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#160268 - 01/12/12 10:20 PM MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption.
rm56 Offline
member

Registered: 06/12/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Northern CA, Placer co.
Hello, I have a new MSR Whisperlite stove. I'm planning an overnight this year in Yosemite. Altitude where I will be using it is around 7000. Has anyone determinded how much fuel this stove uses each time you heat up some water? The reason is I wish to caculate exactly how much fuel to pour into my bottle and reduce weight to just what I'll need. At this time I'm only planning on two times, dinner and breakfast. Thank you.

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#160277 - 01/12/12 11:14 PM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: rm56]
hikerduane Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
This time of year? You could use the small bottle, but I like to bring a little extra in the winter, never know if it will be needed as a hand warmer or to melt snow. The small bottle otta work if you aren't really cooking something for long. I've taken the small bottle in sub-zero temps, only boiling water at night and hot cereal in the AM, then I let it run low while I pack camp up, so I can get my hands warm now and then, using my Int'l. Still some fuel left when I check it at home.
Duane

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#160284 - 01/13/12 02:46 AM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: rm56]
Hikin Jim Offline
member

Registered: 12/16/11
Posts: 230
Loc: Orange County, CA, USA
Just a planning number: About 50g of fuel per day. Maybe 60g if you're going out when it's somewhat cold. 90g if you're melting snow. Those are my planning numbers. YMMV.

I'd bring extra fuel until you get used to your style with your stove.

HJ
_________________________
Backpacking stove reviews and information: Adventures In Stoving

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#160286 - 01/13/12 04:21 AM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: Hikin Jim]
oldranger Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
I would definitely bring a bit extra, especially for a first time use in winter conditions. Expect the unexpected...

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#160301 - 01/13/12 11:57 AM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: Hikin Jim]
rm56 Offline
member

Registered: 06/12/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Northern CA, Placer co.
Sorry, I should have specified I'm not going out now. I'm planning ahead for July. Although this year I could go now but I don't have a Winter bag. This has been a dry Winter so far, virtually no snow in the Sierras. Jim, I'm more familiar with English measure, what does 50-60g convert to? And is that grams? I thought grams were a dry unit of measure not fluid metric measurement? If your using metric would'nt it be Liters and or milliliters? L mL ? Thanks

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#160302 - 01/13/12 11:57 AM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: hikerduane]
rm56 Offline
member

Registered: 06/12/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Northern CA, Placer co.
No, I'm planning for July.

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#160303 - 01/13/12 12:07 PM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: Hikin Jim]
rm56 Offline
member

Registered: 06/12/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Northern CA, Placer co.
Jim, I took a look at your blog. Either I missed it or you do not review my stove. I have the MSR Whisperlite that uses liguid coleman gas. My guess is my stove is an older one. I had one in the 80s. I prefer not to carry compressed LPG.

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#160307 - 01/13/12 01:11 PM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: rm56]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Short answer is for an overnight--don't sweat it and carry what you think need and a bit extra. White gas is rather light. But if you'd like to figure out your minimum fuel use just for the heck of it (and for future trip planning) you have to become your own data source. Your specific gear and meals and techniques throw huge variables into the answer.

Fill and weigh your fuel bottle to the gram or tenth ounce. Using your stove, your pot and your windscreen, cook your planned meals--outdoors on a cool, breezy day--letting the stove completely cool between so you have to prime it each time.

Weigh your fuel bottle--the difference will be the amount of fuel you need. Now imagine doing the same in a nasty storm and add a bit more to accommodate the efficiency loss.

Cheers,
_________________________
--Rick

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#160318 - 01/13/12 02:33 PM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: rm56]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
Originally Posted By rm56
Sorry, I should have specified I'm not going out now. I'm planning ahead for July. Although this year I could go now but I don't have a Winter bag. This has been a dry Winter so far, virtually no snow in the Sierras. Jim, I'm more familiar with English measure, what does 50-60g convert to? And is that grams? I thought grams were a dry unit of measure not fluid metric measurement? If your using metric would'nt it be Liters and or milliliters? L mL ? Thanks


I am not Jim, but I will try an answer anyways. He told you grams, because that is more precise. Fuel volume is dependent on pressure and temperature, where weight isn't. Plus, it is easier for you to weigh it and be precise, then measure the volume.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

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#160322 - 01/13/12 03:26 PM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: finallyME]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Grams are a unit of weight. You weigh the fuel container before and after using to find out the weight of fuel concerned. This eliminates temperature variations in fuel volume.

Using grams instead of ounces (by weight) is more accurate since 0.1 ounce is 2.8 grams. It also avoids the confusion between (liquid) ounces as a volume measurement and ounces as a weight measurement (the two are the same only for water, not for any other liquid).

For canister fuel, the same method, weighing before and after use, is used to measure fuel consumption.


Edited by OregonMouse (01/13/12 03:32 PM)
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#160339 - 01/13/12 09:17 PM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: rm56]
PDA Offline
member

Registered: 10/05/10
Posts: 75
I little time ago I did some comparative tests of various stoves. The white gas stove I used as a SVEA 123 clone, which is likely to be similar in consumption to the MSR. I was raising 60deg f water, 2 cups (16 fl oz, 480 ml) to 212 degf (a vigorous rolling boil) in three minutes and using 7 grams of fuel. This was indoors with no wind and a ambient temp. of 70 deg f. A light 5" diameter aluminium pot was used with lid. Outdoors, in light wind, you could probably double consumption. The lid in very important.YMMV p.s. 14 g is about 1/2 fl oz.

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#160353 - 01/14/12 09:39 AM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: OregonMouse]
rm56 Offline
member

Registered: 06/12/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Northern CA, Placer co.
I know what grams are. Now all I have to do is find a scale that accurate and of course they are not cheap. Thanks

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#160632 - 01/19/12 01:34 PM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: Hikin Jim]
rm56 Offline
member

Registered: 06/12/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Northern CA, Placer co.
Thanks

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#160633 - 01/19/12 01:35 PM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: PDA]
rm56 Offline
member

Registered: 06/12/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Northern CA, Placer co.
Awesome thank you.

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#199966 - 12/23/17 08:12 AM Re: MSR Whisperlite fuel consumption. [Re: rm56]
Petro1234 Offline
member

Registered: 10/27/16
Posts: 101
Loc: engeland
For heating alot water get a heat exchqnge pot. They are not new tech, its over a century old, and still comes bqck for one reason, they work, the weight saving calculation is the only thing to think off.

The most difference you will see with a heat xc opt or kettle is a roarer burner and small pot ie jet boil, being as the msr is a bit more civivsed it will not be as great, but it is still worth it if you are going to use alot of fuel

1 litre 292g

https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/primus-eta-pot-pot/?aid=a06ed95804798d1a1d88f8b085aba&pid=10004&cpkey=IfuGVUhKOAH3Utd7ElLz9eBZD0569d2glEDA03vvPps&wt_mc=uk.pla.google_uk.775777833.44715081590.185535913393&wt_cc1=&_$ja=tsid:60797|cid:775777833|agid:44715081590|tid:pla-146884379107|crid:185535913393|nw:g|rnd:8503255023380397977|dvc:t|adp:1o1|mt:|loc:9046172&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjtSL4pmg2AIVEGYbCh0SewVzEAQYASABEgK6t_D_BwE

Titanium 168g

https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/...-pot-0-9l-p1582

So ab9ut 120g in it, but the primus has got to be around twice as efficient, but i stand to be corrected happy so if you plan on using more than 1/2 a pint 227g it should be worth it.

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