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UPDATE: 5/6/2017

Hello again,

So as many of  you suggested, I went and tried out The "Eliminator" to clean out the Smoke Unit. I did this three times and found it smelled a lot like Lemon Pledge. I did notice however, there was still a bit of a burning smell but, I could still smell The Lemon Pledge Like Smell. So, while I was still in the Eliminator Cycle, I began experimenting with the Smoke Unit it's self. I began trying it on different settings (I was using an Mth Engine for this). With my DCS Remote, I began playing around with the intensity of the Smoke Unit, I found when the Smoke Unit was on Medium and Low, the burning smell would vanish (I normally run my Smoke Units on Maximum, as I enjoy my Smoke Units fogging up a room). After making this discovery, and finishing the Eliminator Cycle, I began experimenting with regular JT's Mega-Steam Scents and low and behold I was getting smoke that smelled just like what was labeled on the bottle! The scents would be perfectly fine on Minimum and Medium but on Max, that was a no go. Which is fine if you ask me. I can live with a little less smoke. 

So the moral of the story is, don't over work your Smoke Units, even on Medium setting you still get a very nice amount of smoke.

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Hey Everyone.

So allow me to explain the title. For the longest time, I have had people telling me how amazing JT's Mega-Steam is. Both performance wise and scent wise. So of course I wanted to at least give it a try. My first go with it was a few years ago, I tried out the Vanilla Scent, first thoughts on the product were good. I liked the bottles they came in, and after cracking the seal, I found the scent not too shabby. It wasn't super strong either, which was another thing I liked about. So then it was time to give it a go in my Locomotives. I loaded my Smoke Units in several Locomotives with the Fluid and got them running, and this is where my issues began. Upon running for a bit, and giving a sniff. I was greeted with not a Vanilla Smell, but more like a burning smell with 1/4 of a pinch of Vanilla. The performance on the other hand, was pretty good. I continued to use the stuff until it was all gone, mainly because I wanted to see if using it for an extended period of time would help bring out the Vanilla more, and I didn't have any other Smoke Fluid. It never changed unfortunately. 

So fast forward a few years, I had been using Mth Protosmoke for a while because I found the smoke would actually smell like what was advertised on the bottle. I suddenly remembered JT'S Mega-Steam out of the bloom one day and decided I would give it another chance. I ordered 3 Scents this time. Root Beer, Hot Chocolate, & Maple Sugar. Once they arrived in the Mail, I cracked the seal on the bottles and found the smells to be very nice. So once again, I went and loaded the Fluid into several engines and low and behold, disappointment once again. Burning with a hint of whatever scent was on the bottle.

So I decided to try some different things to see if they would help. One of the biggest things I attempted was giving an engine a Brand New wick and saturating it in Mega-Steam, even this did not work! It really saddens me Mega Steam does this, I like there smoke performance wise but, the smells are just awful. Does anyone have any advice as to how I could possibly get Mega-Steam actually smelling like it's supposed to? I am willing to try literally (almost) anything. I really want to like there products, as they have such a HUGE variety of scents that I would enjoy using but, I do not want to continue investing in this product if I keep achieving the same results.

Thanks for reading.

Last edited by Christian A. Babcock
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Personally, I much prefer the MTH smoke fluid. Their Christmas scent is about all these days, my favorite by far. The one Mega Steam product I do like is their Eliminator. I actually like the smell of it. I didn't really care for any of their scented smoke fluids that I tried. I have not yet tried any of the new Lionel scented smoke fluid, but I might give it a try one of these days.

I think the smoke fluid and it's scents is a personal thing as Royboy says above, and everyone is different. 

