Finding Fuel For Your Campstove

A stove that runs on standard gasoline, like the MSR Whisperlite Internationale, is the best choice for bike tourists planning trips to different parts of the globe.

You can’t always find other types of fuel like white gas, methylated spirits or gas cartridges but there’s always a gas station to serve the cars that are in every country.

But while gas stations are widely available to provide fuel for your hot meal, a question from a reader reminded me of one problem we occasionally run into with our multi-fuel stove. Helen pointed out that while fuel bottles tend to come in sizes of less than a litre (and 600ml is about all you need for 5-7 days of meals), some petrol stations set a minimum of two litres at the pump.

“Did you have any problems in practise just filling up a 590ml bottle?” Helen wanted to know.

The answer is sometimes but we always found a solution. Here are some of the more unusual ways to get fuel for your stove.

1. Ask A Driver For Fuel
Ask a driver if you can give them $1 to fill your bottle, while they’re filling up their car with gas. Most people are very happy to oblige.

2.  Pay For The Minimum But Just Take What You Need
When we asked gas stations why they wouldn’t sell us less than 2 litres, they said it was because the pumps didn’t measure small quantities accurately. If we paid for 2 litres but only took 500ml, they were happy. Yes, we paid over the odds but since we don’t need a lot of fuel it was no hardship.

3. Find Someone Mowing Their Lawn
Anyone with a lawnmower will have a small plastic jug with gas in the garage. Most people have no problem giving you a half litre. We always offered money, though it was rarely accepted.

4. Look For Gas At Roadside Kiosks
This tactic only works in areas like the Middle East and Asia. Whenever you’re out of the developed world, it’s common to see shops selling petrol in small plastic bottles. You can also sometimes find gas being dispensed out of hand pumps and, like the gas in pop bottles, the sellers have no problem selling you just a little bit.

All in all, it wasn’t very often that we had to use these ways of getting fuel for our stove. Most of the time, the standard gas stations were willing to sell us just what we needed. Expect plenty of questions, however, about just what you need fuel for when you’re travelling by bicycle!

Comments

  1. Louis-Philippe
    25th March 2010 at 12:00 am #

    Thank you for this great advice. Will surely hepl us in our big trip.

    LP

  2. Steve Tober
    25th March 2010 at 8:19 pm #

    Trangia stove is the only way to go 🙂 Clean, quiet and no parts to break/repair, with fuel available in most drug stores. Check this list to find meths around the world. http://www.mark-ju.net/juliette/meths.htm

    • friedel
      26th March 2010 at 5:58 am #

      We didn’t run into anyone using a Trangia on our trip. That said, I did see one in action here in Europe recently and I have to admit it was extremely quiet, clean and simple – as you say. I also like its stability. I think a review of different types of stoves could be a whole other page, but my concern about the Trangia would be getting fuel in the few countries where the meths is harder to find or unavailable. Then there are also Primus stoves to think about. Like I said… it needs a whole space of its own 🙂

      • Steve Tober
        26th March 2010 at 1:55 pm #

        Well….if cyclists add to that meths availability list…it would make the task of getting the alcohol much easier. But also think of the time spent cleaning and fixing stoves that are burning auto fuel…and factor that time spent into the possible extra time spent looking for alcohol. Havinng said that…in all my travels, I’ve always been able to find alcohol for the stove.

  3. friedel
    26th March 2010 at 2:02 pm #

    I think we are just going to have to try one out! For almost all trips, I have no doubt that you could find fuel for a Trangia. I saw a really comprehensive fuel list the other day. I’ll try to track it down again.

    • Stephane
      23rd April 2010 at 7:35 am #

      Hey Friedel, At the beginning of this article I gave a list and a description of pretty much every fuel used for stove. There is even a link with fuels’ name in 19 languages.

  4. Stephen Lord
    4th April 2010 at 11:09 am #

    Hi Friedel, I agree with you on this one, though Trangia & meths is my favourite, I wouldn’t want to depend on it on a bike tour, and Juliette and Mark didn’t depend on it either, it was just their preferred fuel where available. They had trouble in Russia – a very big place – and I’ve heard that it’s practically unobtainable in Muslim countries. Even in Ireland we had to go to a pharmacy on a couple of occasions and answer questions as to why we wanted it! But in other countries, it’s just a matter of learning the local term for meths.

    • Steve Tober
      9th April 2010 at 3:13 pm #

      Re: muslim countries….on the shelf in the UAE….oman we got plenty from a couple of hospitals…same for Libya.

