Burned Taste After Cleaning

[Meggiewegs]

Hello!

Just attempted my first cleaning and dry burning on a CE4 Clearomizer. My juice is completely flavorless now and all I taste is burned yuck. Someone please tell me where I went wrong!

I used this clearomizer for 1-2 weeks and started getting the funky taste/poor flavor, so I watched videos and decided to clean it.

I emptied the remaining juice. I put a little water in the tank and shook it around, then shook it out (did this about 6 times). I let the tank dry overnight. The wicks looked dry. I burned until I could see the hot coil and no more vapor was coming out. I rinsed twice. I put my juice in and let it sit for a few minutes, then vaped.

I did load it with a juice I had not tried before, so I don't know if the juice is just crap or not. Just wondering if I did something wrong in my cleaning steps.

Suggestions?

 

[440BB]

It sounds like you did a good dry burn. One thing to check is whether there is any ash from the burned gunk remaining on your coil, as if it remains it could cause this. You can use a wooden toothpick to gently remove stuck ash after dry burning, before rinsing. If it tastes like burning rubber, it could be that the rubber grommet around the bottom pin is singed.

If you have a variable voltage device, it may be set too high, and I would drop the voltage. Some liquids start to taste burnt at a lower power level, especially sweet ones. If you have another device, try the juice in that to see if it's the problem. Good luck!

 

[Hill]

It may simply be that your wicks may not be wicking enough juice or there is still water in them. Give it a good tilt and twirl then give it another go. Hope it works for ya.

 

[Trayce]

Sounds to me like you burned the wick... or charred the rubber grommet (post insulator) in the head.

I know silica is supposed to be able to be dry-burned but that's when it's new. After using a wick it gets coated with deposits and residue from the juice, then if you dry-burn it, you're burning/frying all that residue right into the wick permanently.

I don't use silica, but if I did, I'd buy some silica wick and do everything you did except I would remove the used wick and toss it, and dry-burn without the wick in it... then after the coil is clean, insert a new silica wick.

But dry-burning isn't as widely recommended anymore b/c people found it can char the rubber post insulator and from then on the vape will have a horrid rubber burny taste.

So might just be the wick. Might be the grommet. Might be both.

I don't know who makes a CE4 but Kanger came out with new heads that use a silicone grommet to eliminate the charred rubber burny taste. If you happen to be using one of those new heads, your problem, imho, is almost certainly a burnt wick.

 

[Meggiewegs]

Update:

I tried it again and had the same result, so I took the whole thing apart. I had only refilled the tank like 2 or 3 times before attempting this. Is that as long as they're supposed to last? Seems like I'm looking at a more expensive hobby than I thought, if that's the case.
I felt like a surgeon in there with tweezers and x-acto knives!

There were apparently 2 wicks in there. I pulled one out and it was totally charred dark brown. I took it out. Tried to clean it off, but I ended up just unraveling the thing and couldn't get it back in. Hell with it. I put the little plastic part back on w/the nipple and vaped. Burned taste was almost entirely gone, juice is still not awesome but had flavor. The plastic part doesn't fit flush now so I do get a bit of vapor kicking back into the tank. But it seems to work.

I think I got a poor type of clearomizer. It would have been a lot easier to clean if the bottom would come off. I guess this doesn't have a replaceable coil, either.

I'm going to be getting a Kanger Pro-Tank soon, so I'm not super worried about it. I'll probably stay away from these clearomizers now.

 

[Trayce]

Update:

I tried it again and had the same result, so I took the whole thing apart. I had only refilled the tank like 2 or 3 times before attempting this. Is that as long as they're supposed to last? Seems like I'm looking at a more expensive hobby than I thought, if that's the case.
I felt like a surgeon in there with tweezers and x-acto knives!

A head/coil will last different amounts of time depending on many factors. The juice, for one. Juice that has sugars in it (usually non-clear juices, like honey colored or darker) will gunk up the coil quicker than clear juice.

