Our toy trains are designed for an oil based smoke fluid.  Manufacturers even suggest what types to use.  Water based fluids are NOT recommended for our trains.  The best advice is to use a smoke fluid specifically made for our trains such as MTH, Mega Steam, or Lionel. 

Absolutely agree with Marty,…plus in our world water & electronics do not mix well…….

Pat

Boy... here's a question I always wanted to see asked on this forum!  Why hasn't anyone asked before?

Jon

@KOOLjock1 posted:

... Why hasn't anyone asked before?

It has and here but such discussions are usually deleted. Possibly referenced here, here and here. Somewhat informative links here.

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Boy... here's a question I always wanted to see asked on this forum!  Why hasn't anyone asked before?

Jon

@Überstationmeister posted:

It has. Here too. And here or here. Informative links here too. Possibly also here.

I think Jon forgot to add the "SARCASM EMOJI!"

But the OP is relatively new to the forum so he may have not seen the posts from the past.

Just go with the MegaSteam "NADA" for odorless.

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Boy... here's a question I always wanted to see asked on this forum!  Why hasn't anyone asked before?

Jon

Now, about those TVS diodes...

Honestly when it comes to smoke there’s never truly been a sent-less fluid. I know of some that have used mineral oil can’t say what the smell was. I think the main issue is once it starts to stink it won’t matter what you put in it always stinks. The first thing I would try is the mega-steam eliminator, it’s made to take out that bad smell. I’ve used it with decent results. If that brings no joy I think the next step is to open it up replace batting check/ clean the element and go from there.

@MartyE posted:

I think Jon forgot to add the "SARCASM EMOJI!"

But the OP is relatively new to the forum so he may have not seen the posts from the past.

Somebody's got to show me where to find that thing....

Hey Robert Coniglio... don't you have a thread on this topic?

Jon

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Somebody's got to show me where to find that thing....

Here you go Jon!

LOL!

ROTFLMAO!

Jon

@ADCX Rob posted:

Just go with the MegaSteam "NADA" for odorless.

Rob , since the smoke fluid " NADA "  does require the heating of the fluid to make the " smoke "  wouldn't there still be a sort of stale odor left over in different surfaces . 🤔

I only ask because I think there is a certain odor that seems to linger in adjacent rooms that doesn't reflect the original scent but more like maybe there was a stale cigar scent.😕

  I don't run a lot of smoke .  I most often use lemon scent or Christmas . I will only run the smoke on " minimum "  most of the time and my wife finds the scents pleasant.   The only time I get complaints come when I use "Maximum ".  It does seem to change the scent to a more burning ( for lack of a better description ) odor.

I like the 'original' Lionel smoke pellet scent.

I use MegaSteam Clove Sensation, my wife likes how it smells.

How about using short punks of various scents? Sorry! Just kidding! Ethylene Glycol has an unpleasant sweet smell. I am flabbergasted that it Ethylene Glycol is in toy train smoke fluid! Are you kidding about this?

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Boy... here's a question I always wanted to see asked on this forum!  Why hasn't anyone asked before?

Jon

The reason you never see this topic is the mods always block and remove them.

@Bobby Ogage posted:

How about using short punks of various scents? Sorry! Just kidding! Ethylene Glycol has an unpleasant sweet smell. I am flabbergasted that it Ethylene Glycol is in toy train smoke fluid! Are you kidding about this?

Model train smoke fluid is predominantly mineral oil, there is no Ethylene Glycol in it AFAIK.

I use cedar-wood essential oil. it gets really strong, but it works great.