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MSR WhisperLite Stove

Item #CAS0061 | 0 in Stock

I have a whisperlite and I am currently in Costa Rica. I have...

By Ranked #679 - Stoves September 8, 2009

I have a whisperlite and I am currently in Costa Rica. I have always used white gas in it, but I can't find any here. One of the locals here tells me that he uses varsol in his camping gear. Possibility with this stove, or not??
Thanks.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

By Backcountry.com Vendor Rep Ranked #2 - Stoves September 8, 2009

I would be very wary of using any fuel besides white gas. The Whisperlite International was made for this reason (which I'm sure you're aware of at this point). The problem is two fold: one, the generator tube (tube you see looping up in the burner head) is too small and will clog very easily with dirty fuels (like diesel, unleaded gas, etc.). The other reason is the jet (small brass unit inside the stove that allows it to vaporize the fuel via a very small hole) is made only for White Gas. Other fuels require different sized jet holes to work. Varsol is a solvent and can put off extremely toxic smoke. It is a clean burning substance, similar to Naptha, but because it has aromatic substances, can be very dangerous to inhale. Although Varsol won't ruin the stove, it could be deadly if inhaled. I would not burn Varsol in the Whisperlite.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

Tech Specs:

Material:
Steel 
Burn time:
Depends on altitude, fuel type, and fuel bottle size. 
Boil time:
3 min/liter 
Fuel Types:
White gas and varieties of white gas 
Simmer:
No 
Auto Ignition:
No 
Fuel bottle:
Varying 
Windscreen:
Built in 
Heat Reflector:
No 
Parts kit:
No 
Cleaning tool:
Shaker Jet 
Stuff sack:
No 
Hard Case:
No 
Size:
4x4x4in. 
Weight:
14oz/400g 
Warranty:
Limited 
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