Last edited by rtr12

I have some of JT's Christmas scent. They told me to shake the big bottle before refilling the small bottle with the long needle style tip (that bottle came from an empty Militec-1 synthetic oil bottle).  Then before filling a smoke unit, agitate the small bottle of fluid prior to putting it in. For some reason agitating the fluid keeps the scent dispersed. I also have some MTH fluid, and I shake that bottle, too, before injecting it into a smoke unit. The long needle tip goes down the stack and into the smoke unit's funnel down as far as it will go. Then I squeeze the bottle. Always done when the smoke unit is OFF and track power is OFF. No issues.

I had experienced the same issues when using Mega Steam especially on MTH locomotives.  It took quit a while for the scented smell to overcome the burning odor, this I believe is largely due to the original smoke fluid used by the manufactures.  However, Mega Steam introduced a product called Eliminator to there line.  This product is used to clean out any existing smoke fluid and odor.

 

Just fill your unit with Eliminator and run until its used up, the smoke has a present odor and produces a nice volume of smoke which dissipates quickly.  After using this product two or there times, you can then use any of the Mega Steam scents and experience excellent results.

I use Mega Steam exclusively in my engines and Lionel smoking diner.  

Perhaps it's because God blessed me in the nose department but, I have found the scents such as pumpkin spice, hot chocolate and smoke pellet to be pretty much spot on.  

I will note my wife seems to have the scent perception a few earlier posters must have.  I was using the hot chocolate scent earlier this week.  Our laundry room is across from the door to the basement.  When she went in to throw sheets in the washing machine she yelled to me it smelled like something was on fire downstairs.

Curt

NYC 428 posted:

I had experienced the same issues when using Mega Steam especially on MTH locomotives.  It took quit a while for the scented smell to overcome the burning odor, this I believe is largely due to the original smoke fluid used by the manufactures.  However, Mega Steam introduced a product called Eliminator to there line.  This product is used to clean out any existing smoke fluid and odor.

 

Just fill your unit with Eliminator and run until its used up, the smoke has a present odor and produces a nice volume of smoke which dissipates quickly.  After using this product two or there times, you can then use any of the Mega Steam scents and experience excellent results.

I have heard about there Eliminator Product, perhaps that may be worth giving a shot.

bigdodgetrain posted:

imo  it is best to use Eliminator before changing scents.  we use manly hot chocolate, coffee, very cherry, ginger bread, and nada. 

 

all with very good results in both lionel and mth engines.

 

sorry some of you are having a bad experance.  but since we changed to mega-steam we have way less issues with dirty track.

Might have to give this "Eliminator" a try. See if that helps.

Oman posted:

I know this is an O gauge forum, but I remember the scent of AC Gilbert AF smoke fluid and IMO the MTH smoke smells the same. I don't want cinnamon, apple, pear, oranges or whatever. I want it to smell industrial, not fruity.

Keith. Megasteam has AF smoke fluid,deisel,coal ect not just fruit flavors. I can't tell you what the AF fluid smells like as I have never used original AF fluid but Megasteam IMO is usually spot on when it comes to scents. 

Last edited by Chris Lonero
bigdodgetrain posted:

imo  it is best to use Eliminator before changing scents.  we use manly hot chocolate, coffee, very cherry, ginger bread, and nada. 

 

all with very good results in both lionel and mth engines.

 

sorry some of you are having a bad experance.  but since we changed to mega-steam we have way less issues with dirty track.

To add on, track cleaning for our track is a lot easier than it has in the past. For me Gingerbread, Hot Chocolate and Coffee is what I use only now because the scent is stronger than the other flavors puffing out the stack

RailwayMan47 posted:
bigdodgetrain posted:

imo  it is best to use Eliminator before changing scents.  we use manly hot chocolate, coffee, very cherry, ginger bread, and nada. 

 

all with very good results in both lionel and mth engines.

 

sorry some of you are having a bad experance.  but since we changed to mega-steam we have way less issues with dirty track.

Might have to give this "Eliminator" a try. See if that helps.

