Worldwide alternative names for fuels
Version 11.
18th Jan 1994
Included: Turkey,
Updated: Holland, Germany, Switzerland (German speaking part),
The following list contains data for approx 30 countries. I would like
to expand the list to cover the rest of the world. Hope you can help.
Info needed for Denmark, Ireland, Portugal and heaps of other places.......
What about South America, Asia , Africa and various ex USSR states.?
Perhaps people could post translations of this article to non
English speaking networks ?
column 1 = Decane (mostly)......kerosene/diesel is a crude oil cut from oil
refineries, boiling point range is app. 180 to 280 C.
May have pink or blue colour added (U.K.).
column 2 = Pentane, Hexane....the same as for column 1, but a boiling point
range of 25 to 200 C .
Slight yellow colour.
column 3 = 60% Hexane + 40% Heptane ? Usallly colourless ?
column 4 = 95% Ethanol + 5% Methanol approx. Usually has purple colour
and bad taste added. May also contain propanol.
1 2 3 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S.A. | kerosene | Gasoline | White Gas | Denatured Alcohol |
+ | | "Gas" | Naptha | Solvent Alcohol |
Canada | | | Coleman Fuel | |
| | | Blazo | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.K. | Paraffin | Petrol | Coleman Fuel | Methylated Spirit |
| | | | "Meths" |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
France | Petrole |"sans plomb"| Petrol a Bruler | Alcool a Bruler |
| | | Essence filtree | Alcool Denature |
| | | Blanche sans plomb| Alcool Methylique |
| | | Essence C | |
| | | "Essence a l'usage| |
| | | domestique" | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holland | Petroleum | Benzine | Wasbenzine | Spiritus |
| Lampen-Olie| "Super" | Coolman Fluel | Brand Spiritus |
| |"Loodvrij" | | alkahol |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Germany | Petroleum | Benzin | Kocherbenzin | Spiritus |
| Paraffinol |"Bleifrei" | Feuerzeug Benzin | Brennspiritus |
| |Auto-Benzin| Katalyt Benzin | Methyl Alkohol |
| | | Reinigungsbenzin | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italy |"Olio de | Benzina | ???????????? | Alcool Denaturo |
| Paraffina" | | | "Spirito de |
| | | | Brucaire" |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spain | Parafina | Gasolina | | Alcohol Metilico |
| Petroleo | sim plomo | Gasolina | "Alcohol de |
| | | domestica | quemar" (Metilico)|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sweden | Fotogen | Bensin | Vit Bensin | T-Sprit |
| | | "teknisk bensin" | Rod-Sprit |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia| Kerosene | Petrol | Shellite | methylated spirits|
| "Kero" | | White gas | "Meths" "Metho" |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finland | valopetroli |bensiini | kevytbensiini | denaturoitu sprii |
| | | | Sinol(tm) |
| | | | Marinol(tm) |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
New | Kerosene | Petrol | White Spirit | Methylated Spirit |
Zealand | | | Shellite | |
| | | Callite | |
| | | Britolite | |
| | | Pegasol | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iceland | ????????? | ???????? | Hreinsad Benzin | ???????????? |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Czech | Petrolej | Benzin | Technicky benzin | Denaturovany lih |
Republic | | | |Denaturovany alkohol|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norway | Parafin | Bensin | Renset bensin | Rod-Sprit |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ex-USSR | kerosene | benzine | ????????????????? | Methyl Alcohol |
(Russia)| | | | ("metilovy spirt")|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japan | Toh-yu | Gasoline | White Gas | Nen-ryo yoh |
| | | Coleman Fuel | Alcohol |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
South | paraffin | petrol | Benzene | Methylated Spirits |
Africa | | | | "Meths" |
+ | | | | |
Zimbabwe| | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Switzerland| ??????? |"Bleifrei"| Reinbenzin | Brennsprit |
| | | Wundbenzin | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Switzerland| Kerosen |"Bleifrei"| Reinbenzin | Brennsprit |
German sp. | | | Wundbenzin | |
part | | | Feuerzeug Benzin | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holland | Petroleum | Benzine | Coleman fuel | Spiritus |
| Lampen-Olie | Normaal 16| | Brand Spiritus |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
India | Kerosene | Petrol | ?????????? | Meths ???? |
Bhutan | | (Gasoline)| | |
Nepal | | | | |
Pakistan | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Austria | ???????? |"Bleifrei" | ?????????? | ?????????? |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenya | Paraffin |unleaded gas| ???????? | ???????? |
| kerosene | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poland | nafta |"benzyna |"benzyna | Denaturat |
| |bezolowiowa"| rektyfikowana"| alkohol metylowy |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turkey | Gazyagi | Benzin | WhiteGas | Ispirto |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holland
-------
writes......
