Iffy’s eGo EZ-Flush

[Iffy]

I wanted to clean one of my eGo Mega Dual Coil Cartomizers just for the ‘halibut’ to determine if I tell a diff in efficiency. So I checked out the ECF for possible flushing methods. Well, as is normal when you’re ‘hot to trot’, I didn’t have everything I needed for any one method.

Scanned my ‘organized’ garage, where no one but me can find anything. Ah ha, I spotted a 60 ML syringe. Believe it or not, I originally found it at the foot of a nearby boat ramp! I’m fairly sure it was for adding menhaden oil to fish chum. This has the tapered tip, NOT a Luer Lock.

Well, the tip was too small to seal the carto for flushing. Ummmm, oh wait… eureka… thick walled ¼’ fuel/emission line… will it fit the stove pipe end of the cartos? Day-um, it was sooo CLOSE! What if I cut a ½”piece of line and press fit it on the tapered syringe tip for a lil’ expansion? YES, perfect fit with a nice seal!

NOTE:I thoroughly cleaned the syringe and fuel/emission line prior to assembly!

With the syringe half filled with HOT water, I flushed the carto three times which cleaned the filler to a clean white color. It’s now air drying , with an occasional blow through the stove pipe. I’ll give it another 24 hours before evaluation.

Parts list:
- 60 ML SYRINGE - Purchased at your local feed store for about $1.50?
- ½” length Goodyear SAE 30R7 ¼” fuel/emission line – local auto parts store?

Assembly:
Press cut line until flush onto the tapered syringe tip.

Flushing Instructions:
Half fill the syringe with HOT water.
Insert syringe end into carto
Flush
Repeat as needed until exhaust stream is clear*

*The exhaust stream was clear at the end of the second flush. I did a third for insurance.

I’ll do a follow-up carto evaluation once the carto is dry.

If anyone has suggestions or constructive criticism, feel free to pile on!

 

[donnah]

I clean my carto with a syringe and needle too. I work at a hospital so I can get lots of these. IMO this is alot faster and easier than boiling!

 

[Renzuli]

I too , do something , very similar . I use a condiment type bottle (like mustard might come in ) with hot water , i just flush the carto , several times , blow out the excess water , and let air dry , for a day or two . Seems to work , just fine . It's amazing how creative we vapors can get , when trying to save a little money , or improve our vaping experience .

 

[rainkeltoia]

I was planning on using an old bottle from the kid's juice (those little bottles have a pop top that is about the same diameter) with warm (not boiling) water, so glad to know others are doing similar!

 

[Iffy]

'Bout ready to test the cleaned eMDCC later tonight. I was gonna wait until tomorrow. But I placed it next to my laptop exhaust fan and I think this puppy is ready to vape!

 

[Iffy]

OK, I just loaded up the flushed carto. Put in 90 drops, no leaking. Added another 10 and got a small puddle. So let's say 90 is the limit. That equals 4.5 ml at 20 drops/ml. Not bad at all!

After 15 minutes of vaping:

Flavor = no change
Vapor = just a tad lighter than new
Draw = just a tad lighter than new
TH = just a tad lighter than new

I attribute the lighter aspects to the filler's contraction during drying, allowing more air flow. I'll continue to vape this 'un this afternoon and top off later to see if anything changes. If the filler 'swells' just a bit, it's gonna be very close to it's original vape. There's nothing wrong with the vape now, just a lil' diff from new.

Sure do like my laptop exhaust carto dryer system!

 

[Iffy]

Well, here's my update after a top off...

No dramatic diff from my last post, although slightly better. I have discovered that if you hold the button longer, day-um near like a new carto.

So, bottom line, da flush works like a champ. Expect approx. 90-95% of a new cartio's performance. I foresee at least one flush for a very acceptable vape. Actually, I think it will satisfactorily take multiple cleanings.

Will re-evaluate later on.

 

[rainkeltoia]

Excellent review, thanks Iffy!!

 

[jamminloud]

I found on you tube a video where if you have a cappuccino machine, you can use the (frother?) to steam out your carto's. It worked like a charm in the video and it was fast. But of coarse, you must first own the machine. Ours broke before we got into vaping, so I can't swear by it. Also, it may not work so good on clearo's,..... maybe too hot.

 

[Iffy]

It worked like a charm in the video and it was fast.

If I had one, that's what I'd use! Nothing like steam under pressure. You have a super hot vapor for cleansing and pressure to expel what the hot steam loosens. Plus minimal drying time. Win, win, win.

Since I purchased an ultra-sonic cleaner, I have to hold off on the ICC (Italian Carto Cleaner). Anyone wanna trade? I'll toss in an IeEZ-F!

 

[studio52]

Lots of good tips here...thanks.