There were apparently 2 wicks in there. I pulled one out and it was totally charred dark brown. I took it out. Tried to clean it off, but I ended up just unraveling the thing and couldn't get it back in. Hell with it.

The main wick is inside the coil. The little wicks that sit on top of the main wick/coil are called flavor wicks. Some heads have one, two or even three flavor wicks. But one or two is more common than three.

I put the little plastic part back on w/the nipple and vaped. Burned taste was almost entirely gone, juice is still not awesome but had flavor.

There was likely less flavor because you removed the flavor wick (necessarily since it was burned, but would have been ideal to replace it with a fresh one). The main wick is probably also burned, so it won't taste really great again until you either replace the wick or, replace the entire head.

The plastic part doesn't fit flush now so I do get a bit of vapor kicking back into the tank. But it seems to work.

Don't know what piece you mean, but it should have all gone back together correctly.

I think I got a poor type of clearomizer. It would have been a lot easier to clean if the bottom would come off. I guess this doesn't have a replaceable coil, either.

CE4s are common clearo's, I've just never owned one so I know nothing about it. However a quick Google search revealed they DO make replacement heads for it. I don't believe there is any clearo that doesn't have replacement heads.

I'm going to be getting a Kanger Pro-Tank soon, so I'm not super worried about it. I'll probably stay away from these clearomizers now.

If they have worked well for you in the past no need to dump the device. Just get some new heads. IAC if getting a Protank I would recommend watching YouTube vids by people like Grimm Green, PBusardo and Rip Trippers to learn how to rebuild heads. That way you only have to have a few heads and buy organic cotton and wire, and you can rebuild them instead of having to buy more constantly. Also, cotton wicks better than silica.

There are many helpful threads on ECF too... read and learn... save money and enjoy a better vape. Good luck.

 

[Meggiewegs]

Yeah I would have liked to replace what I took out, but I don't have any other supplies. Didn't know I would need to work on them so soon. I had assumed they were wash n' go type equipment. The plastic part I was referring to is the clear, rubbery stopper that sits on top of the cylinder inside the tank that holds the nipple piece.

There didn't seem to be any way to take replace the head (the part that holds the wicks?). I poked and prodded and it was really in there. I didn't want to force it too much in case it wasn't supposed to come out. And the bottom (coil?) would not come apart no matter how hard I twisted and pulled. I watched a few videos and others seemed to be made to come apart, maybe mine is a different/cheap one? IDK.

So if you use cotton wicks, they don't burn? Or is the intent that they are just quickly replaced once they get gunked up ? So, in theory for me right now, I get some cotton wicks and wrap them myself to the coil?

 

[Mark Anthony]

Update:

I tried it again and had the same result, so I took the whole thing apart. I had only refilled the tank like 2 or 3 times before attempting this. Is that as long as they're supposed to last? Seems like I'm looking at a more expensive hobby than I thought, if that's the case.
I felt like a surgeon in there with tweezers and x-acto knives!

There were apparently 2 wicks in there. I pulled one out and it was totally charred dark brown. I took it out. Tried to clean it off, but I ended up just unraveling the thing and couldn't get it back in. Hell with it. I put the little plastic part back on w/the nipple and vaped. Burned taste was almost entirely gone, juice is still not awesome but had flavor. The plastic part doesn't fit flush now so I do get a bit of vapor kicking back into the tank. But it seems to work.

I think I got a poor type of clearomizer. It would have been a lot easier to clean if the bottom would come off. I guess this doesn't have a replaceable coil, either.

I'm going to be getting a Kanger Pro-Tank soon, so I'm not super worried about it. I'll probably stay away from these clearomizers now.

Try taking those burnt flavor wicks out and replacing with organic cotton..... see if that helps.

 

[Trayce]

Yeah I would have liked to replace what I took out, but I don't have any other supplies. Didn't know I would need to work on them so soon. I had assumed they were wash n' go type equipment. The plastic part I was referring to is the clear, rubbery stopper that sits on top of the cylinder inside the tank that holds the nipple piece.

