liquid fuel in luggage?

I got a MSR liquid stove system and I know you can't carry flammable stuff on the airline so I was going to travel with the canister empty. But then I thought about what am I going to do about fuel once I get to my destination?

I don't want to spend $12 on a JUG of white fuel only to have a ton left over at the end of the week. My stove is the dragonfly. I guess I can use gasoline but that'll just smoke too much and clog up the stove.

Any suggestions?

Buy the fuel at your destination and at the end of your trip, find a deserving but dirtbag poor climber and make a donation. If you're flying to your climbing destination, what's the big deal in giving away a few dollars worth of fuel?

Marc801 wrote:Buy the fuel at your destination and at the end of your trip, find a deserving but dirtbag poor climber and make a donation. If you're flying to your climbing destination, what's the big deal in giving away a few dollars worth of fuel?

I don't think they will let you take your stove on the plane unless it is brand new and unused. They smelled my empty msr stove and said it smelled of gas so I couldn't bring it on the plane even in checked luggage. Look for a local place to rent a stove, they should be able to provide you with a small amount of white gas.

David Houston wrote:I don't think they will let you take your stove on the plane unless it is brand new and unused. They smelled my empty msr stove and said it smelled of gas so I couldn't bring it on the plane even in checked luggage. Look for a local place to rent a stove, they should be able to provide you with a small amount of white gas.

O.L.D.S.A.G. wrote: I'm going to get a propane stove for the trip and a small canister of propane.

S Denny wrote: not much less wasteful... plus they certainly won't let you fly with a pressurized canister...

How much fuel will you use going out of your way to recycle it ?

Greg D wrote:How much fuel will you use going out of your way to recycle it ?

Wash the bottle out to get rid of any fuel residues. Let it dry and don't put the cap on when you pack it. If possible put some duct tape over any words that mention it's a fuel bottle.

I was confronted by this problem going on a trip in January, and landed on the solution of making an alcohol burning stove out of a beer can. You can find lots of plans and instructional videos on line. I bought a can of HEET gas line anti-freeze for $2, and at the end of the trip threw the stove in a recycling bin and put the HEET in the gas tank of the rental car. Worked out great.

Along with the TSA website, check the airline's website and find out what their rules are about backpacking and camping stoves. Some of them are ridiculously strict, others are pretty reasonable. Then print out a copy of the rules and have the copy with you when you check in.

Don't use gasoline if you can help it, it doesn't burn as clean and it will smell up your stove, which will piss off TSA and the airline people.

White gas/Coleman fuel is available in quart and gallon containers, just buy a quart if that's all your going to use. Sell or give away the leftover, it's not that big a deal.

I bring my Dragonfly with me all the time. The trick is to thoroughly wash the fuel bottle. Filling it with water until it pours over the top and repeat.
Most stores have the 1 liter size which is perfect for a week.

rocknice2 wrote:I bring my Dragonfly with me all the time. The trick is to thoroughly wash the fuel bottle. Filling it with water until it pours over the top and repeat. Most stores have the 1 liter size which is perfect for a week.

Walmart? but hardware stores, some supermarkets, camping stores, climbing stores.
It's usually not that hard to find. Unless you go to Europe.

Just poor the left over white gas in your car's gas tank or give it to a local to burn in a lawn mower or something.

If the canister is is used I'd expect to lose it during the flight. Once your bag gets scanned they'll see it and inspect it. If they smell any kind of gas they'll confiscate it, even though its empty. Friend of mine had his confiscated after he washed it multiple times. Keep that in mind.

As far as wasting fuel why not just by the 1/2 or 1 liter size? You don't need the gallon size.

I have had this one for many years. Swing by an outdoor store when you get to your destination and pick up 1-2 fuel canisters and you are good to go.

I bought it after having my old stove and a fuel container confiscated at the Milwaukee airport prior to a camping trip. I had even washed them out and didn't think they smelled like fuel, but TSA apparently disagreed.

I've taken flights twice a year for the last 10 years and always take my MSR stove with separate fuel bottle. Never go it confiscated but have heard of a few that have. I thoroughly wash the thing out. The repeated shaking the water in the bottle only gets you so far. The trick is to fill the bottle to the rim many time to get all the fumes out. Once it stops smelling its clean.

Pack the stove sans fuel canister. Wash fuel canister, let it air out, place duct on the side, mark "Pee bottle" on the side, toss it in with your water bottle. As for the leftover gas - we just pour it into the rental car and turn it in. Burns a little hot but not enough to worry about.

I put it in the luggage no as carry on.