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Juice discoloration in RTA's ?

Bigrick

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
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So my experience with rta's is limited to a few older models. I have previous experience with rdas and really enjoy them for their flavor. I have previously been using tanks with RBA decks or drop in atomizers. So here's my question. It appears as though with the rta's that the wicking darkens the juice considerably after a bit of use. I tried to stick with light-colored juices so my coils and such will last as long as possible. I know that's a darkening of the coloration is from the circulation of the juice through the coils and wicking. I guess I want to know if this is with all RTA? Is it just the rta's that I am using? And why doesn't it happen with the RBA Decks that I use? It is no tremendous issue it does not appear to change the taste of the juice and I do not allow my wicking to burn if possible. So is there any remedy for this? Or is it just something that I have to deal with? Sorry to seem like a noob here but I'm just curious. Peace and love from Sunny Clearwater Florida. Big Rick.
 

Heartsdelight

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Member For 5 Years
Iirc it has something to do with the heat of the coil & the way it heats up the juice on the coil that causes the darkening. I can’t remember exactly but I think the remedy was to try & turn up the wattage? So the juice doesn’t caramelize on the coil?
 

Bigrick

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
Iirc it has something to do with the heat of the coil & the way it heats up the juice on the coil that causes the darkening. I can’t remember exactly but I think the remedy was to try & turn up the wattage? So the juice doesn’t caramelize on the coil?

I will try that. However I don't believe that that is the problem. Whenever I change my wicking I noticed it is darker where it has come in contact with the coil. Perhaps that is caramelization and it is mixing in with the juice. I will try both raising the wattage and lowering it. It's not a big deal the flavor doesn't change. But visually I put a very lightly colored juice and soon turns amber colored. I only have experience with three RTA. And iJoy EXO, a wotofo Bravo, and a serpent Mini. All three do it and I have just grown accustomed to it. I am sure it is operator error. But they always work so well. I have had no problems with dry hits or leaking. They just all work really well except for darkening my juice in the tank. Thank you for your reply. And I am looking forward 2 purchasing or Trading for a more up-to-date RTA.
 

Theboss

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I will try that. However I don't believe that that is the problem. Whenever I change my wicking I noticed it is darker where it has come in contact with the coil. Perhaps that is caramelization and it is mixing in with the juice. I will try both raising the wattage and lowering it. It's not a big deal the flavor doesn't change. But visually I put a very lightly colored juice and soon turns amber colored. I only have experience with three RTA. And iJoy EXO, a wotofo Bravo, and a serpent Mini. All three do it and I have just grown accustomed to it. I am sure it is operator error. But they always work so well. I have had no problems with dry hits or leaking. They just all work really well except for darkening my juice in the tank. Thank you for your reply. And I am looking forward 2 purchasing or Trading for a more up-to-date RTA.
I was a big RTA vaper at one point and every single one of them did what you describe. You'll notice it more when you're due to rewick and dry burn. It's completely normal and is the sugars accumulated on the coil(s) as I think some above mentioned.
 
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SteveS45

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Member For 5 Years
Darkening of e--Liquid is caused by a gunked up coil in my experience. The coil is sitting in burned or gunked up e-Liquid so it seeps back into the tank. Just an observation from my experience you know.
 
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Heartsdelight

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I will try that. However I don't believe that that is the problem. Whenever I change my wicking I noticed it is darker where it has come in contact with the coil. Perhaps that is caramelization and it is mixing in with the juice. I will try both raising the wattage and lowering it. It's not a big deal the flavor doesn't change. But visually I put a very lightly colored juice and soon turns amber colored. I only have experience with three RTA. And iJoy EXO, a wotofo Bravo, and a serpent Mini. All three do it and I have just grown accustomed to it. I am sure it is operator error. But they always work so well. I have had no problems with dry hits or leaking. They just all work really well except for darkening my juice in the tank. Thank you for your reply. And I am looking forward 2 purchasing or Trading for a more up-to-date RTA.
I do think there is a remedy though, I just can’t remember what it is right now :D

Hopefully someone else will pop in & tell us :p
 

Bigrick

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Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
I was a big RTA vaper at one point and every single on of them did what you describe. You'll notice it more when you're due to rewick and dry burn. It's completely normal and is the sugars accumulated on the coil(s) as I think some above mentioned.
Thank you for your reply. I figured it was pretty normal. The nature of the beast. I do dry burn and re-wick often. Flavor is most always on point. I know I am using old equipment but, it just works so well. I love my rda's. DR, Apocalypse clone, NADA, even my Wotofo Lush Plus, Wasp Nano, etc. I do not always squonk and a rta taste much better than my Smok tanks with or without rba when I am on the go.
 

