Please Help! Bitter taste...

[wegster]

Try pulling the inner cart and dipping, see if it goes away.
Remove inside cart on the M401, using a safety pin or paper clip.
Put small amount of e-liquid in soda cap or similar (just a few drops).
Put atomizer wick (the 'steel mesh') down into the liquid drop, and let it absorb for a few seconds.
Put mouthpiece back on *without* inner cart/poly, and take a few drags - still taste funny?

 

[Wolf]

I'm wondering what level of nicotine you're using? Is it possible that as your taste buds come back to life, the nicotine flavor is starting to come through? Nicotine can taste bitter to some. Maybe cut you nicliq down and add a little more flavor. I didn't have that problem. Mine was nasty primer liquid on the attys.

 

[enrogae]

Well, I haven't had the poly sticking to the atomizer since early on, and it was only a few times. I also did wash the cart as well as the poly, AND the mouthpiece. I pretty much washed everything out. Nothing has melted that I can see, and the poly looks as white as it did the first day I had it after I wash it.

Will dipping garner different results than dripping? I have dripped directly onto the atomizer and it still tastes this way.

I have been alternating between Medium and Low nic levels, depending on how much of a fix I need.

Thanks for the replies guys...hopefully someone can help me jackpot and figure this thing out! Maybe it is the atty...I'll know in a week I guess. I really hope it isn't, I don't need to go through an atty a week! I also don't know if I can stand this taste for a week until the new atomizers come in...

 

[SpitfireSMS]

Just read this in another post.. Im not sure it will help but its worth a shot.

When you go to sleep, drip 2-3 drops on the atty and turn it upside down and leave it on some paper towels.
When you wake up, blow anything you can out of it and see if it helps at all

I guess its supposed to give the atty a fresh taste to it from the liquid, but im not sure again

 

[enrogae]

Just read this in another post.. Im not sure it will help but its worth a shot.

When you go to sleep, drip 2-3 drops on the atty and turn it upside down and leave it on some paper towels.
When you wake up, blow anything you can out of it and see if it helps at all

I guess its supposed to give the atty a fresh taste to it from the liquid, but im not sure again

I will try that tonight.

 

[enrogae]

I may have figured it out, actually. I think when the polyfill stuck before some of the threads actually stuck to the atomizer. I got a magnifying glass and looked closely at the V part on the atomizer (not sure what it's called). I saw a couple of tiny white threads sticking out. I used some tweezers and pulled them out... and after a few hours of dripping onto the atomizer it tastes a WORLD better. Even using a cart it is vastly improved. I guess I've been trying to drag the refilled carts out too long. Once you fill a cart, how long should I expect it to last on the m401 while constantly vaping? Does the atomizer not use all the fluid in the cart before you need to refill it?

Also, on the other model I have I think the atomizer is actually going bad. I started getting a burnt taste and I looked at that V part on the atomizer and there is a section where the metal stuff outside the V is peeling back. I think I'm tasting that metal stuff burning... and it's nasty too!

Hopefully this is the problem. I guess I should chalk it up to being a noob.

 

[RatPack]

Glad you figured out the problem. I just read this entire thread.

All I vape is the M401s. I used to refill carts ALL the time. I use my PV as a pacifier. I got so sick and tired of constantly filling and topping off, I went to Walmart and got a cheap, like $1., contact lens holder, and now I carry a little bottle and drop a few drops in the holder and dip my atty in. Been doing that for weeks now, and don't think I'll go back to carts anytime soon. The taste is so much cleaner.

It takes awhile to figure out what to do and how to do it and what you like.

Happy vaping!

 

[Spikey]

I'm only using PG. I haven't given a VG a try yet.

I don't *think* that I'm vaping too fast. I usually go pretty leisurely. I will try to keep that in mind, however, and see if going slower helps any. I wonder if the atomizer is going bad anyways...it no longer burns the entire cart and sometimes I have to struggle to get a good hit...except on the first few. If it is going bad, could that cause the bad taste?

I'm using a m401....and a different one. I can't talk about the other one...the m401 is my favorite anyways and honestly I am more concerned that it's happening on it. I don't know that it tastes like burnt plastic. If I had to characterize the taste, it tastes more...metallic. You know that metallic/bitter taste you get in your mouth sometimes when you are going to throw up? Disgusting right? That's what it tastes like.

