I have been using Megasteam exclusively in my Legacy,MTH,even Williams engines for years and have had absolutely no problems with Megasteam.
I have been using Mega-Steam in all my engines for years and have had no issues with my smoke units. As others have said moderation of quantity of fluid use is key. I also think that Lionel needs to put this policy in writing if they plan on not warranting smoke unit issues if someone uses fluid other than their own.
I have always used JT Megasteam fluid and have not experienced any problems. I cannot say that it produces the most smoke or lasts the longest but it certainly hasn't damaged anything. The only thing that I have found is that you must be careful to not over saturate the smoking caboose units as, too much fluid will take a long time to burn off, and it stops the production of smoke in the process. I don't believe that the caboose units were ever perfected.
CSX Al posted:I also think that Lionel needs to put this policy in writing if they plan on not warranting smoke unit issues if someone uses fluid other than their own.
I agree with that 100%. It needs to be in writing and not mentioned at the time of RMA.
JT's Mega-Steam is alive and well. Mega-Steam is safe to use in all manufacturer's smoke units and all scales...PERIOD. We test and re-test our fluids on our large layout so that the product you purchase is of the very best quality...that is our pledge. We are proud of our 15 years of service to the hobby. Mega-Steam is consistent. Our product is the same product yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We are transparent in that what you see is what you get...PERIOD. We are transparent. You know who makes and sells our product and that product is proudly made here in the U.S.A. Our customer service is built on putting the customer first and our reputation is SOLID. Certainly, this is a threat to the larger manufacturers and they would have you believe that our smoke fluid will hurt your unit or void any warrantee. They would like nothing better than to have Mega-Steam's reputation destroyed. Why? It is pure GREED!
Our hobby offers lots of choices from model trains, power controls, accessories, and even smoke fluids. Hobbists are free to use whatever product they deem to work best in their systems. It is a personal thing and very subjective. We, at JT's Mega-Steam provide our services and products so that everyone can enjoy the hobby in whatever manner they choose. PERIOD.
If customers have questions or concerns, they can always contact us for explanations and help. That is our pledge to all of our customers, for without customers, we don't have a business...PERIOD!
Jeb & Nancy Kriigel,
JT's Mega-Steam "World's Finest Smoke Fluid!"
Well said Jeb!
I have be a Mega-Steam user and supporter since they first started. They are a first class company. And if you have an issue or concern, they are available to discuss it with you.
Hi Jeb and Nancy, I admire your entrepreneurship! I do have a question regarding MegaSteam: is it a conductor?
You mean a conductor of electricity?
Actually, I would like a list of ingredients like you get food products. I would like to know what I am breathing when I run it. I do like the Cedar Megasteam scent, by the way. I can only hope it's not any worse than vapor in a cedar paneled closet 
RickM46 posted:Hi Jeb and Nancy, I admire your entrepreneurship! I do have a question regarding MegaSteam: is it a conductor?
Megasteam can answer for themselves but as I researched this issue a while back the answer is that smoke fluid generally for 3rail smoke units is NOT a conductor of electricity. And no one, including Lionel, has ever suggested it is. The residue can gum up things (including track surfaces and indeed the painted surfaces of rolling stock) but it doesn't cause electrical shorting.
There was some issue during the first months of the Big Boy engine where smoke fluid was blamed for ruining expensive circuit boards. I wonder why a soaked board couldn't just be washed clean of the smoke fluid oil and returned to service.
I use baby oil (AKA mineral oil) bought from my local pharmacy which I cut 50% by volume using a scented train smoke. I have been doing this since 2009 without any deleterious effects to the 30+ MTH steam engines on my railroad smoke units.
cjack posted:There was some issue during the first months of the Big Boy engine where smoke fluid was blamed for ruining expensive circuit boards. I wonder why a soaked board couldn't just be washed clean of the smoke fluid oil and returned to service.
The only reasonble explanation I can think of is expected results from temperature monitoring and modification of the circuit using that data wouldn't match the intended end result.
It is possible some logic circuit saw a natural ground by some dialectic effect or something I suppose. Layer saturation on top of it? Layer saturation creating ??? Capacitance charges beween layers?? etc.
