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Sub Tank Leaking

Het

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I purchased two sub tanks a while back. I wasn't impressed with my first one, which I gave away months ago because it leaked. I've been very satisfied with these two using the .5 ohm coil they supply. About a week ago, one of them started leaking. I cleaned it and set it aside. Last night, the second one started leaking. I figured it was time to look into it. I cleaned the other one, and dried it off. Not wanting to mess with building coils at the time, I installed the 1.5 ohm coils in both. Everything was going well. They were producing great hits and smoke. I set them down for a while and puffed on a different setup. Went to pick up the sub tank again, and juice was everywhere. Looked at the other one, and it was sitting in a puddle of juice on the coffee table, as well. I disassembled both, making sure all gaskets were in place, put them back together, tightening the coils down a bit more than before, filled them, and had the same experience a few minutes later. Anyone know what's going on?
 

Zamazam

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There's a vacuum break somewhere on the tank for that to happen. The o rings may look sound, but they might have shrunk ever so slightly with age. Another culprit is the o ring on the base section. It may of gotten compressed by opening and re-tightening the base down after refilling with juice. The tanks come with a set of spare o rings, put them on and test.
 

Het

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I should have mentioned, the juice is leaking out of the air holes.
 

Zamazam

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For that much juice to leak, creating a puddle, it's a vacuum break somewhere on the tank.
 

vuJim

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To add to @Zamazam's comments: I suspect people are sometimes over-tightening these things. Properly-mated surfaces with seals (o-rings, in this case) don't need to be wrenched-on. Over-tightening will distort the surfaces and the seals, and result in premature wear on the seals.

I think I gave one of these examples, here, before: In the end of the female half of a garden hose coupling will be a flat washer. When those couplings are in good condition (i.e.: Haven't yet been run over by the car) and the washer in good shape: You can easily hand-tighten those ends together and no leak. If either of the couplings is damaged or that flat washer gets old and loses its elasticity: You can't get that coupling to stop leaking with a pair of pipe wrenches.

Same thing with old-style gate valve faucets: Once their gaskets lose their elasticity there's no stopping them from dripping, no matter how hard you wrench on that handle. (Hint: You can extend the service interval of such valves by closing them only as firmly as necessary to get the water to stop, rather than wrenching them tightly closed all the time.)
 

Het

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I never thought about the vacuum possibilities. I figured i had to be the gasket on the bottom of the coil itself. I replaced the bottom ring, and have been puffing on it for a few hours and all's good, so far. Thanks.
 

Het

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Woke up in the middle of the night to drain the dragon, went to take a puff, and all the juice had leaked out. Back to the drawing board.
 

skt239

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I purchased two sub tanks a while back. I wasn't impressed with my first one, which I gave away months ago because it leaked. I've been very satisfied with these two using the .5 ohm coil they supply. About a week ago, one of them started leaking. I cleaned it and set it aside. Last night, the second one started leaking. I figured it was time to look into it. I cleaned the other one, and dried it off. Not wanting to mess with building coils at the time, I installed the 1.5 ohm coils in both. Everything was going well. They were producing great hits and smoke. I set them down for a while and puffed on a different setup. Went to pick up the sub tank again, and juice was everywhere. Looked at the other one, and it was sitting in a puddle of juice on the coffee table, as well. I disassembled both, making sure all gaskets were in place, put them back together, tightening the coils down a bit more than before, filled them, and had the same experience a few minutes later. Anyone know what's going on?

When you say 1.5 coil I assume you are referring to the nickel coils? Are you using those coils in temp control?
 

Het

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Whatever coils came with the unit. I don; think they are nickel?

Another thing I completely forgot to add. I purchased the top filler tanks for both units. Maybe those were allowing the vacuum problem. I switched one of them back to the old tank, and have been using it all day. The leaking didn't start for weeks after I changed them, but the tiny rubber gaskets on the top could have worn down.
 

skt239

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The only coils Kanger makes that are 1.5 are nickel coils and those should never be used in regular power mode
 

Het

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Misprint. I'm using the 1.2 occ coil.
 

Het

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Must have received a bad occ coil as I read in another thread. Every other hit is a dry hit. Haven't had one of those in months. What a kick in the nuts it is when you get one, lol. Gonna do the buildable deck today.
 

JERUS

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First, subtanks are known to have leaking issues. They're a solid cheap tank, great starter but they aren't without their issues.

Best you can do is check the Orings, make sure you have a solid coil in place (worn out coil or improperly wicked coil will break the vacuum and leak), and just make sure everything checks out. If it still leaks, well it is what it is, and it sucks but what are you gonna do?

General tips to help leaking situations, when done vaping close up airholes. When initially starting if it had leaked grab a napkin or something and wrap it around the airholes and blow out while applying power, this will clean up any mess. Possibly turn it upside down while doing that to get anything that leaked down into the bottom portion of the tank. When filling just go to 3/4 of a tank at a time, overfilling can cause leaking.
 

Het

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Thanks. I installed the buildable deck. It already had a coil made up in it. I wicked it, filled it, and vaped it. Seems ok for the time being.
 

Het

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Replaced both the leaking, top fill tanks I bought with the original tanks and all has been good.
 
Well I've combed these forums and read all the comments I can find about leaking and have come to the conclusion no one really knows. Here's my story, and it's not unique, basically I have read the same problem but not a definitive answer - or should I say one that really answers the question.
I have 3 tanks: TFV4, TFV4 mini, Freemax Starre Pro. I normally have each filled with a different juice and carry all three to work, changing tanks throughout the day. I started vaping in October after smoking for close to 50 years, so I'm not a youngster and am pretty savvy about tearing things apart and repairing them, so, please, no "did you turn the Starre top cap to VAPE?" or "did you tighten/over tighten the coil?"
Basically after cleaning, new (or cleaned, dry) coils and filled, tanks are set aside for morning. Get up, get ready for work and, hmmm - the Starre has dumped all the juice, or, pick a different day and insert a different tank. They have all, at one time or another, dumped a full tank of juice. It doesn't happen every day or every time I clean them. The Starre dumped Saturday night, the mini dumped last night. The big TFV4 ha sn't for a couple of weeks - no pattern, no reason.
I use 60 - max juices, authentic coils (as far as I can tell) and am meticulous about checking O rings, dirt, fit - everything.
I don't live at high/low elevation. It's not freezing/sweltering in my home/car/work. I don't drop the tanks, lay them on their side or turn them upside down. I don't screw the top cap on the Starre on really fast. I prime the coils with 6-8 drops and they sit for hours.
I am at a loss - I love vaping but this HAS to stop or I might go back to Marlboros, seriously, and I've been off nicotine since October 1!
I stopped in 2 vape shops today begging for help. The only possible explanation was I have been cleaning my coils by rinsing in water, soaking in vodka, and letting them dry for several days before reusing them. The problem is I can't confirm used coils with leaking. Plus there are about 1000 "How To Clean Your Coil" videos on YouTube and I assumed they weren't all asshats and knew what they were advising people to do.
That's all I've got, sorry for the length but thought I'd get as much info out in this post.
 

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