Planning your next camping trip and use a Coleman stove that runs on liquid white/Coleman gas? If so, understanding how long Coleman fuel lasts can help you plan your trip more effectively and ensure that you don't run out of fuel at the worst possible time.
Coleman fuel lasts between 2-4 hours for a single tank on a 1.1 pint Compact Dual Fuel stove or a 2.5 pint 2-burner stove. 1 gallon of Coleman fuel will last 14-29 hours of constant burning on a single burner stove and 6-13 hours of constant burning on a 2 burner stove.
On the Premium Dual Fuel Lanterns, Coleman fuel lasts between 5.25-13.5 hours of a Premium Dual Fuel Lantern and between 5-20 hours for the Powerhouse Dual Fuel Lanterns. 1 gallon of Coleman fuel will keep your lantern going for 16-34 hours on high and 2.5-3.5 days if kept on low.
Coleman fuel is quite long lasting and for many camping trips a single gallon container of Coleman Fuel or white gas can be enough to power both your stove and lanterns for over a week at a time. It's a very affordable fuel to use.
Crown White Gas Camp Fuel is specially blended for outdoor use of portable gasoline camping applications including gas stoves and lanterns. Manufactured with an added rust inhibitor for rust and corrosion protection. Crown White Gas Camp Fuel is carefully checked to maintain the highest level of quality for a cleaner burn and longer life.
Understanding Coleman fuel’s burn rate for your appliance can help you pack the right amount for your camping trip so you don’t run out or bring too much.
How Much Coleman Fuel Do I Need?
Below is a useful table explaining how much Coleman fuel or white gas you’ll need for Coleman lanterns and stoves and how long the fuel will last:
| Device | Amount of Coleman Fuel Needed | How Long Fuel Lasts Per Tank | How Long Fuel Lasts Per Gallon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coleman Premium Dual Fuel Lantern on High | 1.25 pints / 0.6 L | 5.25 hours | 33.6 hours (1.4 days) |
| Coleman Premium Dual Fuel Lantern on Low | 1.25 pints / 0.6 L | 13.5 hours | 86.4 hours (3.6 days) |
| Coleman Powerhouse Dual Fuel Lantern on High | 2.5 pints / 1.2 L | 5 hours | 16 hours |
| Coleman Powerhouse Dual Fuel Lantern on Low | 2.5 pints / 1.2 L | 20 hours | 64 hours (2.6 days) |
| Coleman Compact Dual Fuel Stove on High | 1.1 pints / 0.5 L | 2 hours | 14.5 hours |
| Coleman Compact Dual Fuel Stove on Low | 1.1 pints / 0.5 L | 4 hours | 29 hours |
| Coleman 2-burner Stove on High | 2.5 pints / 1.2 L | 2 hours | 6.4 hours |
| Coleman 2-burner Stove on Low | 2.5 pints / 1.2 L | 4 hours | 12.8 hours |
Does White Gas Last As Long As Coleman Fuel?
If you read your Coleman stove or lantern’s user manual, you’ll notice that Coleman recommends using “Coleman fuel” and doesn’t mention generic white gas as an alternative.
White gas lasts as long as Coleman fuel because it’s the generic form of Coleman fuel and essentially the same. Both contain the same active ingredient, petroleum naphtha.
The only difference between the two products is the price – Coleman fuel is typically more expensive. Also, US Coleman fuel has anti-corrosive agents and stabilizers.
However, if you buy a good quality generic white gas, like Crown White Gas, you’ll benefit from cleaner burning and less smoke when cooking.
Crown White Gas Camp Fuel is specially blended for outdoor use of portable gasoline camping applications including gas stoves and lanterns. Manufactured with an added rust inhibitor for rust and corrosion protection. Crown White Gas Camp Fuel is carefully checked to maintain the highest level of quality for a cleaner burn and longer life.
You can use other types of fuel in a Coleman stove but these aren’t as fuel efficient and often don’t burn as cleanly.
When To Bring More Camping Fuel When Camping
The table above mentions how much Coleman fuel or white gas you’ll need and how long it will last.
However, there are other factors that can affect how much fuel you should bring on your camping trip:
High Elevation
At high elevations there is less oxygen available for burning gas and water will boil at a lower temperature than at sea level.
This means that food will tend to cook slower at high altitudes. So if you like preparing meals with fresh ingredients from scratch, you’ll need more fuel if you’re camping at a higher elevation.
In this case, you might consider precooking food before your trip and slow cooking it in a camp crock (which uses very little fuel as you use a low heat).
Stanley Camp Crock Pot, for example, holds 3 quarts and you can use it for all your meals either to cook them slowly or to keep them warm for extended periods of time.
Keep items hot for up to 12 hours and frozen cold for up to 16 hours. Features double wall vacuum insulation and a large 3-Quart capacity. Made from durable 18/8 stainless steel and has a leak proof locking lid and handle making it great for camping and travel.
Limited Daylight
The amount of daylight will affect how much you use your camping lantern and how much fuel you’ll need for it.
For instance, when camping in the summer, you’ll use it for fewer hours in the evenings and may not need it at all in the early mornings.
Cold Weather
Cold temperatures can also affect how much Coleman fuel you’ll need. Even if you don’t keep your bottled water in a cooler, the ambient temperature will make it colder and slower to boil for making hot drinks and boiling food.
Using a lid on your pot can help trap the heat and cook your food faster.
Camping in a very windy area? This can affect how efficiently your Coleman stove heats up and retains the heat.
Use your stove’s wind shield (if it has one) and consider creating a makeshift one around it when cooking so you don’t use excessive Coleman fuel.
Cooking Requirements
If you plan on using your cooking stove for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you’ll use more fuel than if you only used it for one meal a day.
For long camping trips, consider eating cereal for breakfast and making sandwiches for lunch to preserve your Coleman fuel.
Alternatively, if you have hot leftovers you want to use for your next meal and you have a spare Yeti cooler, use that to keep it warm.
