Positive or negative experience with Lionel Smoke Fluid?

My experience is limited to piston-type smoke units, but I've found Lionel smoke fluid works very well.    The bottle of Mega-Steam I tried did not smoke as well as the Lionel, and it smelled awful.

I've used it in all types of units: it comes in new locos, etc.

I give it a plus.  Good enough to use: I keep the bottles that came with locos, etc.

But I prefer and pay for JT fluid, I give it three pluses.  Smoke more, and the smoke stream seems to hand together longer, too.  And I like their "NADA" near-odorless build a lot, or rather the lack of complaints I get when I use it here at the house.!

I like the Lionel premium smoke fluid. Used it in all my Lionel engines, along with smoke pellet scent from Mega Steam

They don't. The premium stuff is an extra cost even with a VL engine.

My personal experience with Lionel Premium Smoke fluid in both Legacy and puffer units vs. Megasteam in about 5 locomotives, 2 legacy (fan driven), 2 post war 2025s, 1 polar express sets (puffer type).

Lionel Premium Smoke:

Pros - A lot more smoke than Megasteam and a very noticeable difference!

Cons - Complaints that it irritates some family members and guests and they don't like the smell.  I'm not too fond of the smell of it either.  I have been spoiled by Megasteam! Also doesn't dissipate quickly in the air and fill up a room quickly both in fog and smell.

Not sure how it would work in non-Lionel units since I don't have any.

Megasteam:

Pros - Smokes really well, but not as much as Lionel Premium Smoke fluid.  Dissipates quickly in the air and can still fill up a room but takes a lot longer.  Comes in many pleasing scents and no scents which also pleases many family members and guests (I stay away from coal, diesel, etc..., and stick with Cinnamon, Vanilla, Hot Chocolate, Nada, Smoke Pellet, etc).  It also great to change the scents at will.

Its reported on the forum which I believe, that it works well in many brands of smoke units including Atlas, MTH, Seuthe, Williams, post war Lionel and modern Lionel. What more can you ask for?

Cons - I also find that it gets consumed faster (in fewer laps, before the smoke starts to drop off).  Less smoke that the Lionel Premium Fluid, but still very good amount.

Based on the above, my vote is Positive!  I have both and keep buying both.  Most of the time I run with Megasteam since that's the crowd pleaser.  If it's just me and I have good ventilation, I run with the Lionel Premium fluid.

Add another mark to the family members that dislike the smell.  They tend to leave the room or come in complaining if I'm running it.  I don't mind the smell too much.  Maybe after a couple hours I'd be sick of it.

But it's the best smoking fluid I've used for output, but then I haven't used Megasteam.  A buddy that has used both says they smoke about the same in his eyes.  I've used MTH, K-Line, and non premium Lionel smoke as well.  The premium stuff also hasn't left any residue when I've spilled it, or stained the carpet.  It's dried without an oily feel left.

I'll keep using it until I run out, at which point if the wife and kid(s) still complain about the smell, I'll have to get some Megasteam, otherwise more Lionel for me.

Lionel just smells really bad and wife complains constantly.  Use mega steam fireplace or Christmas and she comes down to watch once and a while and always says "I love the smell" (jts)

To answer the question, I don't like the smell of Lionel fluid, so on that alone I would say negative experience.  I think it performs better than JT's, but can't stomach the smell.  Just to be fair, the negatives about JT's, which I've used exclusively for 10 years, is it is kind of pricey and cooks up quick, which go hand-in-hand.  Now with the whistle steam and powerful smoke units, I use an 8 oz. bottle every 2 months.

Rich

Lionel smoke fluid has always worked just fine in all my engines. I also use Nada which does have an odor to it but smokes well.