Well, I suppose I'm about done with the KR808 XL test. This is the one that was tested just like it came out of the box. It has not leaked and the performance has been satisfactory for several refills. Other than a nasty taste to begin with, it has worked as advertised. Therefore, I cannot gripe about how it works now or in the future. It's too bad that a higher percentage of them cannot accomplish this.
With that said, this cartridge began having a wicking problem after several refills. I first noticed it when it only took about 1 ml to fill it. Before long it was less than that, until it only had a good taste for a few minutes after it was topped off. The vapor was always good, even when it had a burned or dry taste.
The advertisements for the E2 make no claim about dry burning, so I did not perform one to remove the black crud. Naturally, I thought this would fix it. It did not. Well, maybe a little bit, but hardly enough to notice.
Now, BanjoMan has already dry burned with the filler ring in place, so there is not much of a reason for me to add to it. It seems that only a few of us are doing a burn with the ring installed, so I'll just say a couple things for the benefit of those who do.
I used an empty syringe to get any remaining
juice from the reservoir. It's best to do it with the needle instead of the plastic tube. First pull the plunger all the way out. Then insert the needle in a hole and point it straight up with the cartridge suspended. Any remaining juice inside will drain to the filler ring. Tilt it a bit to favor the empty filler hole and pump the syringe. This compresses the air inside and the pressure forces the juice out of the empty hole. Pump it several times if you think it needs it. Air goes through the needle quick and easy, so it doesn't take but a few seconds.
The wick will still be wet after this, but I did not completely burn all of it out to clean the coil. I just smoked it out enough to get a red glow and then burned it enough times to get a reasonably clean coil.
After that I washed it out a bit. Not the entire assembly. Just the inside of the cup and coil, which also includes the air passage. To do this, I went to the kitchen sink and got a mouth full of water. Then blew it through the threaded end and out into the sink. I did this a few times, then followed it with air to get rid of the excess. Maybe this got some ash and crud out, I don't know. I did this with water because I did not want to waste my Smirmoff or Crown Royal. This process did not get any water in the juice reservoir.
Then I did a burn to dry the remaining water. There was no smoke, but boiling water bubbled out of the hole when the coil glowed. After a few pulses, I quit when it began to smoke. This was a sign that the juice from the wick was getting to it. I then filled it with juice and vaped. It didn't wick worth a poot. Everything I wrote above was a waste of my time.
This ends the test with the filler ring installed. Now I can take it out and get my yummy back.
The filler ring had some black crud underneath, especially where it fits on the rim of the cup. Also two distinct black marks that mate with the slots in the cup. After a good scrubbing, these marks are brown and look like the photos that BanjoMan posted. However, there is no damage to the silicone and I cannot feel a depression or anything else irregular with them.
So, now for the good vape without the ring. It's not all that good at first, but surely it will get better. It don't. I use a miniature awl and punch the wick. Nope. I lift it up, poke some more and shred it. Nope. I don't know what's the matter with this thing. Maybe it is supposed to be disposible.