That crackle and the hot droplet on your lip are caused by excess liquid sitting in or near the coil, where it boils and pops instead of vaporising cleanly. It is common with new coils and almost always fixable in a minute. Here is what causes it and how to stop it.
The short version
- Spitting means liquid is boiling and popping in or above the coil.
- Over-priming and flooding are the usual causes with new coils.
- Power that is too low for the coil can cause it too.
- Clear it by blowing gently through the airflow with tissue over the tip.
What spitting actually is
A coil should turn liquid into vapour smoothly. When there is more liquid on the coil than the heat can vaporise, some of it boils and bursts instead, sending tiny droplets up the chimney. That is the crackle you hear and the spit you feel.
Gurgling is closely related. It is the sound of liquid pooled in the coil or the chimney being pulled through when you draw. Both point to too much liquid where it should not be.
New coils are the most common culprits, because priming and break-in often leave extra liquid in the centre. Once that excess burns off or is cleared, the coil usually settles down.
- 1Drip tip
- 2Top cap and fill port
- 3Glass and chimney
- 4Coil head
- 5Airflow ring
- 6510 connection
- 7Mod: screen and buttons
- 8Battery bay
Find the cause
Spitting has a handful of causes, and the fix depends on which one you have. The timing is a good clue: did it start straight after a coil change, after a refill, or has it crept in over days?
Choose the answer that fits. Most people find the problem in the first option, because spitting straight after fitting a new coil is by far the most common situation.
If none of these fit, check that your coil is the right series for your tank. A coil that is not seated properly can let liquid flood past the cotton.
When did the spitting start?
You probably over-primed. Clear the excess liquid and take a few short puffs at low power until it settles.
Liquid may have gone down the chimney, or the tank was overfilled. Clear it and refill more carefully.
The coil is not hot enough to vaporise the liquid. Raise the power within the coil range.
Condensation is building in the drip tip and chimney. Wipe them out with a tissue.
Clearing a flooded coil
If your coil is flooded, clearing it takes under a minute. The idea is to push excess liquid out of the coil and chimney without emptying the tank.
Wrap the drip tip in a tissue before you blow, so you do not get a mouthful of liquid. Blow gently. A hard blast can push liquid back into the airflow and make the leak worse.
On a pod kit, remove the pod, wrap the mouthpiece in tissue, and give it a few firm flicks downwards, then wipe the contacts dry before refitting.
- Remove the tankUnscrew it from the mod so it cannot fire.
- Wrap the drip tipCover it with a tissue or piece of kitchen roll.
- Blow through the airflowBlow gently into the airflow slots to push liquid out through the tissue.
- Flick itGive the tank a couple of firm flicks with the drip tip pointing down.
- Wipe and refitWipe the 510 and airflow dry, refit and fire at low power.
Stop it coming back
Once the coil is cleared, a few habits keep the spitting away. Most of them are about avoiding excess liquid in the first place, and making sure the coil gets enough power to vaporise what it has.
Draw style matters more than many vapers realise. Very hard, fast pulls can drag liquid through the cotton faster than the coil can vaporise it. A steady, medium draw usually stops the spitting on its own.
Liquid thickness is the other big factor. Thin 50/50 liquid in a sub-ohm coil soaks through its big wicking ports too quickly. A 70% VG liquid often fixes it.
Spitting myths
Spitting coils attract plenty of confusing advice. Tap each card to see what is accurate.
The most persistent myth is that a spitting coil is faulty. In the vast majority of cases it is simply holding too much liquid, which is a technique problem, not a manufacturing one. Clear it and the same coil usually behaves perfectly.
Another is that you should drop the power to stop spitting. It often makes things worse, because a cooler coil vaporises less of the liquid it holds. If anything, a small increase in power usually helps, within the range printed on the coil.
Test yourself
Spitting is annoying but rarely serious. Nine times out of ten, clearing excess liquid and adjusting your priming or power fixes it for good.
If you find new coils spit every time, look at your priming technique first. Our guide to priming a coil shows how much liquid is enough. If it happens after refilling, the guide to filling a tank without flooding will help.
And if a coil keeps spitting after you have cleared it, raised the power and switched to a thicker liquid, try a gentler draw for a day before giving up on it. One question to finish, covering the fix that surprises the most people.
Your new sub-ohm coil spits at the bottom of its power range. What should you try?
Quick answers
Why does my vape spit liquid into my mouth?
Excess liquid in or near the coil is boiling and popping. Clear the coil, check your priming and try slightly higher power.
Is a gurgling coil flooded?
Usually, yes. Blow gently through the airflow with a tissue over the drip tip to clear it.
Why does my new coil crackle?
New coils often hold extra liquid from priming. It should settle after a few puffs, or clear it to speed things up.
Does liquid thickness affect spitting?
Yes. Thin liquid in a sub-ohm coil soaks through too fast and spits. Use a higher VG liquid.
