In doing some prep for my next deployment to Afghanistan it has been recommended to bring a camp stove. This stove states it can burn diesel fuel, has anyone used this fuel? As this will be used to make hot soup on top of a mountain outpost wind and tempatures are also a consideration along with the dust of the country. I'm not a big camper (except for the military) I need all the help and advice possible. I'd hate to blow myself up with a stove, Lord knows there are plenty of bad guys that are willing to do that. HAHA Thanks all

I have not used this version of the MSR stove, but I have used a previous version of the MSR Multi-Fuel stove while I was in the Marine Corps. I used it on multiple operations above the Arctic Circle during the winter; as well as operations in just about every climate and season. I have excellent experiences using white gas, military mo-gas, military diesel, as well as aviation fuel (just checked with the maintenance officer and then filled the fuel bottle from the fuel sample tube on a Cobra helicopter). I agree that you need the maintenance kit that goes with it. I no longer have my original stove, but will be replacing it with this model soon.

MSR stoves are simple the best. I have used them for over 15 years in all types of conditions at all elevations. You can count on them. When my stoves start acting up, and the repair kit doesn't fix the problem, I send them to MSR repair with $35 per stove (includes return shipping) for overhaul. They often just send me new pumps with the rebuilds or entirely new stoves. Stoves are two important to settle for second best.

personal experience. use Jet Fuel. burns clean but be sure to blow flame out just before it goes out on its own to avoid sooting. Jet will be avialiable as all military aircraft use it. note Jet is availiable world wide.

In addition to the previous statements regarding diesel fuel being a non-clean burning fuel, causing inherent clogging, & high maintenance issues, preheating can be a pain since you can't use diesel fuel for this purpose due to it's low flammability. For this reason try to find methylated spirit tabs, preheating/priming paste, lighter fluid, or preferably, hard to acquire for you, white gas solely for this purpose. I'll give you some links for these products @ the end of my answer. On the plus side, diesel works on high pressure, much like kerosene therefore making it imperative that you use the included "X" jet for proper stove functioning. Diesel fuel is also more fuel efficient as compared to kerosene & white gas meaning you can boil more water using less fuel, however @ a slower rate. From Wikipedia, "The United States Army and NATO use only diesel engines and turbines because of fire hazard. Diesel fuel does not explode in a manner such as petrol does, it just slowly burns. US Army gasoline-engined tanks during World War II were nicknamed Ronsons, because it only took a single spark to ignite 50 or more gallons of highly volatile gasoline." pmk252, I sincerely hope our answers have helped you with your question & stay safe! Here are the preheating product links I referred to earlier: http://www.coghlans.com/catalogue/productList.php?catID=5 http://www.coghlans.com/catalogue/productList.php?catID=9 http://www.vargooutdoors.com/store/STOVES-BACKPACKING/c119/p1215/Coghlan&%2339;s-Fire-Paste/product_info.html?osCsid=a3d91f2f921f3f1063ce7bae5738e6cf http://www.vargooutdoors.com/store/STOVES-BACKPACKING/c119/p993/Esbit-Solid-Fuel-Tabs/product_info.html

You might also want to take along one of the MSR Expedition Service Kits. It'll provide you with lots of the small parts that could possible be damaged/over worked due to the use of diesel fuel and the dust. Also, as phil mentioned, it can be a bit tricky to get these stoves to simmer, however, pumping the fuel bottle 4-5 times when its full and a bit more as it empties will give you a lower pressure and thus lower flame, making it easier to simmer. I've had MSR stoves for years and they've never let me down!