Quick answer: a burnt taste means the cotton wick in your coil ran dry or is worn out. Stop vaping it. If the coil is brand new, it probably wasn’t primed: let it soak for 10 minutes and try again at a lower wattage. If it still tastes burnt, or the coil is a few weeks old, replace it, then fix the cause (power too high, chain vaping, a low tank or e-liquid that is too thick for the coil).
Few things ruin a vape faster than a burnt hit. The good news is that a burnt coil almost always has a simple cause, and once you know it you can stop it happening again. Here is how to tell a dry hit from a burnt coil, how to fix each one, and how to get the most out of every coil.
Dry hit or burnt coil?
They taste alike, but they are not the same problem:
| Dry hit | Burnt coil | |
|---|---|---|
| What happened | The cotton was briefly too dry when you fired | The cotton is scorched or clogged and no longer soaks up e-liquid properly |
| What you notice | One harsh, hot puff, often after several quick puffs or with a nearly empty tank | Every puff tastes burnt, even with a full tank |
| Fix | Stop, top up the tank, wait a minute, lower the wattage | Replace the coil (or re-wick a rebuildable) |
Why coils burn
- The coil wasn’t primed. Firing a new coil before the cotton is fully soaked scorches it in seconds. This is the most common reason a brand-new coil tastes burnt.
- Wattage too high. Every coil has a wattage range printed on it or on its box. Above that range the coil vaporizes e-liquid faster than the cotton can soak it back up.
- Chain vaping. Taking puff after puff without a break doesn’t give the wick time to re-soak.
- Low e-liquid. Once the level drops below the coil’s wicking holes, the cotton starts to dry out.
- E-liquid too thick for the coil. High-VG e-liquid wicks slowly. In small pod and mouth-to-lung coils it can’t keep up, so they taste burnt even with a full tank.
- Sweet e-liquid. Sweeteners and very sweet dessert flavors leave a dark residue on the coil that builds up and tastes burnt.
- The coil is simply worn out. Coils are a consumable part. See how long a vape coil lasts for the signs.
How to fix a burnt taste
- Stop vaping it. A burnt coil won’t improve with use; vaping it just tastes harsh.
- Check the tank. Top it up so the wicking holes are covered, then let it sit for a minute or two.
- Lower the wattage to the bottom of the coil’s range and take one slow puff.
- Still burnt? Replace the coil. Once the cotton is scorched, the burnt taste stays. On pod kits where the coil is built into the pod, replace the pod.
- Fix the cause from the list above so the new coil lasts.
How to prime a new coil
- Drip 3 to 5 drops of e-liquid onto the cotton you can see through the coil’s wicking holes, and a drop or two down the center of the coil.
- Fit the coil, fill the tank and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Thicker, high-VG e-liquid needs the full 10.
- Take a few puffs without firing (just draw air) to pull e-liquid into the cotton.
- Start at the low end of the coil’s wattage range and work up over the first few puffs.
Match your e-liquid to your coil
A lot of burnt coils come down to the wrong e-liquid for the device. As a rule:
| If you use… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| A pod kit or small mouth-to-lung tank | 50/50, 60/40 or 75/25 e-liquid, or Salt eJuice (made in 100% PG, 75/25 and 50/50) |
| A sub-ohm tank or high-wattage kit | Higher VG: 40/60, 25/75 or Max VG |
| A rebuildable (RTA/RDA) | Whatever mix you like, with fresh cotton at every re-wick |
Every flavor on our e-liquid pages comes in six PG/VG mixes, from 75% PG / 25% VG to Max VG, so you can pick the one your coil wicks best. More in PG vs VG.
How to stop coils burning out early
- Prime every new coil and give it a few minutes before your first puff.
- Stay inside the wattage range printed on the coil.
- Pause a few seconds between puffs.
- Keep the tank at least a third full.
- Go easy on sweetener: add only as much as tastes right.
- Keep a few spare coils so you’re never tempted to push a worn one.
Replacement coils
Our vape coils page matches each coil to its tank or kit, including SMOK RPM 3, LP1 and TFV18 coils, Aspire Nautilus coils and GeekVape IM Super Mesh coils. Every coil is 10% off when you buy 5 or more of the same coil. Building your own? We carry organic Japanese cotton and coil wire too.
Burnt coil FAQ
Why does my new coil taste burnt?
Almost always because it wasn’t fully primed, or the wattage was set too high for the first puffs. If priming it and turning the power down doesn’t fix it, the cotton is already scorched and the coil needs replacing.
Why does my vape taste burnt when the tank is full?
The cotton isn’t soaking up e-liquid fast enough. The usual causes are wattage above the coil’s range, chain vaping, e-liquid too thick for a small coil, or a coil that is worn out or clogged with residue from sweet e-liquid.
Can you still use a burnt coil?
It is not worth it. Once the cotton is scorched it won’t recover, and every puff will taste burnt and harsh. Replace the coil.
Can a burnt coil feel harsh on your throat?
Yes. A burnt hit is hot and harsh, and that harshness is your cue to stop and change the coil rather than keep vaping it. If you have any health concerns, talk to your doctor.
Does a burnt vape still have nicotine?
The nicotine is in your e-liquid, not the coil, so a burnt coil doesn’t change the e-liquid in your tank. It does ruin the flavor and vapor, which is why the coil should be replaced.
Can you fix a burnt coil?
Not a pre-made coil: once its cotton is burnt it has to be replaced. On a rebuildable you can pull out the old cotton, dry-fire the bare wire briefly to clean it, and re-wick with fresh cotton.
For adults 21+.
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