The jury is still out for me on if Lionel Premium Smoke Fluid (6-37841) is better in new Lionel Engines compared to Megasteam. I bought a bottle of it at my dealer based on all the great comments, but in my own informal testing, in the same Lionel engine, Megasteam noticeably produced a lot more smoke running on high. I will need more testing to be 100%, but that is my early findings after an hour of running.
Originally Posted by ironlake2:
My S3 must be unusual or I myself am as I tried the premium fluid when my jt's got low and it smoked less and I lost the nice christmas smell. Ran it out and then put back in jts and back to great smoke. It smokes just like the photos with jts, The smoke was thicker but not as much came out.
Has anyone else experienced less than satisfactory results with this smoke fluid in the Milwaukee Rd S-3?
Originally Posted by breezinup:
Originally Posted by ironlake2:
My S3 must be unusual or I myself am as I tried the premium fluid when my jt's got low and it smoked less and I lost the nice christmas smell. Ran it out and then put back in jts and back to great smoke. It smokes just like the photos with jts, The smoke was thicker but not as much came out.
Has anyone else experienced less than satisfactory results with this smoke fluid in the Milwaukee Rd S-3?I picked up a bottle of smoke fluid at a local train show from a new manufacturer. Works well, good scent. www.smokeyrails.com
I just received the Premium fluid the other day and will try it this weekend.
But related to smoke units I just learned something new that I don't recall anyone mentioning before on the forum. I watched Mike R's Youtube video titled Lionel Smoke Units 101. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZlvekT67ws) I know this video has been out for a while and I just watched the entire video last night. Here is what I did not know. The element that heats up during smoke production should be cooled before re-adding fluid - I NEVER knew this. (Move the video to 22:00 to hear Mike talk about this) When I am running trains and the smoke output decrease, I stop the train, shut it down, add fluid, and start it right back up – never letting the element cool. And sometimes smoke output is not what I would expect - until my next session. This video explains why.
Am I the only one that did not know this?
NTC Greg68. Thank you for that link.
Originally Posted by NYCGreg68:
I just received the Premium fluid the other day and will try it this weekend.
But related to smoke units I just learned something new that I don't recall anyone mentioning before on the forum. I watched Mike R's Youtube video titled Lionel Smoke Units 101. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZlvekT67ws) I know this video has been out for a while and I just watched the entire video last night. Here is what I did not know. The element that heats up during smoke production should be cooled before re-adding fluid - I NEVER knew this. (Move the video to 22:00 to hear Mike talk about this) When I am running trains and the smoke output decrease, I stop the train, shut it down, add fluid, and start it right back up – never letting the element cool. And sometimes smoke output is not what I would expect - until my next session. This video explains why.
Am I the only one that did not know this?
NYCGreg68, the video indicates that you *can* add smoke fluid right away, if you use a needle applicator and insert the fluid all the way down in the batting (sp?). The problem is if you use a dropper and drop fluid on the hot element.
Great video, by the way, except he never says how you can know how much you are adding with a needle applicator. I'm thinking a hobby syringe might be a better option, so you can dose the correct amount of fluid, and also insert it below the heating element.
Randy,
I take the two-step approach and drop 20 drops into the empty needle-point bottle. Then I don't have to worry about overfilling.
I've been using Lionel premium smoke fluid for over two years now, and am greatly impressed by how well it smokes and how quickly it dissipates. I'd especially recommend it to all those poor suckers with underperforming smoke units.