CJACK,
As with most smoke fluids, Mega-Steam is non-conductive. Flooding locomotives with fluid will make a mess and possibly have some reaction with the sensitive electronics. Regarding the ingredients question: All of our ingredients are as pure as possible, quality controlled to avoid contamination, and are eco-earth friendly and non-flammable when used as directed. Mega-Steam started with 2 basic scents...Vanilla and Original Cedar. This idea was to create smoke fluid that would be pleasant to the home environment. Back then most of the fluid had a peculiar odor and was not pleasant to spouses and/or significant others. From that time forward we have worked meticulousy to create light pleasant scents that are indeed pleasing to most people. It is very subjective and personal. Each of our scents has its own proprietary formula that took several years to experiment with and develop. Unfortunately, we cannot provide those individual ingredients for obvious reasons.
As with all smoke fluids, visicosity (thickness) is another factor that needs to be mentioned. Our standard mid-range viscosity is such that our fluid is safe in all scales and all manufacturer's models. From a chemistry viewpoint, the thicker the viscosity, the slower vaporization and the more droplets will be thrown out on the track and buildings as the flashpoint is higher; the thinner the viscosity, the faster vaporization with occur and the flashpoint or ignition factor goes lower which could possibly ignite. It is important to us and our customers that our viscosity is safe. We will not sacrifice safety.
Above all, common sense is important no matter which smoke fluid is used. Following directions and not underfilling or overfilling are key factors when using smoke fluids. Care has to be taken to achieve the desired results. As mentioned earlier in this thread, smoke fluid is vaporized, not burned. No carbon is produced.
It is hoped that these notes will help answer the questions posed. Further questions and individual concerns can be posed directly to us.
Jeb
Is the ELIMINATOR a different product? Produced differently?
If it will eliminate bad smells, is it some sort of cleaning agent?
Thanks
Wow. Just wow. My friend said that this guy told him that another guy told him brand A doesn't gunk resistors, turns into implicit accusations that brand M causes gunk. No only with no facts, but without anybody even stepping up to actually make the assertion. This is pretty crappy.
I use both these brands and like them both, but I am not going to be scared away from megasteam by histrionics.
pennsy484 posted:Wow. Just wow. My friend said that this guy told him that another guy told him brand A doesn't gunk resistors, turns into implicit accusations that brand M causes gunk. No only with no facts, but without anybody even stepping up to actually make the assertion. This is pretty crappy.
Crappy indeed but it wasn’t just gossip/implicit accusations but an actual manufacturer comment. If their later model smoke units are not designed to use the most popular fluids so be it but earlier models and probably the vast majority of other smoke units out there demonstrably can. So I’m scared off brand M for what I know it works well with.
I was thinking that any fluid would produce a little coating after awhile and the eliminator would eliminate it. Sounds like a good thing...
This discussion could go on forever, since the original question was asking about the "BEST" smoke fluid.
Like most things, I guess, one's definition of "best" is based on one's own experiences...
Mark in Oregon
Hancock52 posted: Crappy indeed but it wasn’t just gossip/implicit accusations but an actual manufacturer comment.
Well, idk, was it? I don't see any comment here by Lionel. Nor do I even see a comment by any ex-employee of Lionel's. It's someone saying someone told them that an ex employee said Lionel brand doesn't cause gunk. That is not Lionel saying Megasteam causes gunk. That's all I am saying Seems crappy to be throwing a long time favorite maker under the bus based on flimsy conjecture. I am not entirely sure this whole thread isn't a bit of trolling with a seeming innocent but loaded question. Like I said I use bith, but there seems to be something mob like and unfair going on here. Opinion.
I think JT said it all. The viscosity probably has to do with if it leaves a little residue or not, but more importantly, the viscosity has to do with safe vaporization. If it is too thin, it can be less safe as to flame. So it's a call by the manufacturers for the range of their intended application. I would think it's better to stay on the safe side even though you may not have had any issues with a thinner product. And, the testimonials by respected repair guys and the general users is varied, but also satisfying in that it means that your choice of brand of smoke fluid is mostly up to you. For the brands mentioned here, I think that there is no bad choice. I personally like the Mega-Steam Cedar for some uses and the Premium Lionel for others or at other times.
