Hello everyone, Last time I posted I was fixing up an old Austramax that I found in Kenya of all places. Now, we’re living in Italy for some time, and I’m having a hard time finding Kerosene. Some online sources suggested “Petrolio Bianco” which I’ve come to learn (obviously) is white gas/Coleman fuel, and won’t work for me. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of where to source kerosene so I can use my lamp? I’m in Florence if that matters. Thanks!
Hello @83glt "Petrolio Bianco" isn't Coleman Fuel. It is more like kerosene: The CAS No. is 64742-81-0. Officially named as "Kerosine(Petroleum), Hydrodesulfurized". (Normal 1-K or 2-K Kerosenes have a CAS no.: 8008-20-6). The above is still a kero-like liquid and can be used in your Austramax. The boiling range is 145°C to 300°C (similar to kerosene's). The MSDS is attached. Besides "Cherosene" and Petrolio Bianco, you might also check on Petrolio Lampande, Illuminante, or other names. Do check the MSDS of the respective products to ensure the physical properties are similar to kerosene and not "lamp oil". The latter is not suitable for pressure lamps. You should be able to find kerosene from a number of hardware, DIY or home improvement stores around Florence, Italy. Not too sure but some places you might look around are:- 1. Bricocentre Firenze Talenti 2. Tecnomat Sesto Fiorentino 3. Mesticheria - Casalinghi-Ferramenta Mazzanti 4. Mesticheria Martelli 5. Ferramenta Masini Sas 6. OBI 7. Leroy Merlin 8. Ferramenta la Colonna 9. Ferramenta Altilio The Petrolio Bianco can be found in Bricocentre. Besides that, here's another option from the same store: Petropro Plus. * This is more refined and has a narrower boiling range. It is a mixture called: "Hydrocarbon, C11-C14, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics". It might be slightly harder to startup than normal kerosene but should still burn cleaner with less carbonization on your lantern vaporizer.
Oh wow! This is super helpful. Thank you so much! I thought the petrolio bianco was just “white gas” as we know it in the US or wherever, and wouldn’t work. But I’ll check around the local ferramentias and see what they have on hand. I’ll check the MSDS as well. Thanks again!
This is what I can find at the neighbourhood hardware store: https://backend.copt.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/CO12158-scheda-sicurezza.pdf Initial boiling point is 170°, range is 170°C-225°C.
White gas or Coleman Fuel is about as inflammable as gasoline/petrol. For really safe operations with white gas or gasoline, the lantern would require at least the following safety features:- 1. Positive shut off valve. 2. A shut-off means for the check valve using the air-stem on the pump. 3. A "snorkel" tube at the end of the pump tube after the check valve to prevent liquid fuel from streaming out from a failed check valve or pump shut off. 4. Without any air pressure release screw/valve on the filler cap or fount. 5. An intake point away from the hot section of the lantern by means of air tube(s).
This would be easier to light and would burn even cleaner since it excludes a lot of higher boiling point constituents that tend to carbonized when heated. Also highly refined. It is a specific mixture of C10-C13 aliphatic/alkane hydrocarbons with <2% aromatics. This?:-
You're welcomed. Perhaps someday you might find normal kerosene from some local stores. The Petrolio Bianco in Italy seems to come in various boiling ranges. It is not exactly kerosene but specific blends of hydrocarbons around the kerosene boiling range. Choose something that best suits your needs. From the USA, there is a product called Klean Heat from KleanStrip. It has received favourable reviews and recognition by many as being a low odour and clean burning substitute for kerosene. I believe some Petrolio Bianco products are similarly good if not better in certain characteristics. Is kerosene still available from the pump stations in Kenya?
Yes indeed. When we were still there we would just fill up an Optimus fuel bottle from time to time at a nearby filling station. Not every filling station has a functional pump, and quality can be questionable, but it is still readily available.
Good to know. Kerosene has not been available from the filling stations in my location for a very long time. The last time I filled up a bottle from the pump was more than 3 decades ago.