cat 1: Lampen-Olie... sometimes okay, often more like a vegetable oil.
,the 'non-smelling' version is almost always good: "reukloze lampen-olie"
but contains a perfume which makes my stove (Whisper=Lite" clog up once in
a while.
cat 2: "Super" = high octane, "Loodvrij"= unleaded.
cat 3: Wasbenzine, Coolman fluel, both well known
writes.......
The name 'coleman fuel' or 'coleman brandstof' is commonly used in Holland (or
The Netherlands). Stangely enough I can't recall a pure Dutch term (I don't
think there is one). It is sold in all outdoor equipment stores and in some
recreational stores ('kampeerwinkels').
Germany
-------
writes.......
I spent a year in Germany, and discovered that White Gas, or Coleman
fluid, as we call it here in USA is known as Reinigungsbenzin
(literally, cleaning gas). I purchased it in an Apotheque (Apothecary).
Poland
------
writes.......
USA: Poland:
Kerosene: hm, I am not sure, but try to ask for 'nafta', or express it
slightly longer 'nafta do lamp naftowych', what means that you want
something which is burned in the lamps...
There exists something called 'olej parafinowy' but I do not
know how it works. Better forget it.
'Nafta' burns easily, but if you think of the
fluid of the Indian kerosene kind, which does not burn when
you light a match and drop onto the fluid surface, I am wrong.
Gasoline: 'Benzyna', different octane numbers, leaded: the lower ones are
called 'niebieska benzyna' (blue gasoline), the better
'zolta benzyna' (yellow gasoline),
unleaded gasoline (probably the best when used in stoves)
'benzyna bezolowiowa'. Fuel for diesel engines is oft called
'olej napedowy', or in slang 'diesel'.
White gas: 'benzyna rektyfikowana', 'benzyna oczyszczana', or when not
undestood, 'benzyna - rozpuszczalnik do farb i lakierow',
or 'benzyna do wywabiania plam', what means, that you want a fluid
with which you may remove paint stains or solvent or thinner
for some sort of paints. Beware of 'rozpuszczalnik do farb
olejnych' - thinner for oil paints. Just explain somehow,
that you need it for a stove ('benzynowa maszynka do gotowania',
people use also the name of the German firm: 'juwel').
Denaturated Alcohol: 'Denaturat', 'alkohol metylowy', usually with
a beautiful skull and crossed bones symbol, and with horrible
violet-colour addition. You may try also to burn 'spirytus',
but this is 99 per cent pure alcohol for consumption and
extremely expensive just to use as fuel...
Availability: 'benzyna rektyfikowana' in the shops with the chemical products
what in Poland means, that there is sold everything from the soap
and washing powder up to thinners and paints: 'sklep chemiczny',
'farby i lakiery', etc. Some hardware shops probably too.
There you may ask also for 'nafta', but try to explain,
what you want to do with it... ('do lampy naftowej').
'Denaturat' could be also probably bought there,
but usually you may get it in the liquor shops (yes!) 'monopolowy'
or even in the shops with food or hardware (smaller towns,
villages).
'Benzyna' - fuel stations, but sometimes there are problems when
you come with a PLASTIC bottle, for just 1 liter...
