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Coleman fuel is simply Octane; plus possibly some Heptane or others. It is white gas--or, unleaded gasoline. Like what they sold in the 'sixties sans tetraethyl lead. Used to be big stickers warning you of it: "For use as a motor fuel only..."; etc.It is Not Naphtha; that is Lighter Fluid. At least, in the United states. What they call Naphtha or Kerosene varies from country to country. The "paraffin", for example, in British texts means Lamp Oil--Kerosene (Rock or Petroleum oil, sometimes, here), or Whale Oil, etc; not the paraffin wax as it means in the U.S. Unleaded modern gasoline will work in a Coleman stove; but the original Coleman fuel is better. It has no lead or other additives for anti-knock--that is why you shouldn't use it in internal combustion engines; not that it is "naphtha".68.231.189.108 ,talk) 15:45, 4 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]
The discussion above about the differences between the various fuels - white gas, unleaded gas, octane, naphtha and Coleman fuel - is sort of right, but also a little off the mark. It can get a little confusing because some of the terms have different usages over time and/or in different contexts.
It's correct that white gas (or "white gasoline") at one time referred to pure automobile gasoline - that is, gasoline without lead or other additives. It's not the same as unleaded gasoline sold today, which has different properties than "white gasoline" (notably a higher octane rating than "white gasoline," as well as a number of other additives). "White gas" as that term is commonly used today generally refers to naphtha or Coleman fuel.
Naphtha is a general term that covers a range of light petroleum distillates. Naphtha has a number of applications in the refining process ("light" naphtha is used as a feedstock for production of olefins, for example, and "heavy" naphtha (a low octane product) is converted into higher octane "reformates" using a catalytic reforming process). The type of naphtha typically available at the retail level is VM&P ("Varnish Makers & Painters") naphtha, which is used as a light solvent and thinner for oil-based paints. And (as noted above) naphtha is used as a lighter fluid for wick-type lighters.
Coleman fuel (CAS No. 68410-97-9) is not "simply octane," but is a blend of light petroleum distillates that includes octane, nonane, cyclohexane, pentane and heptane. Its properties (volatility, vapor density, etc.) are similar to naphtha (VM&P naphtha) and both are suitable for use in liquid fuel campstoves and lanterns. In the UK, naphtha is sold under the trade name "Panel Wipe," and is often used in campstoves due to the high cost of Coleman fuel there. Unleaded gasoline can sometimes be used in stoves and lanterns that are designed for Coleman fuel or naphtha, but not always.
Kerosene is a totally different beast from naphtha - significant differences in vapor pressure, density, boiling point, etc. It is correct that what is called "kerosene" in the US is called "paraffin" in the UK, and is not to be confused with "paraffin wax." Stoves designed for Coleman fuel generally cannot use kerosene, without modification (e.g., different burner jets). John Fogarty (talk) 17:48, 9 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]
