I’m glad you managed to find the source of the problem and piece together the seals, well done 
That is exactly right, it lasts much longer with a colorless, less sweet fruity liquid than with a colored, sweetened, overly flavored juice. Not to mention tobacco extract, which if it’s not filtered or doesn’t say ForPod on it, kills the atomizer after about 5 puffs. I think the amount of cotton also matters (how much gunk it can absorb); unfortunately, the BVC is inherently a thin, tall atomizer, less cotton fits in it, so what Todd said might also be true.