# Choo Choo! What exactly IS liquid smoke for model steam engines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 1, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choo-choo-what-exactly-is-liquid-smoke-for-model-steam-engines/216309 "2003-12-01T18:54:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choo-choo-what-exactly-is-liquid-smoke-for-model-steam-engines/216309/1 "2003-12-01T18:54:19Z")
Damn, I hate having to fork over money for liquid smoke for my model railroads. I don’t even want all the smoke, but the engines I have shouldn’t run dry or the smoke element will burn out (so I’ve heard). I run O gauge Lionel engines, and I can’t let my steam engines run and run or they’ll go dry and the smoker element will burn up, and when I’m out of the stuff I have to get some from the local hobby shop (inconveniently located) and pay money for something which I suspect is just basic crap I have around my house packaged as something fancier. So, what is the ingredient that is the clear liquid that I add to my steam engines anyway? Can I find it around my house or buy it somewhere other than a hobby shop? (Use this as a referecnce: Pool and Spa stores charge high prices for fancy “alkalinity increasers” that are nothing more than repackaged backing soda. I have a hunch that engine smoke fluid is some common oil I have in my home being sold under new packaging and inflated prices) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choo-choo-what-exactly-is-liquid-smoke-for-model-steam-engines/216309/2 "2003-12-01T19:49:00Z")
I had a cheap larger-scale toy locomtive which used cooking oil; a few drops into a small orifice in the smoke-stack. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choo-choo-what-exactly-is-liquid-smoke-for-model-steam-engines/216309/3 "2003-12-01T19:50:02Z")
Why not just disconnect the smoke elements, or even better install a switch (so you can have smoke or not depending on your mode - install the switch on the bottom frame, or perhaps on the pilot somewhere (assuming it’s not a 0-x-0 locomotive). I guess us real model railroaders can assume you’re not using DCC (sniff, sniff - oh those peasants) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choo-choo-what-exactly-is-liquid-smoke-for-model-steam-engines/216309/4 "2003-12-01T20:36:18Z")
It sounds kinda like [Fog Juice](http://www.fogmachinesandhazers.com/fluids-standard-fog-juice.html) to me. I don’t know if it’s actually the same stuff, though, having never played with a cool train set. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choo-choo-what-exactly-is-liquid-smoke-for-model-steam-engines/216309/5 "2003-12-01T21:11:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Duality \* > \*\*I had a cheap larger-scale toy locomtive which used cooking oil; a few drops into a small orifice in the smoke-stack. \*\* Same here. The instructions also state that you can use household silicone oil as an alternative.