There didn't seem to be any way to take replace the head (the part that holds the wicks?). I poked and prodded and it was really in there. I didn't want to force it too much in case it wasn't supposed to come out. And the bottom (coil?) would not come apart no matter how hard I twisted and pulled. I watched a few videos and others seemed to be made to come apart, maybe mine is a different/cheap one? IDK.

Heads are disposable unless you want to rebuild them, so they aren't really 'wash and go' ... maybe you can get away with that once, especially if you rewick, but for the most part when I head is no longer performing it likely needs to be replaced or rebuilt.

When I Googled "CE4 replacement head" I got lots of links to pics of it taken apart, etc. But it does me no good to see it. You're the one who needs to Google your exact clearomizer model and find out how it comes apart and how to replace the head. Cotton might extend your present head some, but the coil will also need replacing. So again, the choice is either to buy replacement heads in quantity as disposable items and replace one whenever you have problems.... OR to buy maybe 1 5-pack, then learn to rebuild them and never have to buy them again.

So if you use cotton wicks, they don't burn? Or is the intent that they are just quickly replaced once they get gunked up ? So, in theory for me right now, I get some cotton wicks and wrap them myself to the coil?

Cotton wicks better than silica, so the chances of a dry hit are nil assuming the wicks are wet with juice as they should be from a properly working tank, containing juice... and that you are vaping with powers that aren't burning your juice up.

Whether or not replacing your existing wicks with cotton will now save your present head depends on the condition of the coil. If the coil is in great shape and the only thing wrong is the burnt wick, then replacing it with a cotton wick and priming it with juice should get you back in business. But heads are not made to last forever, so you will need to buy replacement heads regardless. (And you don't wrap cotton around a coil... you thread it through the coil.)

I'd recommend reading some threads on cotton wicking, and looking for a YouTube vid that is specially about rebuilding the CE4 head, if one exists. I noticed that's a top-wick device, like the Vivi Nova. I only use BCCs like the Protank so am not familar with rebuilding that type of head, but people certainly do. Good luck.

PS might look at these: rebuild CE4 head clearo - YouTube

 

[440BB]

It sounds like you have a typical CE4, not one with replaceable heads. They aren't designed for rebuilding or rewicking, just disposable. The burnt taste may just be bad wicking, as was posted earlier. Time for a new one, or a CE4+/CE5, which has the replaceable head. Some last for a few weeks, some a week or so.

One thing that helps their life is to rinse with hot water after every couple refills, so that the coil and wick can't build up too quickly.

 

[Trayce]

It sounds like you have a typical CE4, not one with replaceable heads. They aren't designed for rebuilding or rewicking, just disposable.

Wow, had no idea they made a disposable clearo! That sucks!

 

[Meggiewegs]

Hahaha

I swear, I shopped around and thought I was getting a pretty decent starter kit for the money I spent.
Now I am seeing tons of things I should have got instead. I even got off-brand and some places have real ones with 2x the clearos. The one I took apart isn't pulling as much flavor, but it works for now.

Why is life so hard?

Anyway, lesson learned. Got my Kanger, some rebuildable clearos and a few atomizers coming in a few days and just got my Vapor Chef order. It was like a unicorn exploded all over my face. So I'm happy.

 

[Kobe]

I bought a kit with 2 ce4s and had a similar experience. One is goin on its 3rd tank and the other stopped working after a tank and a half. I attempted a rebiild on it but gave up trying to get the coil back in place. When the other conks out im just gonna throw it away and use my tabks that have replaceable coils.
Dont feel like u got jipped. Its part of the learning experience and now you have a prettt good understanding of how it works.
I do think they should stop selling those ce4s in beginner kits now. If both of my ce4s stopped at the same time I woulda been back on an anolog in no time. But I guess as long as theres inventory they will be sold.

sent from SAMSUNG mobile

 

[Meggiewegs]

My husband said something similar when he asked how it was going. I told him my other CE4 was starting to taste bad and I might have to try cleaning it again. I don't get my new stuff until probably Thursday. He asked if I was going to go buy a pack in the meantime.

Yeah right. Like I could smoke again after this.