PG vs VG can matter. Some say PG has a "soapy" or "perfumey" taste to it. Some say VG tastes "chemical like". You won't know for about another week or two until your taste buds come back. Seems to take about 3 weeks.

There's no way I can be sure, but I would venture a guess that what happened is your batteries went into 'cleaning mode' and started carbonizing the gunk on the heating element, giving you bitter smoke. It's also easy to bring about if you have too much electrical power, like battery mods or usb pass-through.

If that's what the problem is, I usually pull the cart so there's no stuffing to burn, and without inhaling give about 8-10 long draws in rapid succession, just blowing out the fumes (which taste pretty bad). Overall, with that what you're after is to FINISH burning up the partially burnt gunk.
Then drip down the side of the atomizer to re-prime the mesh material and hopefully it's good to go Sometimes it takes a little more effort, sometimes a little less.

Of course, your mileage may vary, but I get a lot of what you described, and that's how I get rid of it.

Good Luck!

I don't think he was using it long enough to hit the cleaning cycle. Takes a few weeks on the 401 to hit it if you alternate w/2 batts.

I think I read that your filling did stick to the atomizer-mesh earlier on? If this is the case, then part of the polyester (or the cart-wall) might have melted onto/into the mesh. You won't be removing that with washing the atomizer...
When you get the new atomizers in, take care to really keep the filling wet (which also means don't inhale too rapidly after each other) so this sticking to the mesh doesn't happen again. I think your problem will have gone then.

I can't rule out the possibility of it being something to do with stopping smoking either (like indeed tastebuds regenerating) but my bet would be the first reason I named.

I woudl have said this too, but seems you may have found some fibers and pulled them off.

i was getting the same taste and was from the polyfil sticking to the atty. i fill my carts very often now and dont have the problem anymore.

NEVER let the carts go DRY! The atty is NOt supposed to use all the juice. It only uses about 2/3 to 3/4 at most. The top of the wick (filling) shoudl stay wet so ti doesn't "melt" onto the atty.

Eww... electrical burnt taste. I did that on my 901 when I covered the hole in the atty and didn't realize it. The taste never went away. Someone posted on another thread (and I suck at searching here or I'd try to find it) that, that horrible electrical burn is a shot atty. I wish I could remember *why* but it made sense so I ditched the atty that was tasting that way.

The holes on the 401 are where the atty attaches to the battery.. be sure you are not holding it there... hold it by the battery... otherswise you restruct the airflow and can cause burnt taste.

Well, I haven't had the poly sticking to the atomizer since early on, and it was only a few times. I also did wash the cart as well as the poly, AND the mouthpiece. I pretty much washed everything out. Nothing has melted that I can see, and the poly looks as white as it did the first day I had it after I wash it.

Will dipping garner different results than dripping? I have dripped directly onto the atomizer and it still tastes this way.

I have been alternating between Medium and Low nic levels, depending on how much of a fix I need.

Thanks for the replies guys...hopefully someone can help me jackpot and figure this thing out! Maybe it is the atty...I'll know in a week I guess. I really hope it isn't, I don't need to go through an atty a week! I also don't know if I can stand this taste for a week until the new atomizers come in...

dipping and dripping have same result though dipping w/the 401 is less "messy".

I may have figured it out, actually. I think when the polyfill stuck before some of the threads actually stuck to the atomizer. I got a magnifying glass and looked closely at the V part on the atomizer (not sure what it's called). I saw a couple of tiny white threads sticking out. I used some tweezers and pulled them out... and after a few hours of dripping onto the atomizer it tastes a WORLD better. Even using a cart it is vastly improved. I guess I've been trying to drag the refilled carts out too long. Once you fill a cart, how long should I expect it to last on the m401 while constantly vaping? Does the atomizer not use all the fluid in the cart before you need to refill it?

Also, on the other model I have I think the atomizer is actually going bad. I started getting a burnt taste and I looked at that V part on the atomizer and there is a section where the metal stuff outside the V is peeling back. I think I'm tasting that metal stuff burning... and it's nasty too!

Hopefully this is the problem. I guess I should chalk it up to being a noob.

Ok.. one more suggestion.. Vanilla flavor has "changed" a lot of my attys... not sure why.. maybe it has too much alcohol in it.. but it vapes differently.

