Lionel's New Premium Smoke Fluid Scented

I've been using JT's Mega-Steam for many years, and it works well.

Last year, for the first time, I tried Lionel's Premium smoke fluid, #6-37841. I found that it worked even better than JT's Mega-Steam, at least in my Lionel steamers.

However, my wife didn't care for the smell of the #6-37841 Premium smoke fluid, so I thought I'd try one of Lionel's new scented Premium smoke fluids, which came out in December. The scent I got is the peppermint. I have found that it does not smoke as well as the #6-37841 Premium smoke fluid--or JT's Mega-Steam.

I think it may be that when Lionel made their scented smoke fluids, it's possible they reduced the amount of the ingredient that contributes most to what some may consider an unpleasant smell--and that may be the ingredient that made the smoke most effective.

I think it's also possible that Lionel's new unscented Premium smoke fluid, #6-83280, which comes in the same eye dropper bottle as the new scented Premium smoke fluids, may not be the same as the #6-37841 Premium smoke fluid. Here, too, they may have reduced the amount of the ingredient that contributes most to the smell, but that also makes it most effective.

By the way, Lionel's new scented and unscented Premium smoke fluids are made in the U.S. The #6-37841 Premium smoke fluid was made in China. In and of itself, that's great. However, that may also be a factor in the formulation being somewhat different.

Cheers!

Keith

I have been using MegaSteam exclusively for the last 5-6 years.  I tried a little tube of the Lionel stuff that came with a Lionel loco I recently got. It produced virtually no smoke at all.  I replaced it with MegaSteam & the smoke output increased by about 75%.  Plus, since the Lionel stuff I have came from China & MegaSteam is USA-made... I don't really want any liquid or chemical substance from China entering my lungs.    

Keith Levine posted:

I've been using JT's Mega-Steam for many years, and it works well.

Last year, for the first time, I tried Lionel's Premium smoke fluid, #6-37841. I found that it worked even better than JT's Mega-Steam, at least in my Lionel steamers.

However, my wife didn't care for the smell of the #6-37841 Premium smoke fluid, so I thought I'd try one of Lionel's new scented Premium smoke fluids, which came out in December. The scent I got is the peppermint. I have found that it does not smoke as well as the #6-37841 Premium smoke fluid--or JT's Mega-Steam.

I think it may be that when Lionel made their scented smoke fluids, it's possible they reduced the amount of the ingredient that contributes most to what some may consider an unpleasant smell--and that may be the ingredient that made the smoke most effective.

I think it's also possible that Lionel's new unscented Premium smoke fluid, #6-83280, which comes in the same eye dropper bottle as the new scented Premium smoke fluids, may not be the same as the #6-37841 Premium smoke fluid. Here, too, they may have reduced the amount of the ingredient that contributes most to the smell, but that also makes it most effective.

By the way, Lionel's new scented and unscented Premium smoke fluids are made in the U.S. The #6-37841 Premium smoke fluid was made in China. In and of itself, that's great. However, that may also be a factor in the formulation being somewhat different.

Cheers!

Keith

RadioRon posted:

I have been using MegaSteam exclusively for the last 5-6 years.  I tried a little tube of the Lionel stuff that came with a Lionel loco I recently got. It produced virtually no smoke at all.  I replaced it with MegaSteam & the smoke output increased by about 75%.  Plus, since the Lionel stuff I have came from China & MegaSteam is USA-made... I don't really want any liquid or chemical substance from China entering my lungs.    

I'm safe boat as you Keith, I want good smelling smoke, that can produce lots of smoke.

Same thing with Ron, I always used my club's Smoke fluid which was MTH, but smelling oil like a steamer was bad.

I live by Mega Steam like both of you and Lionel had bad Smoke fluid before which kinda smell like Molasses. 

I will be excited to try the new scented Lionel smoke fluids. After a 1-year experiment switching over to Megasteam, I have concluded that I should return to the Lionel Premium Smoke Fluid Product. Starting with clean, rewicked smoke units 1 year ago, I found that the Megasteam product resulted in significantly more charring. The odors are more offensive also. Even the non-scented Megasteam caused endless complaints from family members. Perhaps Megasteams thicker viscosity leaves behind more material to char, and more odor. I know it messes up Lionel's smoke fluid loader from other complaints on this forum.  Some people swear by it, and that's fine. To each their own.

I do not share the same findings as the original poster. 

