Even if you do not run engines do you keep smoke fluid in them?

I do since my engines can sit on the shelf a good while before getting a turn on the layout...plus nothing smokes better than an engine loaded with fluid that has had some time to soak into the wick.

It certainly wouldn't hurt. My layout doesn't get used much while I am doing my college work (zero time), but when I do get a chance to even go down there to look around, I grab the smoke fluid and put a couple drops in all the stacks, just to keep them from drying out.

You don't have to, but make sure you allow enough time for fluid to soak into the wick before you use them again.

I use all eight of mine often (monthly in the winter). I can't say I've had a problem one way or the other, but I usually have some fluid in them.

Dennis

quote:

You don't have to, but make sure you allow enough time for fluid to soak into the wick before you use them again

Jake, not trying to pick an arguement with you but I wanted to offer MTH's opinion about your comment. According to MTH's directions, they do NOT recommend storing them dry after they've been used. In fact they warn against it. If they are never used, that is, smoke fluid has never been added, then sure store them dry. But once they've been used, MTH says dry is a no-no.

Since I only have a Christmas layout, what I do (after cleaning the wheels which involves inverting the engines) is to re-load the smoke unit as though I was re-loading it during a normal session, and them store the engine upright in the off season.

This is what MTH suggests. It's worked for me for the 10 years that I have been following the directions.

- walt

When locomotives are put away into storage, I stuff a piece of paper towel into the smoke stacks to soak-up any fluid that leaks. Otherwise there is no way I am taking apart engines to get the smoke fluid out. As a matter of fact, I put a few drops of smoke fluid into each locomotive before it goes into storage to be sure that when I run it again, the wick is not dry.

I have been doing this for a few years without any harm done.

interesting thread. I've never thought about it, but I do remember to fill them before stating up again.

Once filled how long do they hold fluid sitting on the shelf? Does it evaporate at all?? or dry out?

Can you leave too much fluid in them?

Since I never run my engines with the smoke on, I do not keep any smoke fluid in them. My thought is, if I don't put it in, it can't leak out, especially if the engine is upside down for service.

Jim

I find that the aromatic smoke fluid does tend to evaporate when left sitting too long. I can run an engine that was smoking just fine, but after lack of use of some six months or more, it won't make smoke unless I refresh the smoke fluid. My question, however, is: can that evaporated smoke fluid gunk up the smoke unit? After all, there must be some residue that didn't get burned off. Will that leftover gunk eventually make the smoke unit quit working and require a complete disassembly and cleaning? Or will simply placing new fluid in there and running the engine, clear it up?

Paul Fischer

I have a question, smoke oil is a volatile fluid, and in general with volatile fuels when they sit for any length of time the volatile compounds tend to evaporate. Gasoline is an extreme example (leave gasoline exposed to air, and pretty soon you have polluted water), but it can happen with other things. How much does this apply to smoke fluid? At the very least, it would seem to be a wise idea if you leave smoke fluid in the unit to plug the stack, to slow evaporation.

I frankly don't see any point in smoke fluid for engines that aren't going to be run any time soon. It will just dry out, like Paul said.

I only add more fluid if the engine's left on the track and I know it's to be run maybe the next day or so.

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smoke oil is a volatile fluid

I believe that you may be wrong on that. It is smoke fluid not a petroleum based product and from what I understand smoke fluid is not combustible at all.

Walt was right on with his post on storing engines, store them upright with fluid in the reservoir. If you don't then your smoke unit will not run at it's best when you do run it. The wick will harden and can't wick up the fluid as well, resulting in less smoke output. If you have never added smoke fluid then it's fine as posted. But if you smoke them, then keep 'em wet.

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Originally posted by VaGolfer1950:

quote:

smoke oil is a volatile fluid

I believe that you may be wrong on that. It is smoke fluid not a petroleum, based product and from what I understand smoke fluid is not combustible at all.

Kind of seems logical. This is a case of where there is smoke we don't want fire.