Legacy smoke units: how many drops of smoke fluid - initial and on-going?

A perennial question! What does Lionel recommend?

My experience with a Legacy engine that sat idle for a few months with some JT's in the smoke unit:  the fan has stopped working.  The light blinks three times.  I was advised to try some of JT's clean-out fluid, and the fan tried to work once, but not long-term.  I believe that the engine will have to be disassembled to clean out/rehab the unit.  Quite a pain--I have just the unit off for now and may (or may not) deal with it later.

Color me unimpressed.

Modern era smoke units are not Lionel's strong suit. I will admit my Legacy VL Hudson never had an issue with the main stack or the whistle smoke. I used JT's NADA exclusively with no issues. Luck of the draw?

I have a new GS6 SP Legacy 4-8-4 that worked for all of 4 minutes than burped up the fluid I put in and gave me the 2 lights of death. These are the new smoke units that seem to be not as robust as the TMCC ones.

My fear is ordering one and replacing it and the same thing happens. For now, I just run with smoke off in this one... when is that parts sale this year? November?

The other sister engine I have never used the smoke unit on.

I think your first post has it covered. The only thing I can add is, IMO brand new wicking in a new loco doesn't readily absorb the fluid as fast as wicking thats been "seasoned" with a few heat cycles.

I liken this to a new spong not absorbing water as well initially.

 I've found most overfilling occurs when the loco is new out of the box because the fluid pools on top of the wicking  and then finds ways to ooze out through the fan motor housing etc.

With this in mind it might be better to add less drops at several intervals initially to give the fluid more time to soak in.

I also am very pleased with Mike Reagans/Lionels fluid. After using "other well known brands" for years, Lionels fluid is my brand of choice.

I run all my smoke units on the lowest setting possible to produce "just enough" smoke for a good effect. the higher the setting, the sooner the smoke unit will need maintenance.