PSA: stop using vegetable oil in your fog machines, I just cooked my heating block

I saw three different posts last week where people were using canola oil from the kitchen as fog fluid and it gunks up the element so bad you'll be buying a new unit in a month, has anyone else seen this mess yet?

2 comments

2 Comments

miller.jason10d ago

Yeah that's a classic rookie mistake. Vegetable oil burns at a way lower temperature than proper fog fluid so it carbonizes right onto the heating element. I've pulled apart three units that smelled like a fry cook died inside them. If you already did this, try running distilled water through the pump to flush out the residue before it hardens completely. But honestly once that gunk bakes on, the element is toast. Better to just buy a new machine and stick to real fog juice this time.

hugo_cooper9d ago

Whoa, I gotta push back on that a little @miller.jason. I've actually had decent luck cleaning the element with white vinegar, let it soak overnight and scrubbed it gently with a soft brush. Saved two machines that way, still running fine six months later.