I picked up a 1980 Coleman 220K last weekend for $28.
All original great condition, new mantels but I was unsure what fuel to use.
I mentioned to a friend that I needed to pick up some kerosene for it & he said “I think those only use Coleman lantern fuel”.

Can anyone confirm or speak to what these use ?!?

Naptha or white gas. You can buy Coleman fuel at just about any store with camping supplies.

Yes. White gas/Coleman fuel. I grew up using these lanterns and Coleman camp stoves. Still have a couple and some camp stoves as well.

Coleman fuel or white gas. Basically the same thing.

Kerosene will not work in it as the flash point is to low. I have heard you can modify them to run Kerosene but you need a way to preheat the generator tube. It will also burn with a smell and may clog up the gas tube after some time.

I would stick with Coleman fuel. It's expensive but a gallon lasts most people years unless you are doing a lot of camping.

White gas, sold at Walmart.

white gas but unleaded will work fine.

Whatever you do... Put that handle down and keep it down when the lantern is lit.

New mantles will burn as if they are on fire at first. After that they'll glow when lit.

Coleman fuel/white gas is clean, easy to use, and I have found it to be less volatile than gasoline.

Walmart camping will have plenty of it.

I always thought "white gas" is Amaco premium unleaded. Is that not the case? That's what we used in the 50's. Dean

Nice find!

I'd stick w/ white gas or Coleman fuel (which is easier to find around here). I bought a gallon can of Coleman fuel 5 to 7 years ago and I still have some left after using the lantern during several week long deer camps and numerous camping trips. Love the bright light these lanterns put out and they're much more efficient than the propane lanterns.

Good lanterns. Coleman fuel/white gas. Any sporting goods store should have it.

Wiki says it is a light distallate containing cyclohexane, nonane, octane, heptane, and pentane.
Wiki also says unleaded gasoline will burn in the lanterns, but maybe not as cleanly. I think white gas is very close to gasoline, all in all.

Gary Coleman.

^^^
Only in the small lanterns...

*^^^^^^
Funny guy. Lol

I’d use Coleman fuel. It burns nice and clean. Get a very small screened funnel. They did make duel fuel camp stoves, probably lanterns too. Make sure it holds pressure before you fill it. Get extra mantles, as they are very fragile after burning. Burn them by match before you light it first time.

Always want a PetroMax European lantern. But there probably $400 now, but put out tons more light than a Coleman.

Funny story: My young(?) co-worker was talking about going car camping with some friends recently. I offered to let him borrow my Coleman white gas stove. He's an outdoor guy but his friends aren't. Even so, he'd never seen a stove that he couldn't attach a 1 lb. propane bottle to.

I gave him the stove and a container of white gas and told him the instructions were on the lid. They all went camping and the next Monday he advised that they tried to use it, but that it "started shooting flames everywhere" and they all panicked and shut it down. I chuckled at the mental image of true Millennial Panic that must have ensued. He thought it might be broken or the lines blocked.

Now I forgot to mention that the stove had been sitting unused in my shop for about 10 years (same for the fuel). So he might've been right. I probably should have given it a test-run before handing it over...

Anyway, I went home and fired it up to see what all the commotion was about. It had the usual burn-off of excess fuel as it started, but then both burners worked fine.

Glad I didn't give them the Coleman lantern I also have. That would have confused and frightened them to no end!

Todd

That thing is in great shape. Looks new.

I have two of them from the early 50s (I think) that I inherited from my dad. Still work great, but I need to restore them.

And yes, white gas is all I use. Any old brand will do.

ETA: Just checked and one is 1948 and the other is 1951.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gustofer,

I have one. Coleman fuel-Walmart. That's a nice one.

I still have my lantern from the early 19080's

works like a champ.

also have one of the newer dual fuel models.

no difference in performance.

I still have mine that I bought in 1983. Still works! As others said, white gas/Coleman fuel. My local Walmart carries the Coleman fuel. Not cheap when compared to regular gas.

I did buy a second lantern to keep on hand. This one is a duel/fuel, meaning I can use Coleman fuel or unleaded gas.

quote:

Originally posted by phxtoad:
...Coleman white gas stove...

Todd

I still have my Optimus Svea 123 camping stove circa 1977. I got it for about $20 new. You can still get them, but they are going for about $100.