  5. yuen
    4th April 2010 at 5:59 pm #

    Counting out the pennies makes option 2 a no-no for me! I prefer to fill up the fuel bottle, then put the rest of the 2L (or whatever the minimum amount is) into a plastic drink bottle. It´s a bit of extra weight, but hey, it´ll only be for 5 days or so before you use it to refill the fuel bottle again!

  6. James
    1st June 2010 at 3:33 am #

    I was wondering about using both regular unleaded gasoline and methanol/wood alcohol in the MSR international. The manual doesn’t list these as suitable fuels….wondering if maybe gasoline is considered too explosive/unstable compared to white gas?

    I’d prefer to stop buying the $20 4 litre bins of white gas that is stored in my closet forever.

    Is gasoline really that safe?

    • friedel
      1st June 2010 at 6:59 am #

      James, in the MSR International version you can use normal unleaded gasoline (called petrol in Britain). That’s what we started using about 2 months into our world trip and we’ve been using it ever since. In fact, that’s the whole point of the MSR International, that it can burn just about any fuel going, one of its key features for international travel.

    • Tyler & Tara
      7th November 2010 at 6:51 am #

      It is a little sooty when you’re priming it, but beyond that it is great. We’ve been using ours with unleaded for two years!

  7. Ian
    29th July 2011 at 5:12 am #

    1 word………………..it has been discussed here already………………TRANGIA !

  8. gralion torile
    19th August 2022 at 11:43 am #

    Great write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s blog, maintain up the nice operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.

  9. dash miner
    1st October 2022 at 1:17 pm #

    This really answered my drawback, thank you!

  10. ดินสอเขียนคิ้ว
    8th October 2022 at 5:37 am #

    Very interesting points you have observed, thanks for putting up.

  11. หน้าโทรม
    8th October 2022 at 8:53 am #

    I’d have to examine with you here. Which isn’t one thing I normally do! I take pleasure in studying a submit that may make folks think. Also, thanks for allowing me to remark!

  12. kupic lajki na instagramie
    4th December 2022 at 1:05 am #

    essay about military service m40ceh college essay pdf m29vsg expository essay help r60pfp

  13. VMware 5V0-22.21
    5th December 2022 at 9:14 am #

    ivermectin pill treating guinea pig mites with ivermectin paste how often are you supposed to dose ivermectin

  14. phenq pm
    10th December 2022 at 7:03 am #

    Tek seferde bir safın yarısı süpürülebilir.

  15. Expert Removal Services
    22nd December 2022 at 3:44 pm #

    my voice sucks on karaoke that is why i am taking sining lessons now from professionals*

  16. 구로풀싸롱
    9th January 2023 at 7:05 pm #

    Im thankful for the article. Really Great.

  17. лазерна епилация интим
    10th January 2023 at 12:50 am #

    I think this is a real great blog.Much thanks again. Keep writing.

  18. free gift certificate template word
    12th January 2023 at 12:18 pm #

    Really enjoyed this post, can I set it up so I receive an email sent to me every time you publish a new post?

  19. Braden Peters
    2nd April 2023 at 9:54 pm #

    ivermectin 250ml how much is ivermectin – ivermectin usa

  20. money
    5th April 2023 at 1:46 am #

    ivermectin gold for horses ivermectin heartworm treatment

  21. Noi That SENTO
    5th April 2023 at 7:40 am #

    Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers?My lzst blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended uplosing a few months of hard work due to nno backup.Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?

  22. Cricket News
    5th April 2023 at 11:02 pm #

    Im thankful for the blog.Much thanks again. Keep writing.

  23. Same day Agra tour from Delhi
    6th April 2023 at 12:47 pm #

    I value the blog. Want more.

  24. Travel
    7th April 2023 at 12:57 pm #

    medications for ed ed pills from canada – reasons for ed

  25. skill
    7th April 2023 at 5:44 pm #

    strategianews.net and ivermectin ivermectin tablets dosage ivermectin for humans

  26. may in 3d gia re
    8th April 2023 at 9:29 am #

    FRESHCC.RU – CARDER STORE FOR QUALITY CCV-DUMPS-BANKS-PAYPAL-ACCOUNTS

  27. nettruyen
    8th April 2023 at 3:55 pm #

    Esse blog realmente tem todas as informações e fatosque eu precisava a respeito deste assunto e não sabia a quem perguntar.

  28. Nancy West
    10th April 2023 at 9:33 pm #

    Hola Maarten,Sí hay un poco de una curva de aprendizaje empinada para superar primero con él antes de darse cuenta de lo poderoso que es. Algunos de los parámetros que ofrece son extremadamente útiles para tu SEO.

