Leaky tank!

Pauly Walnuts

Pauly Walnuts

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Staff member
Why? Almost every time I fill my tank, or replace the coil my tank leaks from near the bottom. I have 3 tanks, so I can clean them before reusing them.

I just bought a top air flow and it has yet to leak. Why should a bottom AF leak but not a top AF? :evil:
 
It’s all about gravity and pressure. Bottom airflow tanks rely on the wick to seal the juice channels at the bottom while letting vapor pass through. If your wicking isn’t perfect — too loose, too tight, or uneven — juice can seep out. Add a little overfilling, and boom, you’ve got a leak.

Top airflow tanks flip that equation. Juice sits at the bottom, airflow comes in from the top, and vapor travels up. Gravity keeps the juice away from the airflow holes, so the chances of it seeping out are far lower. Even if your wicking isn’t perfect, juice isn’t “pushed” toward the holes — it stays in the well.

In short: bottom airflow tanks need perfect wicking and careful filling. Top airflow tanks are more forgiving, which is why you’re seeing zero leaks. It’s not magic — it’s just how the juice behaves under gravity and capillary action.

Tip: When using bottom airflow tanks, make sure your wicks just touch the juice well without packing the coil too tight, and don’t overfill. That combo keeps leaks at bay.
 
Old Goat said:
In short: bottom airflow tanks need perfect wicking and careful filling.
Click to expand...
Evidently bottom airflow doesn't care WHO created the coil. Mine are store bought. Some leak, some don't. To me, it's not worth dumping a bunch of juice in a tank and waiting to see if it leaks. TOP AIR FLOW, folks. That's my answer.
 
This older one left me with a useful beginner question, especially after Pauly clarified that these were factory coils.

With a stock-coil tank, where would you start checking when it leaks immediately after a refill or coil change? Coil seated properly, coil seals, tank O-rings, or something about the filling process? We can't adjust the cotton inside a factory head the way we can with an RTA, so a separate checklist would help.

Also, does top airflow prevent the underlying flooding, or can it just keep the excess liquid from escaping onto the mod while the coil is still flooded? I'd like to understand the difference between “no puddle” and “problem solved.” Santa's maintenance qualifications currently extend to finding the puddle.
 
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