They may say it is dangerous and would not sell you anything.
In such a case try to come with a metal bottle or bigger
(2-5 liter) can (pol.: 'kanister') or try to ask some driver
for help.
Burning qualities: The division of the qualities is clear - 'nafta' for
lamps or stoves, where you may highly pressurize the fuel,
'denaturat' for the slightly old-fashioned alcohol stoves, where
a surface of the liquid burns, 'benzyna rektyfikowana' is probably
the best thing for stoves with limited or no possibility to
pressurize the fuel (Whisperlite, Coleman). 'Benzyna' - if you
have to use it, use the unleaded super ('bezolowiowa super'),
when not available - down the octane scale. 'Diesel' the worst.
Australia
---------
writes.......
"white spirits" and "white gas" are NOT the same. White spirit
is some kind of cleaning fluid, IF you can get your stove to run on it it
will clog it up fairly quickly.
Most hardware stores sell "Shellite" in one litre plastic bottles Usually
made by "diggers." ( there are other brands but diggers is the most common)
Kerosene and Methylated spirits are usually available from supermarkets, as
well as hardware stores, again under the "diggers" brand. In the Northern
Territory you will often not find Methylated spirits on display. Ask at the
check-out, or counter. Also N.T. (and Qld. ??) Methylated Spirits is dyed
purple, this has no effect on the stove.
Kenya
-----
writes.......
Paraffin/Kerosene is available everywhere in Kenya, because its what they
use for lighting charcoal cooking fires. Having said that, there was a
desperate shortage of it everywhere in January/February when we were there,
and I suspect that this occurs unpredictably but perhaps quite frequently
from time to time.
Unleaded gas is pretty much unobtainable, but there must
be plenty of diesel about - we saw a tanker of it lying in the road spilling
the stuff everywhere while people variously stood about smoking and waving
traffic onto the edge of the road.
Austria
-------
writes.......
"Bleifrei" is particularly low octane - 91 or 92, so the stuff most people
use in cars is the higher octane stuff which isn't so nice in stoves.
Spain
-----
writes.......
Unleaded petrol/gas is "Sin plomo"
India/Bhutan/Nepal/Pakistan
---------------------------
writes........
Petrol(Gasoline) is available at any Petrol Pump. Buy the higher grade if
you are not sure.
Kerosene is available at most roadside grocery shops or "ration" shops.
Methyl Alcohol-Most Drug Stores stock it. I have never used it in any
stove so can't vouch for it.
White Gas-Could never find it.
Switzerland
-----------
writes........
Most supermarkets throughout the country sell kerosene and methanol. White
gas is available in chemists and pharmacies (Apotheke, Drogerie), but they
might insist on using special bulky glass bottles and will inform you about
the danger of the stuff you buy. You better tell them that you know what
you're doing and keep a funnel at hand to fill your own fuel bottles outside
the shop and return the bottles afterwards. Kerosene and methanol are sold
at about twice the price of normal, unleaded gas (bleifrei), whereas white
gas sells at about 4 times the price of unleaded.
Africa
------
writes.........
The most practical stoves for hiking/camping etc in most of Africa are
simple "meths burners" - meths is relatively cheap and availability
isn't usually a problem. Meths stoves can be a bit difficult to get
going if it's cold but I've always managed - even in temperatures well
below freezing.
Paraffin is the most freely available fuel throughout southern Africa - but
I haven't found a small stove that really works with it.
Petrol throughout southern Africa is leaded - it can be used in an emergency
in pressurised stoves, but clogs up the jets really quickly.
White Spirit/Coleman Fuel is rarely available and then only in specialised
camping shops and is really expensive. Benzene is around but you might
have to hunt a bit, it's quite expensive and sometimes has all sorts of
odd additives that stop it burning properly and clog up the jets.
South Africa (Lesotho and Swaziland)
------------------------------------
writes.........
Paraffin is freely available at garages and plenty of other stores.
Petrol at garages.