 

[Joanr]

Im wondering if a hand held steam cleaner would do the trick also. I got one when I bought my floor steamer. Just point and shoot it down the tube I would guess. The steam gets pretty hot though. Think I'll give it a try. Also I read someone cuts the drying time by putting the drying shelf that comes with clothes dryers into the dryer. place a towel on it and line up the cartos. Turn on dryer low/gentle temp and hit it for an hour or so.

Well I quit wondering and did one. First off heated up the portable steamer, chose an older 1.5 DC Black that I was going to throw out, popped the tip off and steamed it out. Burnt my fingers on the first release of steam. Folded up a damp kitchen rag to about an inch width, wrapped it around the carto so my hands would not come into contact with the steam and finished off the cleaning. Did about 5 blasts of steam until the filler was bright white again, liitle pools of old juice in the kitchen sink, blew it out real good. The filler did not look particularly wet but it was very white. So on a chance of skipping the drying cycle I let it sit for about 15 minutes, blew it out again and filled. Fired right up, about 95% like new again, very usable. The mega I will let dry out all night but the steam does not soak the filler like hot water does. Yet another use for my little steam pot. Love it.

 

[jamminloud]

Im wondering if a hand held steam cleaner would do the trick also. I got one when I bought my floor steamer. Just point and shoot it down the tube I would guess. The steam gets pretty hot though. Think I'll give it a try. Also I read someone cuts the drying time by putting the drying shelf that comes with clothes dryers into the dryer. place a towel on it and line up the cartos. Turn on dryer low/gentle temp and hit it for an hour or so.

Well I quit wondering and did one. First off heated up the portable steamer, chose an older 1.5 DC Black that I was going to throw out, popped the tip off and steamed it out. Burnt my fingers on the first release of steam. Folded up a damp kitchen rag to about an inch width, wrapped it around the carto so my hands would not come into contact with the steam and finished off the cleaning. Did about 5 blasts of steam until the filler was bright white again, liitle pools of old juice in the kitchen sink, blew it out real good. The filler did not look particularly wet but it was very white. So on a chance of skipping the drying cycle I let it sit for about 15 minutes, blew it out again and filled. Fired right up, about 95% like new again, very usable. The mega I will let dry out all night but the steam does not soak the filler like hot water does. Yet another use for my little steam pot. Love it.

I should have added that the person in the video using a cappuccino machine held the carto's with some pliers. But you could use many things to do that like kitchen tongs or any tool that will hold them. Steam and flesh don't go together. Sorry I omitted that part. I hope your burns were not bad.

 

[Joanr]

No, not bad, and I should have known better from getting too close to the steam stream before. Also the carts themselves get very hot so it has to cool down before you put your lips to it to blow it out. But it works great and I'll save some bucks on that sonic jewelry cleaner I was going to buy also. For attys I had tried this on, it killed one, so I haven't tried it again but seems fine on these cartos. Also I wouldn't do this with the clearos, I think the steam would be too hot.

Tomorrow I'll fill the EMDCC and report back how it did with the steam cleaning. I'm letting it dry overnight. I also have used Iffy's flush method which I think works just as well so if you don't have a steam cleaner I'd recommend the flush method, and if the carto is really dirty the boiling three times method.

 

[rainkeltoia]

I cleaned out one of mine tonight, just a hot water flush with a syringe, blew through since I didn't have the seal on it and am letting it dry, I'll give it the blowdrier treatment in the morning, see how it works!

 

[Joanr]

Filled my steam cleaned EMDCC this morning. Also fired right up with no detectable difference except that it's vaping just like it did on first fill before the filler was broken it. Second fill will tell more. In any event couldn't be happier, the price is right for now, what's not to like. If I can re-cycle one a few times and then chuck it all is good.

 

[Iffy]

On my third post-flush top off and this puppy is VERY close to optimum. I certainly can live, errr... vape with it!

 

[Joanr]

For sure, and they are selling like hotcakes, the word is out. Yesterday when I ordered my second batch they had 5760 in stock, checked right now and they have 4418.

 

[Tom10]

These Ego Mega Dual Coil Cartomizers are awesome. They should create a renewed interest in the Ego. They even work well on mods if you get a 510 to Ego-T adapter. Try it - you just might like it a lot.

eGo Mega Dual Coil Cartomizer

At $2.49 each, it's hard to beat. I lost count - I'm either on day 8 or 9 with the same carto, and the performance is still outstanding. I'll try one of the less radical cleaning methods here when the performance starts to drop and see what happens.

 

[rainkeltoia]

Well mine is all dried and I filled it, gonna let it soak in and give a verdict on my milder cleaning. I didn't do anything major like ultrasonic or pressure, just a syringe and flush with hot water. Hopefully I get the same results