CANISTER STOVES
> CLEAN AWAY FOOD or other debris from the burner head after each use, or you'll get an incomplete flame or the odd flare-up.

> INSPECT THE GUTS of the stove's mounting mechanism. Make sure the threads are free of gunk and that the O-ring isn't rotten. Replace the O-ring regularly.

> TAKE A SPARE canister. It's insurance against running out of fuel and canister and valve malfunctions. When it's cold out, warm the spare cartridge in your jacket or sleeping bag. If the active canister sputters, switch to the warm one, then cozy up with the first.

LIQUID-FUEL STOVES
> MAKE A HABITof cleaning the fuel jet every time you're ready to put the stove away. If your cooker
doesn't have a built-in needle that cleans the jet's aperture, carry a small piece of wire or a fine-gauge sewing needle to do the job manually.

> WHITE GAS should always be your fuel of choice. If you're forced to use a heavier, dirtier fuel, be
diligent about cleaning the jet, and wipe off the inevitable carbon buildup from the burner and
generator. Do this every cooking session to reduce your odds of ending up in the wilds with a kaput cooker.

> IF YOU KEEP your stove's pump on the fuel bottle and you won't be cooking for a while, release
the air. If you remove the pump head, make sure its filters remain intact.

> IF YOUR STOVE has an external fuel line, clean it out regularly, following the manufacturer's
instructions.

> STOVES HAVE DIFFERENT priming traits. Read the instructions, and then experiment carefully under various conditions.

> STASH YOUR STOVE , parts, tools, and fuel bottle separate from your food. Even a hint of petroleum
is an agonizingly effective emetic.