White gas is a common name for two flammable substances. In its most common modern usage, it is used as a generic name for camp stove and lantern fuel, usually naphtha.
White gasoline, also called white gas, can also be a name for pure gasoline, without additives. This was commonly used when leaded gasoline was the norm, to prevent fouling in situations where the properties of the tetraethyl lead additive were not required.
Fuel dyes, "White" gas is colorless, as opposed to "regular" octane fuel, which has orange dye added for identification, or high-octane "ethyl", which has purple dye added.
White gas should not be confused with white spirit, which is more akin to kerosene.
Famous quotes containing the words white and/or gas:
“I have put a padlock
on you, Mother, dear dead human,
so that your great bells,
those dear white ponies,
can go galloping, galloping,
wherever you are.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,
I heard a Negro play.
Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light”
—Langston Hughes (1902–1967)