Five TVs with the same blown cap pattern at one Goodwill is wild. Sounds less like a bad batch and more like a whole shipping container got left in the Texas heat for a summer. Somewhere a 2020 model engineer is sweating right now.

Ever tried pulling the trigger just enough to get the rod moving and then holding it steady instead of squeezing harder? That's the trick, it takes a few tubes of caulk to get the feel for it. I also poke a small hole in the tube tip and cut it at an angle, that helps the bead stay consistent without fighting the trigger. Once you find that sweet spot, you'll never go back to the full squeeze.

Tbh did you check the grate temps with that $5 thermometer?