Can you burn kerosene in a Coleman stove?

Yes, you can - but there is a catch. White gas and gasoline have a low flashpoint, that enables the vapor to light initially to preheat the generator tube (the brass tube from the fuel tank to the burners). The stoves operate on the principle of evaporating the liquid fuel in the brass generator tube, then mixing those fuel vapors with air before igniting in the burners producing that sweet whoosh sound and hot blue flames.

So, here's the catch - kerosene has a high flash point. If you run it through your cold Coleman stove, all it is going to do is get kerosene everywhere - what I do, is run a propane plumbers torch back and forth over the brass generator tube for about 30-45 seconds, then slowly turn on the fuel - you will be pleased to know that ounce for ounce kerosene is more energy dense than white gas, and your stove will run longer - again, the only way this will work is if you heat up that brass tube until it is almost cherry.

happy camping