Benzene is available at most hardware stores - beware of buying stuff called
benzine - it doesn't work.
Methylated Spirits is available at most stores except in the Cape Province
where you can only get it at chemists/pharmacies.
Zimbabwe
--------
writes.........
Paraffin at most garages and stores.
Petrol at garages - not reccomended - I'm reluctant to run my car on this
stuff!
Benzene at hardware stores - may be difficult to find.
Meths at most hardware stores and chemists and in some other stores.
Japan
-----
writes..........
Gasoline is available at gas station. Usually they also have kerosene,
ie. Toh-yu. "Toh" is pronounced like in "TOFU", and "yu" is like "you".
White Gas (most likely the one sold by Japan Coleman) is available at
bigger sports goods retailer. Sometimes also available at hardware
store (again, bigger one). Alcohol is available at drug store. Ask
"Nen-ryo yoh" (the one as fuel), or you will get the one for
disinfection. Pronounce something like "Al-coal" for "Alcohol".
Russia
------
writes........
Petrol could be obtained in fuel-station, if you find one. But usually
there are very long lines for fuel and nobody is permitted to buy without
order. TIP: ask driver of lorry/bus/taxi to sale (or just present) several
liters. It usually works if you ask <2-3 liters. If you need more, repeat
procedure. Taxi drivers usually sale benzine about 4-10 times more
expensive than in fuel stations.
Don't try to find white gas. Nobody knows what it is. Learn to use petrol
(if your stove isn't intended for petrol, be ready to clean it in the
field). Trying to buy methyl alchohol (or cheap alchohol) isn't good idea.
Kerosene may be obtainable, but you can never predict it. Besides that some
places don't sale goods to visitors. If so, you can usually ask somebody
in the place to buy it for you.
The best obtainable fuel is a solar. Fuel stations don't sale it to
travelers but most drivers of big lorries let you suck it. Bring house >2 m
long (if you buy petrol from car/bus/... you need to suck it too!)
It is good idea to have somebody speaking Russian and preferably local
language for negotiations. Foreign language and cash may attract crimes.
In general, you usually can find fuel in the initial point of your trip
(you can't bring it in the plane) but it takes time. Consultations are highly
recommended! In 1990 we had to delay start to 20-days mountain expedition
in Tyan'-Shan' for 1 day because we couldn't obtain fuel!
France
------
writes.......
Coleman fuel is also available as ``Essence C''in French supermarkets
and hardware shops. It's dirt cheap.
It worked fine in a Coleman Peak One and an MSR Whisperlite, with no
fouling or peculiar smell from either or excessive filth from priming
the MSR
``Essence'', alone, is leaded 88 octane petrol.
writes.......
Petrol/Gasoline in France is called "Essence", but the relevant stuff
for stove fuel is unleaded, which is called "Sans plomb", or, more
easily, just comes out of the green nozzles at filling stations !
Norway
------
writes........
Parafin is available at most garages, at times under the name
"Fritids-parafin", or "Lampe-olje" (the latter is a more refined
version, doesn't smell).
Bensin is available at garages, and so is White Spirit.
Rod-Sprit is available at stores selling paint etc. and also Liquour-shops!!!
(even if it is poisonous).
writes.....
The problem is the product called "White spirit" in Norwegian. It is a
somewhat
kerosene-like product, but more refined. It is intended for use as paint-
thinner
removing paint-stains etc. It is cleaner and lights easier than kerosene, but
it is not at all comparable to petrol. I use it from time to time as a
substitute
for kerosene in my stove, and it works great.
On the other hand there is "Renset bensin", which is unleaded, highly refined
petrol. It is sold at pharmacies, and is intended for removing stains, and
also
medical use. This product is very expensive, very explosive: not exactly the
ideal
stove fuel.
But what confuses me is: this seems to be the product referred to for a lot of
other countries.
So what do you think? Are you looking for "White spirit" or "Renset bensin" ?
writes......
