I was just about to buy another quart of MSR Superfuel and I can't recall why I started buying it in the first place. I think an REI guy talked me into it. Crown fuel cost almost half, and Coleman is even less. It's not like I go through that much anyway, but just got me wondering - is the more expensive fuel worth it? Which do you use?

I buy whatever is cheapest at a reputable store. I've never had trouble.

TominMpls: "I buy whatever is cheapest at a reputable store. I've never had trouble."

+1. I usually find myself just buying a gallon of the Coleman fuel. I can't imagine the MSR fuel is anything special.

Do MSR, Crown, or Coleman each own refineries where they are cracking hydrocarbon chains and distilling their own proprietary camp fuel blends? I am guessing they do not, and they are buying their fuels from the same limited number of refineries, and then slapping their own labels on the product. I would buy what is inexpensive and available.

thebotanyguy: "Do MSR, Crown, or Coleman each own refineries where they are cracking hydrocarbon chains and distilling their own propriety camp fuel blends? I am guessing they do not, and they are buying their fuels from the same limited number of refineries, and then slapping their own labels on the product. I would buy what is inexpensive and available."

Agree, buy what is cheapest. Same stuff different labels. Have never noticed any difference between them. Have used them all.
CB

FWIW, I have run truly ancient Coleman fuel without a problem, as have these folks:

how old is too old for colman [sic] fuel (white gas)?-(white-gas)?s=6c29a919c7a4f056ee85c90abae9be63

Cedarboy: "

thebotanyguy: "Do MSR, Crown, or Coleman each own refineries where they are cracking hydrocarbon chains and distilling their own propriety camp fuel blends? I am guessing they do not, and they are buying their fuels from the same limited number of refineries, and then slapping their own labels on the product. I would buy what is inexpensive and available."

Agree, buy what is cheapest. Same stuff different labels. Have never noticed any differencse between them. Have used them all.
CB"

+1

As the others have said above, buy the cheapest one. They all most likely come from the same place. On a similar note, there is one main refinery in the St. Paul/Mpls area. So where do all the different gas stations get supplied from?

Naptha is the starting point for camp fuel "white gas". From there Coleman, purifies it, adds a few additives, mostly anti corrosive, finally filtering. Other fuels use the same basic process with their own chemistry. You could buy reagent heptane if you want purity, the price is extravagant.
I just use Coleman, easily sourced in the USA, and filter it when decanting into smaller quart or less bottles.

Lots of people claim to regularly use unleaded automotive fuel. Problem with that is lots of additives that make for dirty stove use, and can produce some very toxic combustion vapors.

butthead

I have only seen crown where I used to buy Colman... but all has worked fine and no worries.