Theboss

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Thank you for your reply. I figured it was pretty normal. The nature of the beast. I do dry burn and re-wick often. Flavor is most always on point. I know I am using old equipment but, it just works so well. I love my rda's. DR, Apocalypse clone, NADA, even my Wotofo Lush Plus, Wasp Nano, etc. I do not always squonk and a rta taste much better than my Smok tanks with or without rba when I am on the go.
:cheers:
Makes sense that you enjoy switching it up between your rda's and an rta, I was the same way. Variety is nice and sometimes circumstances and convenience dictated what I'd use. It also doesn't matter how old your gear is, if it's working and you like it, that's all that counts!
 

Jinx'd

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Member For 2 Years
in my experience it is not normal, it just doesn't happen to me. perhaps I am wicking tight enough, or to tight, idk. and my coils can get so gunked up it not even funny.

I was thinking that its your nic oxidizing, idk
 

JayFiST

Member For 4 Years
in my experience it is not normal, it just doesn't happen to me. perhaps I am wicking tight enough, or to tight, idk. and my coils can get so gunked up it not even funny.

I was thinking that its your nic oxidizing, idk
I don't know about you but every time I re wick any coils I always burn my coils red hot and clean my deck and other parts in dishwashing liquid then burn them again.

Sent from my Mi MIX 2S using Tapatalk
 

Bigrick

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
Always burn and clean deck up. Probably not as thorough on the cleaning part as you are though. Today I recieved my first very good rta. A Glaz, so we will see if this continues. As I memtioned must be operator error. But we shall see.
 

St.Roostifer

Gold Contributor
Member For 5 Years
I think the amount of sweetener in the juices plays a role in gunking up the coil faster. To me it looks like the caramelizing happens when's there's too much sweetener and the gunk-up on the coil is from the coil not being able to vaporize all of the sweetener. When I switched to juices that use less sweetener my builds started lasting longer. Just my two pennies worth.:)
 

Bigrick

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Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
I do not have issues with the length of time my builds last. My good coils last months and I wick about once a week wheather they need it or not. I do not feel I use overly sweet juice either. So I am, once again convinced it is operator error. I thin the tails out pretty well but also I do not have leaks.
 

MyMagicMist

Diamond Contributor
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Member For 5 Years
I was thinking that its your nic oxidizing, idk

Bump. Nicotine oxidation happens in tanks. As you vape air filters into the tank to help keep the vacuum pressure. Air meets nicotine in the juice/s and oxidation happens. I'm sure flavorings of any kind have chemical break downs that might shift in color due to oxidation as well. Granted I'm not always the brightest wax pigment stick in the box, but you're asking for a possible hypothesis, that's mine. I would chalk it up to the "shit happens" column in vaping & not be too overly engrossed by it.
 

SteveS45

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ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Bump. Nicotine oxidation happens in tanks. As you vape air filters into the tank to help keep the vacuum pressure. Air meets nicotine in the juice/s and oxidation happens. I'm sure flavorings of any kind have chemical break downs that might shift in color due to oxidation as well. Granted I'm not always the brightest wax pigment stick in the box, but you're asking for a possible hypothesis, that's mine.

Also if you chain vape like me, on the beach your tank can get so HOT you need to put it in the cooler for a few minutes. Nicotine Oxides over 150°F and that darkens the e-Liquid really fast~! .
 

Jinx'd

Platinum Contributor
Member For 2 Years
I have a sub-ohm tank, that I had not used in many weeks, but juice left in it. the juice did get a little darker. I think it's from the gunk wicking off the cotton over time.
 

Jinx'd

Platinum Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Also if you chain vape like me, on the beach your tank can get so HOT you need to put it in the cooler for a few minutes. Nicotine Oxides over 150°F and that darkens the e-Liquid really fast~! .

I do sometimes. and I have not noticed that happening. maybe I am not doing it as much as you. but this bitch can get pretty hot.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I have a sub-ohm tank, that I had not used in many weeks, but juice left in it. the juice did get a little darker. I think it's from the gunk wicking off the cotton over time.

Gunk and Oxidation is why. I had had e-Liquid turn Black when left in a tank.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I do sometimes. and I have not noticed that happening. maybe I am not doing it as much as you. but this bitch can get pretty hot.

At the beach Sunday with temps in the high 90's my tank got so freaking hot I put it the cooler for a few minutes~! The MOD wasn't hot just the tank.
 

Grandpa

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I vape all vg, no flavors. If I have a RTA that has old coils and old cotton and I let it sit for awhile without using it, the juice in the tank will get dark. It doesn't seem to hurt the juice but it is a clue that everything needs to be changed out and cleaned up. I have a couple that are sitting around like that now. Time to get to work...
 

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