Our toy trains are designed for an oil based smoke fluid.  Manufacturers even suggest what types to use.  Water based fluids are NOT recommended for our trains.  The best advice is to use a smoke fluid specifically made for our trains such as MTH, Mega Steam, or Lionel. 

Absolutely agree with Marty,…plus in our world water & electronics do not mix well…….

Pat

Boy... here's a question I always wanted to see asked on this forum!  Why hasn't anyone asked before?

Jon

@KOOLjock1 posted:

... Why hasn't anyone asked before?

It has and here but such discussions are usually deleted. Possibly referenced here, here and here. Somewhat informative links here.

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Boy... here's a question I always wanted to see asked on this forum!  Why hasn't anyone asked before?

Jon

@Überstationmeister posted:

It has. Here too. And here or here. Informative links here too. Possibly also here.

I think Jon forgot to add the "SARCASM EMOJI!"

But the OP is relatively new to the forum so he may have not seen the posts from the past.

Just go with the MegaSteam "NADA" for odorless.

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Boy... here's a question I always wanted to see asked on this forum!  Why hasn't anyone asked before?

Jon

Now, about those TVS diodes...

Honestly when it comes to smoke there’s never truly been a sent-less fluid. I know of some that have used mineral oil can’t say what the smell was. I think the main issue is once it starts to stink it won’t matter what you put in it always stinks. The first thing I would try is the mega-steam eliminator, it’s made to take out that bad smell. I’ve used it with decent results. If that brings no joy I think the next step is to open it up replace batting check/ clean the element and go from there.

@MartyE posted:

I think Jon forgot to add the "SARCASM EMOJI!"

But the OP is relatively new to the forum so he may have not seen the posts from the past.

Somebody's got to show me where to find that thing....

Hey Robert Coniglio... don't you have a thread on this topic?

Jon

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Somebody's got to show me where to find that thing....

Here you go Jon!

LOL!

ROTFLMAO!

Jon

@ADCX Rob posted:

Just go with the MegaSteam "NADA" for odorless.

Rob , since the smoke fluid " NADA "  does require the heating of the fluid to make the " smoke "  wouldn't there still be a sort of stale odor left over in different surfaces . 🤔

I only ask because I think there is a certain odor that seems to linger in adjacent rooms that doesn't reflect the original scent but more like maybe there was a stale cigar scent.😕

  I don't run a lot of smoke .  I most often use lemon scent or Christmas . I will only run the smoke on " minimum "  most of the time and my wife finds the scents pleasant.   The only time I get complaints come when I use "Maximum ".  It does seem to change the scent to a more burning ( for lack of a better description ) odor.

I like the 'original' Lionel smoke pellet scent.

I use MegaSteam Clove Sensation, my wife likes how it smells.

How about using short punks of various scents? Sorry! Just kidding! Ethylene Glycol has an unpleasant sweet smell. I am flabbergasted that it Ethylene Glycol is in toy train smoke fluid! Are you kidding about this?

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Boy... here's a question I always wanted to see asked on this forum!  Why hasn't anyone asked before?

Jon

The reason you never see this topic is the mods always block and remove them.

@Bobby Ogage posted:

How about using short punks of various scents? Sorry! Just kidding! Ethylene Glycol has an unpleasant sweet smell. I am flabbergasted that it Ethylene Glycol is in toy train smoke fluid! Are you kidding about this?

Model train smoke fluid is predominantly mineral oil, there is no Ethylene Glycol in it AFAIK.

I use cedar-wood essential oil. it gets really strong, but it works great.

Fog machines generally use either mineral oil or a combination of water and propylene glycol.  Ethylene glycol isn't used because it is toxic while propylene is commonly used in flavors.

Train liquid smoke material is generally a very light grade of mineral oil, sometimes very light.  Different brands use different blends.  Since I have access to the materials, I make my own.  I make it dual purpose so that I can also use it as lubricating oil.   I strongly recommend that you use commercial fluids meant for this purpose and not try to use something not designed as a smoke fluid for trains.

Smoke fluids are listed as "non-toxic".

Ethylene glycol is toxic.  Ingesting 1/3 cup could result in death in an adult. Reference - MSDS (or SDS).

Mineral oil, on the other hand, does not have these acute or severe heath issues.

Please do not go to the garage and get some antifreeze for your trains.  Bad idea.

Well...with the focus of this discussion being on the fluid itself, let's not forget that there's a lot of people who don't use it (the smoke feature) at all, due to the residual film it leaves on the track. So one could conclude that film also gets on any (and perhaps all) surrounding surfaces... like carpet, furniture,etc. No wonder there may be a lingering odor... how does one go about removing that?  🤔

Mark in (wet) Oregon 🎄

I think the "film" on the track shows up smoke or no smoke.

@Strummer posted:

Well...with the focus of this discussion being on the fluid itself, let's not forget that there's a lot of people who don't use it (the smoke feature) at all, due to the residual film it leaves on the track. So one  conclude that film also gets on any (and perhaps all) surrounding surfaces... like carpet, furniture,etc. No wonder there may be a lingering odor... how does one go about removing that?  🤔

Mark in (wet) Oregon 🎄

Don't know how to get the smoke residue out of carpet , furniture,etc. Mark.🤔

   I seriously doubt that Fabreeze is going to be a long term solution.      Maybe have those people who clean up after a fire would help.    Maybe having an understanding wife   and family who don't mind one's pipe or cigar's lingering odors .

I think to totally control the residue, the room should not be connected to the home ......OR......... there should be an airlock at the entrance to the living quarters  , a Hazmat suit and a shower and fresh clothes.........OR........one heck of a ventilation fan........which needs a fresh air source like an open window......which would not be fun in the winter here in central Pa.

Yeah...or just not use the feature at all... 😳

Or...go back to using a dry pellet system. If I remember, the only residue is in a powder form(?)

Mark in Oregon

@Strummer posted:

Yeah...or just not use the feature at all... 😳

Mark in Oregon

@yamawho posted:

The reason you never see this topic is the mods always block and remove them.

Wow, words failing me on this one...

I envy all you guys who live near a Lionel dealer and you can just go over and buy 2 ounces of smoke fluid. But I live in a large metropolitan area with four Walgreen drugstores near me and no Lionel dealer anywhere. Last year I bought through mail order my first new Lionel steam engines since 1952. The new engines cost hundreds of dollars each and they came with strange, large, plastic syringes but no smoke fluid! How do I use that silly looking syringe? If I knew what to put in the smoke unit, I could go to any of many local drugstores and get the ingredients. I am suspicious, what are my grandchildren inhaling? Why is this such a secret? Are people getting rich from this $10 bottle? I bought the smoke fluid, paid shipping costs again, and waited weeks to see smoke for the first time.

i still stick with smoke pills when i can .

Done:

Mega-Steam Smoke Fluid (megasteam.com)

@Strummer posted:

Well...with the focus of this discussion being on the fluid itself, let's not forget that there's a lot of people who don't use it (the smoke feature) at all, due to the residual film it leaves on the track. So one could conclude that film also gets on any (and perhaps all) surrounding surfaces... like carpet, furniture,etc. No wonder there may be a lingering odor... how does one go about removing that?  🤔

Mark in (wet) Oregon 🎄

Ask one of the fellows who promised his better half he would stop the other kind of smoking.

What, me worry?