Gunk – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Gunk is the dark, sticky residue that gradually builds up on coilwire and wicking material inside an atomiser. Composed of caramelised sweeteners, flavourings, and other e-liquid by-products, gunk is the vaping equivalent of cooking grease. It has no beneficial purpose; instead, it reduces flavour clarity, vapour production, and can eventually create a burnt taste. Beginners often mistake the first signs of gunk for a worn-out coil, but recognising and managing this residue early extends coil life and keeps your vape tasting clean.

Technical Details

Gunk forms when heat-sensitive ingredients—mainly sucralose, fructose, or custard-type flavour molecules—reach temperatures above 200 °C on the coil surface. The residue carbonises into a thick, tar-like layer that insulates the wire, forcing temperature control devices to push higher wattage to maintain the target gauge (wire)resistance. Visually, fresh gunk appears amber; advanced vapers call this “caramel stage.” Left untouched, it turns black and crusty, a state known as “coil choke.” Genesis-style atomisers and mesh wicks are especially prone because their stainless-steel mesh traps liquid. High-VG juices (70 % VG or above) and dessert profiles with 1 % or more added sweetener accelerate build-up, sometimes within 5–10 mL of e-liquid.

Usage & Tips

• Prevention: Choose “coil-friendly” liquids with low or no added sweetener; clear fruit blends gunk slower than bakery flavours.
• Cleaning: Remove the cotton, dry-burn the coil until it glows evenly, then brush lightly under running water or dip in cheap vodka to dissolve residue. Never dry-burn mesh in a Atomizer“>Genesis atomizer—remove the wick first.
• Re-wicking: Swap cotton every 1–2 days if you taste muted flavour or see dark stains; this stops gunk from “baking” deeper into the wire.
• Safety: Over-gunked coils can short or create hotspots; if the wire looks pitted or resistance jumps, discard it even if it’s gold plated.

History & Context

The term “gunk” entered the vape lexicon around 2012 when Australian vapers began rebuilding with cotton instead of silica. Early sub-ohm experiments on Tank“>glass tank clearomisers highlighted how quickly sweetened American e-liquids blackened coils, leading local vendors to market “Aussie-clean” unsweetened juice lines. Today, coil gunk remains the top reason Australian vapers re-wick or rebuild, driving demand for temperature-sensitive wire alloys and RBA platforms that allow quick cleaning.