Also.. you said in the beginning you liked the taste of all juices.. are you sure you could REALLLY taste them? I tell people this all the time.. imagine for a minute what a cigarette wouldtaste liek if you boiled the tobacco into a Tea? It is a nasty taste, That is why I vape sweeter flavors. I like fruit and candy flavors cause to me... the nutty or tobacco flavors all taste like DIRT! Metallic DIRT! Dont' know why... but find someone from Alabama who vapes and ask them if they have some sweet juice (strawberry, peach, chocolate) and try that. Or PM me and I will send you some... I have a few flavors I can't use cause they are PEG instead of VG.

 

[RazorNribbonz]

awww sorry to hear the taste returned enrogae...:: pause::...This doesn't mean you're going to take your hug back does it? (lol)

sounds plausible to me that it might be the melted filling on the wic/atty.... (hopefully youve fixed it.)

Definitely break in one of your "coming" new atomizers and test the difference.I just have this funny feeling you might have burnt your atty at one time or its on its way out...

Your filling may be white ( but, is the top of it hard?)

Are you topping off your cart with different flavor juices?

As for using all the liquid in your cart ( mine would never use even half the liquid in the cart)...check out the "cart- straw mod" thread...I'm really liking it (read the whole thread- first time I tried it my straw was too big, didn't work)

Oh and also..sometimes if you pat your stomach and head at the sametime, that helps ::: mischievous grin:::..............Ivy

 

[enrogae]

Spikey -- I adore you! I actually have some Strawberry in the mail from Ruyan (provided it isn't held up in customs) along with my extra batteries and atomizers. I really hate the idea of having to drip/dip all the time though. Kinda hard to do either while your driving down the road on a long trip. I would rather have carts that last me awhile but it seems like now a cart lasts about as long as it would if I dripped before it starts not producing enough vapor/throat hit and/or bitter taste. As far as flavors I think I could taste the tobacco flavors. They tasted, to me, the way a fresh cigarette smells before you light it. I loved it! I haven't tried vaping with them in about a day because I got addicted to the Vanilla again after I got rid of that bitter taste. I tried to actually fill a cart after I got to not tasting the bitterness again so that I could smoke while I mowed the lawn (I always smoke when I mow). I got maybe 2 hits and then nothing. Using carts is really becoming frustrating, but not being able to vape when I'm doing an activity that doesn't allow me to drip is becoming frustrating as well. I'm gonna end up trying to drip while driving down the road like one of those people that sends text messages while they drive. O.O

Razor -- I certainly do NOT take back the hug. *begins trying to pat his head and rub his stomach, failing miserably* I never mix juices. I have 2 separate carts for each flavor -- one for each model. The top of the poly didn't feel hard. I dunno...when I drip now it tastes good and hits well but only for about 2 or 3 puffs.

 

[msmarti58]

I am a new vapor, and I have Luci, Green Smoke, White Cloud, and V2. They all leave a bitter aftertaste to me. The V2 is the least offensive. I get dry as a bone, and there is a burning sensation afterwards. I can still taste it in the morning sometimes. I tried dripping my own juice and tried my friend's Joye Stick V3 but have concluded that nicotine just tastes nasty and that is why. Sorry to tell you this.

They also leave a film on my teeth. Don't get me wrong I still like them, they give me a head rush, but I hate the nicotine taste. The Nicorette gum always tasted the same to me, BAD! Now, I am not really much of a smoker, only in times of stress. I also have a very acute sense of smell/taste. I just thought this would be better for me when stressed and I don't have to smoke out in the hot garage!

 

[mafig]

I am very new to this...but I LOVED all of my juice flavors in the beginning. Now it's getting where the taste is so bitter I can barely stand to vape. It's really getting me down! Any and all help would be appreciated. (I have tried, for two days, to search and find an answer on my own..but have come up short.)

think yr e-liquids,some1 has sabotage it..only way to find out to get new supply and try that out with new atty as well..hope this can solve yr problem

 

[LVC]

Sounds to me like your addy might be getting too dry while vaping on it. Try adding a few drops of e-liquid to the addy and see if the problem goes away. Also, the taste could be residual fluid left on the addy from packaging (They're packed in fluid so they don't dry out, and that stuff tastes nasty), or your cart might be touching the addy too much, and slightly burning.

 

[classwife]

You are responding to posts from 6/2009 !!!

Closing it