"Nice Smelling" Smoke Fluid: A Cautionary Tale

Back when I first had my polar express as a kid and ran out of smoke Fluid I was told any mineral oil could work. Next trip to the supermarket with my mother I got some and tried it out. It worked well to an extent but smelled something awful. Nowadays it's Lionel premium for me.

Like taste, smell is a matter of opinion, but I find the smell of Lionel/MTH smoke fluid to be one of the most pleasant mechanical odors around. It smells good.

 

When seasonings are put into it, especially the absurd, RR-irrelevant ones, I am left with no understanding of that at all. I have posted here before about visiting or used locos into which someone put "Eau de Fleur" that left my shop smelling like the kind of "house" that is, shall we say, illegal in most states. I got some of Mega-Steam's "NADA" smoke fluid to flush the smoke units. The shop took a couple of weeks to sanitize itself.

 

Paint remover, also? Not surprised.

 

 

This issue was covered several years ago, its was discussed that it is more likely poorly applied paint than the fluid itself doing the damage.

 

Peeling Paint In Stack

 

I think its safe to say all smoke fluids are some blend of mineral oil, more or less the same main ingredients.

 

If the fluid solely were to blame I think we'd see dozens of complaints, especially from folks with VL locos blowing smoke out everywhere.

 

With the steady reports of QC issues, the idea of paint not being applied correctly at the factory doesn't seem outlandish either.

 

I suppose it could be a little of both.

 

Lionels "premium fluid" is still fairly new, the jury may be out as to whether or not it will damage paint as well.

I've used Seuthe smoke fluid for years. Have been very happy with the smoke output. I don't understand  why people will buy an expensive lok and use oil not formulated  for a smoke unit.