JT's Smoke Fluid...Brown Residue in Bottle

[Buckeye Riveter]

I bought a large bottle of JT's smoke fluid maybe 18-24 months ago.  My various smoke units including the burning switch tower just pour out smoke.  However, now I am seeing a brown residue at the bottom of the large bottle.

Anybody else seeing this?  I have shaken the bottle and over a 24 hour period the brown residue re-appears.  Is its shelf life coming to an end?  I have an older bottle of Lionel smoke fluid without any type of residue in the bottom.  Also, my LGB smoke fluid, which is stored outside has no residue.  Incidently, the large bottle of fluid is stored in a darkened area.

[ChiefEagles]

What "flavor"?  My diesel and coal fired steamer "flavors" have not.  Coal fired steamer bottle [a giant size] is two years old.  Could be a the additive to make the "smell". 

[Buckeye Riveter]

It is the vanilla flavor.

[pmilazzo]

I have the vanila scented one too, may be 2 years old and it has always had the brown "vanila bean residue" at the bottom since the day I bought it.  I usually just always give the bottle a good shake before I use it.  It never completely dissappears and I don't try to re-disolve it if that is even possible since my dropper leaks a little near the top.

If I shake the bottle more, I get more scent than if I just take the fluid unshaken.  Anyway, that is my observation, not a fact...May be JT can give you more insight on what's really going on. 

  

[Anonymous]

Guys,

         Do not shake the bottle.  Instead of the residue laying in the bottle, it will now gum up smoke unit wicks.  I only use "clear" scents, like Christmas pine, candy cane and apple harvest to name a few.  We should bring this to Jeff's attention.

[msacco]

I used vanilla for a while in my postwar heaters and it really left the wicking and chamber sticky, gummy and brown. Luckily these units can be cleaned easily. I've stopped using it in my modern stuff, the few engines I have. I have a full bottle too. I'm wondering if it's also gumming up my new engines' units. I don't dare open these up.

  I should also state that I love JT's but I'm not sure what this stuff is. Is it just Vanilla?

 Mike S.

[ChiefEagles]

Diesel and coal fired steamer.  Smells like the real McCoy.

[pmilazzo]

I haven't noticed any sticky brown residue in the smoke unit....YET...and I have replaced the wicking in some of my units.  So far I haven't sucked any of the brown stuff into the eye dropper either to spread it either.  I am guilty of shaking up the bottle to get more of the vanila smell infused into the fluid (at least that what I hope does).

[Anonymous]

Chief,

        Did you ever try MTH diesel fluid? If you think Diesel Power MS smells like the real thing, try the MTH.  Much stronger scent, guaranted to make unwanted guests leave.

[ChiefEagles]

PEW!!!!  Got several bottles.  Not my favorite.  Will smoke up a storm though.  Wife really complains then.  Exhaust fan helps.  Think I needed two exhaust fans.

[zwbob]

This topic came up on the other forum(OGR) about a year ago. The guy that started it really blasted JT. I looked at all my smoke units back then and didn't notice any problems. I'm still using the vanilla, cinnamon roll, candycane and bacon. The vanilla is the only one with the residue. I did have a seuthe unit in a williams steam engine quit using the vanilla. The seuthe unit in my diner is fine with the bacon scent.

[vbkostur]

a little off the topic but what is the genereal theory about mixing smoke fluid(i am sure this has been addressed a half dozen times) with different brand smokers. like putting lionel fluid in mth engine and vice versa and then where does jt's smoke fit into all of this? thanks