Uuug and here I used to praise the Vuse. Originally I tried Mark Ten. I hated it. I tried Vuse about a year later. It convinced me I could give up cigs. I actually liked how it hit and loved the menthol. But after seeing this. Well I can no longer praise the wick. I think it is time to take apart some other cartos of cigalikes and see what their like inside.
The OP pulled it apart and torched a dry wick. Do the same with anything but silica and see what happens...