  29. gambling experience
    14th April 2023 at 4:37 am #

    What an outstanding way of taking a look at points.

  30. Names For Your Baby
    15th April 2023 at 3:35 pm #

    Locksmith, highly recommend Locksmith Clapham SW4

  31. for more information
    16th April 2023 at 10:54 pm #

    I’m training to be an engineer metoclopramide m1 receptors All these companies could have programed the device to send data ‚back home’ to them over a wireless or cellular network – with or without the user’s knowledge or consent

  32. play
    17th April 2023 at 12:24 pm #

    22 Best Digital Marketing Agencies in Dubai [Updated July 2020]

  33. tra gao lut dau den
    19th April 2023 at 3:27 pm #

    This is nicely put. !how to write a good comparative essay technical writer seo writing service

  34. màn hình ghép
    22nd April 2023 at 9:28 am #

    Kudos. I appreciate it! ejaculation with flomax

  35. https://taichinh.biz
    23rd April 2023 at 4:18 pm #

    ivermectin and covid ivermectin 10 ml ivermectin purchasing

  36. passive income ideas
    26th April 2023 at 12:59 pm #

    Just Browsing While I was surfing yesterday I saw a great article concerning

  37. lawyers in aiken sc
    3rd May 2023 at 12:44 am #

    Really enjoyed this article.

  38. Rare Mental Disorders
    4th May 2023 at 9:36 pm #

    Corporate Livewire Prestige awards 2021 winner

  39. fakaza
    11th May 2023 at 11:11 pm #

    I love looking through an article that will make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing for me to comment.

  40. Novo Bar B600
    16th May 2023 at 6:55 pm #

    Thanks a lot for the blog post.

  41. golden goose sneakers men
    19th May 2023 at 4:05 am #

    I must show appreciation to the writer just for bailing me out of this issue. Because of looking out through the search engines and meeting suggestions that were not beneficial, I assumed my life was over. Being alive minus the approaches to the problems you have sorted out by way of your report is a serious case, as well as the kind that would have in a wrong way affected my career if I hadn’t encountered your blog. Your primary skills and kindness in dealing with the whole lot was valuable. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I had not come across such a stuff like this. I am able to at this point look forward to my future. Thanks a lot so much for this specialized and amazing help. I won’t hesitate to propose the sites to any individual who needs to have guidance about this matter.

  42. nylon bag
    29th May 2023 at 3:57 am #

    I really enjoy the blog post. Keep writing.

  43. fear of god
    8th June 2023 at 2:33 pm #

    Thanks so much for providing individuals with an extraordinarily splendid opportunity to read from here. It’s always very sweet and also jam-packed with a great time for me and my office acquaintances to search your site at the least three times every week to find out the fresh things you have got. And lastly, we are at all times impressed concerning the effective concepts you serve. Certain 1 tips in this article are unquestionably the best I’ve had.

  44. kyrie shoes
    14th June 2023 at 8:50 am #

    I am only commenting to let you know of the really good discovery our child encountered viewing yuor web blog. She picked up several things, which included how it is like to possess a wonderful giving mindset to make certain people without problems master a variety of hard to do subject matter. You undoubtedly exceeded our own expectations. Many thanks for presenting such precious, trustworthy, informative and also easy guidance on your topic to Julie.

  45. slot thailand
    15th August 2023 at 4:09 pm #

    Some really great information, Gladiola I discovered this. “Literature … is the rediscovery of childhood.” by Georges Bataille.

  46. international school in seri kembangan
    27th August 2023 at 6:00 pm #

    Its superb as your other articles : D, thanks for putting up.

  47. wholesale jump ropes
    28th August 2023 at 2:16 am #

    I really enjoy the blog. Cool.

  48. togel 808
    29th August 2023 at 8:06 pm #

    Very interesting topic, appreciate it for putting up.

  49. atv kaliurang
    12th September 2023 at 6:44 pm #

    Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.

  50. tin beer signs
    23rd September 2023 at 2:29 pm #

    I’d must verify with you here. Which isn’t something I usually do! I take pleasure in studying a submit that can make individuals think. Also, thanks for permitting me to remark!

  51. free school management software
    30th November 2023 at 4:50 pm #

    Major thanks for the article. Fantastic.

  52. undress ia free
    30th December 2023 at 6:28 am #

    This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free.

  53. asker og bærum rørleggerbedrift
    22nd March 2024 at 11:31 am #

    Thanks again for the article. Really Cool.

Leave a Reply to Stephen Lord Click here to cancel reply.