When running eliminator it will usually take 2 to 3 runs before the scent is gone. I run it in my Locos once every 6 months. It's a strong lemon smell but it works good

Last edited by SDIV Tim
SDIV Tim posted:
bigdodgetrain posted:

imo  it is best to use Eliminator before changing scents.  we use manly hot chocolate, coffee, very cherry, ginger bread, and nada. 

 

all with very good results in both lionel and mth engines.

 

sorry some of you are having a bad experance.  but since we changed to mega-steam we have way less issues with dirty track.

To add on, track cleaning for our track is a lot easier than it has in the past. For me Gingerbread, Hot Chocolate and Coffee is what I use only now because the scent is stronger than the other flavors puffing out the stack

There is no relationship between smoke fluid brand, and track cleaning effort. However, when people eventually learn to quit overfilling smoke units, there is less mess on the track. 

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

I will only use Mega Steam in my locomotives.   I do a very large amount of smoke unit work each year.  I use Mega Steam only.  Some people drive a Chevrolet and some will only drive a Ford.  I am very fussy on my repair work and want to use the best products.

I do a lot of smoke unit servicing too. Usually because some idiot didn't use any fluid. Or because they used too much, and I'm mopping up their mess. Not because it's one brand or another. 

Last edited by GregR

FWIW, Eliminator does work although it takes more than one filling to get to the desired result.

I don't count myself particularly sensitive but about two years ago I started noticing that Mega Steam scents were not as accurate to their names as they had been. In particular the Christmas Pine version was not as "evergreen" as MTH's Christmas scent. The latter also stays consistent after years in the bottle. Maybe I should have read the Mega Steam labels as these days they do say to shake the bottle before use.

 

Gregr,  you are so correct.  If people read the book and used the recommended amount, life would be good.  I have so many stories as I am sure you do. Some stories  that readers would not believe.  The braided wick MTH has is great and on Lionel, I replace the fiberglass pad with the 8 inch rope wicking  (691SMKP008) that has been shredded.  I call that Reaganizing.

 

 

Last edited by Marty Fitzhenry

Though I would toss this in :

I think I got this idea on the Forum a year or so ago ... anyway I got some form Amazon and I think they are great.

It is a 1ml Syringe, does the job and you know exactly how much you are adding with out counting drops, and the fluid goes right to the wick.

1ml  = 20 drops of smoke fluid, .5 ml = 10 drops, and so forth.

I added the red marks at 0.5, 0.75, and 1ml ( because my eyes are getting old : )

Mine are from Duda Energy, I think about $1 each ~

Search Ebay :

1 ml Industrial Syringes with 18G x 1-1/2" Blunt Tip Fill Needle

20161112_223800

Rick Buchman

rickb posted:

Though I would toss this in :

I think I got this idea on the Forum a year or so ago ... anyway I got some form Amazon and I think they are great.

It is a 1ml Syringe, does the job and you know exactly how much you are adding with out counting drops, and the fluid goes right to the wick.

1ml  = 20 drops of smoke fluid, .5 ml = 10 drops, and so forth.

I added the red marks at 0.5, 0.75, and 1ml ( because my eyes are getting old : )

Mine are from Duda Energy, I think about $1 each ~

Search Ebay :

1 ml Industrial Syringes with 18G x 1-1/2" Blunt Tip Fill Needle

20161112_223800

Rick Buchman

I think the Syringes are a good idea. I recently ordered some from Amazon as well ironically.

John H posted:

My question is this: I rarely use smoke, so where does the black crud on my track come from? If fluid vapor dirties the track, the whole layout should require the same cleaning.

I've always assumed that it comes from the traction tires. My Christmas layout was an oval and the only part of the track that had black crud was the two 10" straights.

John H posted:

My question is this: I rarely use smoke, so where does the black crud on my track come from? If fluid vapor dirties the track, the whole layout should require the same cleaning.

Yes, before we switched to mega-steam we were cleaning everything all the time.  the landscape would have a sticky feel to it and the buildings would have a sticky feel to them.  there was even a time when a fog would take over the room.

now cleaning is just dusting.

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