note on non-dual-fuel Coleman lanterns - they will also work on gasoline, BUT! Be careful - only pump 20 times to start, only 20 additional pumps after lantern is going (and you've turned the valve wheel as far open as it will go). More than 20 pumps and the super-hot-burning gasoline will blow holes in your mantle(s) and trash your globe. Sounds kinda' dumb, but - it helps if you open the valve 1/4 turn, then pre-heat the lantern generator with a propane torch as low as you can go and keep it lit (should light on it's own this way). Obviously you need to remove the ventilator and globe for this maneuver, and it can be tricky in a stiff wind.

In a SHTF extreme survival scenario, Coleman liquid fuel equipment (stove, lantern, heater, lamp, iron, etc.) will function on any low-flashpoint fuel, with varying degrees of soot build-up and potentially DEADLY vapors. Not recommended without generous ventilation. Coleman liquid fuel lanterns can also be converted to kerosene with a little web research

 

i have used low grade unleaded in all my stoves,lamps and heaters and have never had any problems. MAKE SURE YOU USE LOW GRADE GAS, HIGH TEST FUEL HAS MORE ADDITIVES IN THE FUEL THAT TENDS TO CLOG THINGS UP.

 

Coleman fuel is just shellite in a fancy Coleman branded container. Nothing 'special' about it.

Naphtha (pron.: /ˈnæfθə/ or /ˈnæpθə/) normally refers to a number of flammable liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons, i.e., a component of natural gas condensate or a distillation product from petroleum, coal tar or peat boiling in a certain range and containing certain hydrocarbons. It is a broad term covering among the lightest and most volatile fractions of the liquid hydrocarbons in petroleum. Naphtha is a colorless to reddish-brown volatile aromatic liquid, very similar to gasoline.

In petroleum engineering, full range naphtha is defined as the fraction of hydrocarbons in petroleum boiling between 30 °C and 200 °C.[1] It consists of a complex mixture of hydrocarbon molecules generally having between 5 and 12 carbon atoms. It typically constitutes 15–30% of crude oil, by weight. Light naphtha is the fraction boiling between 30 °C and 90 °C and consists of molecules with 5–6 carbon atoms. Heavy naphtha boils between 90 °C and 200 °C and consists of molecules with 6–12 carbons.

Naphtha is used primarily as feedstock for producing high octane gasoline (via the catalytic reforming process). It is also used in the bitumen mining industry as a diluent, the petrochemical industry for producing olefins in steam crackers, and the chemical industry for solvent (cleaning) applications. Common products made with it include lighter fluid, fuel for camp stoves, and some cleaning solvents.

 

Sounds like you may need some parts before too long....
http://www.oldcolemanparts.com/home.php