
This is a Coleman 550, also known as a 'modern' Peak 1 stove. It will burn Coleman fuel (naptha), unleaded, and if you change out the included generator (a short brass tube) - kerosene. I purchased this stove to primarily burn kerosene, as it is a safer flammable, plentiful in my area, and is also used on my 70-year-old antique Optimus No. 1 'roarer' stove.
The 'Exponent Multi-Fuel' stove came in a small box with a set of instructions and a spare generator. The naptha generator is installed at the factory, but if you want to use kerosene (found at Wally World in the blue plastic qt. bottles), READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Changing out the generator to kerosene was simple and quick by first undoing a thin bolt at the top center of the burner. After undoing the generator nut at the valve, remove the burner plate and the generator. Replace with kerosene generator - but don't forget to turn the valve to low after connecting the funky 'L' hook of the stainless wire in the generator.
Here's where there are some problems with this stove (not deal-killers, mind you). Priming kerosene stoves (and lanterns) is best accomplished using denatured alcohol (SLX from Homeless Despot, etc.). Although Coleman states to use a 'paste,' such material is not readily found everywhere, unlike alcohol, and is messy to boot. This stove will prime just fine with alcohol, but you have to be careful to not pour too much into the INNER burner ring. If Coleman had made the inner ring one-eighth of an inch deeper, this would be a kick-butt kero burner! Too much soot is an indication of a low-temp prime, BTW. After nearly a dozen firings, there are just two spots of soot on the opposite side of the burner head from the kerosene jet - IOW, this stove burns clean (you will get a little stink after shutdown, but it goes away).
Minus one star for poor priming design. But kudos to Coleman for offering a nice little plastic priming bottle with a brass spout on-line for a few bucks (check out the kerosene lantern parts listings).
Next bad point: The valve knob is made of plastic. It is too close to the burner head. It is covered with an adhesive label (just like the main body of the stove). Why Coleman didn't at least choose to use one or more painted indents to indicate OFF, L, or H is beyond me. Also, the valve goes from off directly to high and THEN low, unlike any other stove designs i've experienced. I predict we'll see many of these stoves with melted valve knobs and missing labels in the future.
Minus another star for cheaping out on parts. For Gawd's sake, Coleman, put a nice folding wire knob on the valve or use painted indents!
Other than these failings, this is a decent performer on kerosene. I fill with Coleman kero, pump a dozen times, pour a half-ounce of alcohol into the inner ring, prime, and then blast on high until a nice blue ring appears. My stove is a bit 'twitchy' on settings, but it is easy to find the sweet spots of low blue flame and a roarer setting without too much orange. Combine this performance with easy availability of parts, and you'll have a nice little kero burner for camping or the back deck. Get more detail about
Coleman Exponent Multi-Fuel Stove.