Actually you are looking for something inbetween, my Whispherlight get some
hick'up when using "White spirit" because the petroleum jet is to big for
using "White spirit" directly, the white gas jet is somewhat small, so you
don't get enough fuel through it. Another popular use of "White spirit" is
lighting a barbeque with it.
Never use "Renset bensin" you just waist your money, use unleaded 98
octane fuel. Some gas station sell a gasoline typ with an additive based
on potassium, this one should not be used in MSR's or Coleman's
writes........
While in Norway and Sweden recently I looked closely at "Renset bensin" and
"tecknisk bensin" for use in my SVEA stove. The Norwegan product was clearly
marked as a mixture (60/40??) of Hexane and Heptane (with 1 or 2 percent of
other "-anes", like pentane). The Swedish product was not labelled as to
contents. I did purchase about 200 ml, good for about 1 hour cooking, but
now I don't recall from which country. There was no problem since the stove
is designed to use explosive fuels. Later I switched to Primus (TM) brand of
butane and a new stove because it was much more available and cheaper.
There are some interesting cultural differences with regard to the "explosive"
fuels.
>It is sold at pharmacies, and is intended for removing stains, and also
>medical use. This product is very expensive, very explosive: not exactly
>the ideal stove fuel.
This is quite true for Norway and Sweden. If you go to a pharmacy and say
you are going to use this product in a stove they will just as likely call
"the men in white coats" to take you away. But if you say you are going to
use it to clean wounds, this is OK.
Now, in the US if you went to a sports store and said you were going to use
Coleman Fuel (TM for extra pure white gasoline) - someone would say you were
very crazy.
writes.......
True, the norwegian's get slighty crazy if they someone light
a stove fired by gasoline, normally they move about two meters away.
They learn gasoline == dangerous, kerosene == safe.
Further it is forbidden in Norway to sell stoves
fired by gasoline.
U.S.A
-----
writes......
"Charcoal lighter" is a clean substitute (for Kerosene) and available
in any store.
U.K.
---
Paraffin available from some garages. Coleman fuel only from some
camping stores.....If you ask for white spirit, you will be given
"Turpentine substitute" ie. paint thinner. Meths from hardware stores.
New Zealand
-----------
White spirit (4 brand names) available from garages. Probably safer to ask
for one of the brand names rather than just "white spirit".
Meths from hardware stores.
Sweden
------
Alan Malkiel writes......
In Sweden, Vit Bensin is also sold as "teknisk bensin". (Technicial Gasoline)
(It is used as a cleaning solvent, sold in small bottles, and rather
expensive.)
Finland
-------
kiravuo@gamma.hut.fi writes.......
Valopetroli, bensiini and sprii are generic names, Sinol and
Marinol are brand names, but also in common use.
mk59200@cs.tut.fi writes........
White Gas (kevytbensiini) is apparently very hard to find (maybe
because nobody uses it here). According to manufacturer's info
Sinol(tm) is for unpressurized stoves (Trangia etc.) while Marinol(tm)
is for pressurized stoves (Optimus? never seen one), but in practice
they should be interchangeable.
Czech Republic
--------------
writes
Petrolej, Benzin, Technicky benzin, Denaturovany lih or Denaturovany alkohol
should be commonly available in 'Drogerie' (Drug store) or 'Barvy-Laky'
(Paints) stores.
Some notes on diesel fuel
-------------------------
writes.......
Don't forget that some multifuel stoves will run on Diesel, which has
the advantage of a very high calorific value per unit mass. In UK, this
is "Diesel" or "DERV", the latter for road vehicles specifically. Its
also possible to get hold of agricultural or "Red Diesel", which is
free of excise duty, but under no circumstances should you use it in
a road vehicle ! In Spain, diesel is "Gazoleo A".
I'm also interested in the availability of fuels in other countries.
Please post or email any suggestions. I'll post updates.
Mike Buckler
mbuckler@chenov1.auckland.ac.nz
shaw@ccu1.auckland.ac.nz