I've used both brands in Lionel Legacy, TMCC and Postwar steamers and I see a touch more smoke from the Lionel Premium but it's probably arguable.

My big complaint with the Lionel Premium had been the smell. It gave me a headache so I started using Megasteam (Bayberry Christmas).

Have now switched to the scented Lionel and it seems to smoke as well as their unscented version without the off-putting smell.

I'll be testing this with a Legacy or TMCC loco tomorrow for a follow up

Tim, before you test, shake the smoke fluid vigorously.

For years, I had good results with JT's Mega-Steam.

About a year ago, I tried Lionel's Premium Smoke Fluid, and, in my Lionel steamers and diesels, it worked noticeably better that JT's.

When Lionel's new Premium Scented Smoke Fluids came out last month, I decided to try one--peppermint. I was disappointed. It didn't smoke as well as my old Lionel Premium Smoke Fluid, or JT's, and I really didn't smell peppermint.

This evening, I tried shaking--vigorously--the Lionel Premium Scented Smoke Fluid before putting it into the smoke unit (by the way, I always use a needle-point applicator, which allows me to get the fluid directly into the batting). The result? WOW! Fantastic smoke. And I smell the peppermint.

For example, I have a 16-year-old Lionel diesel, and it has never smoked as well as it does now with the Lionel Premium Scented Smoke Fluid--after the fluid was shaken.

By the way, Lionel's new line of Premium Smoke Fluids are made in the U.S.A.

Cheers!

Keith

I use  ANORMAL 1 smoke fluid and I really like! Smokes great and really replicates the old Flyer scent.

In a Legacy NKP Berkshire I give it a 2/10 in Smoke performance, MEga Steam gets my vote

Tim,
Not really sure what conclusion can be arrived at from the video. 

The results that I get with LP scented are seen in the following video clips.

Lionel Legacy Atlantic running under Legacy control. Normally I use 24 drops, via a needle point bottle to ensure absorption into the batting.

Less smoke would actually be a benefit in my mind.

In the latest RTR catalog, there are two different Premium Unscented smoke fluids listed. One's bottle appears to be the old style while the other is in the new style of bottle.

Are they the same formula just in different bottles? Or are they different? 

I saw this in the previous catalog as well but figured that it was either just a mistake or they were transitioning one out while introducing the new bottle.

Why in heaven's name would anybody want this?

Because Lionel trys to tell people that using JTs will void your warranty. so everyone is "supposed" to use the Lionel Premium fluid in their Lionel engines.

D500 posted:

Why in heaven's name would anybody want this?

Not sure that I understand the question.

if you mean why would you use lionel fluid instead of MegaSteam? Then the answer would be that i find it works just as well or better than MS, and it's made in the USA.

graz posted:

D500 posted:

Why in heaven's name would anybody want this?

Not sure that I understand the question.

if you mean why would you use lionel fluid instead of MegaSteam? Then the answer would be that i find it works just as well or better than MS, and it's made in the USA.

So you are intimating that Mega Steam is NOT made in the U.S.A.? Plus the Lionel "special stuff" is less expensive also?

No. I'm stating that it's made in the USA because there was earlier confusion about where it was made.

Not sure about the price compared to other brands. Frankly, i don't go through enough of it for price to be a factor in my buying decision. I don't spend $$$$ on motive power only to save pennies on the smoke fluid. I might buy one bottle in a given year.

I picked some up the other day and seems to smoke fine. I decided I still prefer the scents of the mth product better though. BTW,  while I was looking through the scents I noticed that they had "diesel scented!"  Is anybody actually use this in there trains? I would be kicked out of the house if I filled it with the smell diesel smoke �� 

graz posted:

Tim,
Not really sure what conclusion can be arrived at from the video. 

The results that I get with LP scented are seen in the following video clips.

Lionel Legacy Atlantic running under Legacy control. Normally I use 24 drops, via a needle point bottle to ensure absorption into the batting.

 

 

Was the smoke due to increasing the smoke output, or just keeping it at its normal setting? Nice run there btw.

Dave

i always run my legacy smoke units on high.

the diff between the two brands of fluid was hardly noticeable to me.

@Hot Water posted:

So you are intimating that Mega Steam is NOT made in the U.S.A.? Plus the Lionel "special stuff" is less expensive also?

Just to clear the slate with everyone, MegaSteam is USA-made.   Always has been.