Is it OK to leave a color inkjet cartridge empty ???

[wylbur37]

Like so many others, I discovered that if an inkjet printer is not
used on a regular basis, the ink dries up inside the nozzles and clogs
them, requiring the running of cleaning routines and possibly manual
servicing.

I use my printer about once a month (or even less often), and find
that each time I have to use the printer, I have to put head cleaning
fluid on the "nipples" as well as into the exit holes of the
cartridges. After running one or more cleaning routines, I then have
to put ink into the cartridges (this is an older printer that doesn't
have any chip on the cartridge, so I can refill them as needed). This
whole process typically takes me at least a half hour each time.

I've decided that since I never use the color inks anyway (when I do,
they look like crap, so what's the point?), I prefer not to bother
putting any fresh ink into the color cartridge, and just refill the
black cartridge when needed. This would reduce the servicing time.

However, I believe someone had said that the printer still uses some
of the color inks even if the printer-properties is set to print only
in grayscale, and that running the printer with the cartridge empty
might cause burnout or damage. Is this really true?

If yes, can I just fill the color cartridge with water or some other
liquid instead of using inks (which are somewhat costly)?

 

[Steven Campbell]

Like so many others, I discovered that if an inkjet printer is not
used on a regular basis, the ink dries up inside the nozzles and clogs
them, requiring the running of cleaning routines and possibly manual
servicing.

I use my printer about once a month (or even less often), and find
that each time I have to use the printer, I have to put head cleaning
fluid on the "nipples" as well as into the exit holes of the
cartridges. After running one or more cleaning routines, I then have
to put ink into the cartridges (this is an older printer that doesn't
have any chip on the cartridge, so I can refill them as needed). This
whole process typically takes me at least a half hour each time.

I've decided that since I never use the color inks anyway (when I do,
they look like crap, so what's the point?), I prefer not to bother
putting any fresh ink into the color cartridge, and just refill the
black cartridge when needed. This would reduce the servicing time.

However, I believe someone had said that the printer still uses some
of the color inks even if the printer-properties is set to print only
in grayscale, and that running the printer with the cartridge empty
might cause burnout or damage. Is this really true?

If yes, can I just fill the color cartridge with water or some other
liquid instead of using inks (which are somewhat costly)?

What kind of printer is it?
My Epson suffers from the heads drying up if I don't use it regularly but my
HP one can go months without any use.
In both of them there is an option to turn off the colour and print in
greyscale. I fail to see how it still requires colour to do this. If this
were the case and you had run out of colour and ticked the option to print
in greyscale, then the greyscale wouldn't print properly. Which isn't the
case.

I print a test page once a week to stop my Epson from drying out.

 

[Owamanga]

My Epson suffers from the heads drying up if I don't use it regularly but my
HP one can go months without any use.
In both of them there is an option to turn off the colour and print in
greyscale. I fail to see how it still requires colour to do this.

Epsons do some form of re-charging/cleaning each time the power is
cycled, I presume this will use a small amount of ink from all
cartridges.

It's also worth noting that on the Epson Photo range of printers, the
grayscale photo prints look MUCH smoother if color inks are used (eg
you don't force it to B&W within the printer driver).

If this
were the case and you had run out of colour and ticked the option to print
in greyscale, then the greyscale wouldn't print properly. Which isn't the
case.

True. If the OP *never* wants to print color again, sure, let the
color cartridge dry out, why not?

I print a test page once a week to stop my Epson from drying out.

This is a good idea. In all the recent cases where my 1270 has started
'clogging' - with more frequent use in the last 6 months or so, I've
found the problem to be the cartridge chip's estimate of how much ink
is left to be wrong - basically, a fresh cartridge fixes it.

I still start with the windex & beer trick anyway, because I like
getting black fingers and it's cheaper than a new cartridge.

 

[PJx]

What kind of printer is it?
My Epson suffers from the heads drying up if I don't use it regularly but my
HP one can go months without any use.
In both of them there is an option to turn off the colour and print in
greyscale. I fail to see how it still requires colour to do this. If this
were the case and you had run out of colour and ticked the option to print
in greyscale, then the greyscale wouldn't print properly. Which isn't the
case.

I print a test page once a week to stop my Epson from drying out.

I have a couple of printers on my home network and ALSO do a test
print each week.

PJ

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Which printer model and brand please?

I am assuming an Epson from the description. My answer will depend upon
the model.

Art

 

[DigitalXS]

How about the reverse situation with an HP DeskJet 5550? I used up all
the black ink printing school projects because I still can't get my
laserprinter up and running. Now I have to print in blue as long as that
lasts. Will this hurt the printer? I bet it wishes it had some black to
adjust the hue of blue in actuality, but it seems to print fine so far.
I am loathe to buy an ink replacement cartridge for this freebie,
cheapo, but really quite decent ink jet printer when hopefully the
resurrection of my laserprinter is imminent.

Doug

 

[Mark B.]

Why not just get a low-end laser printer? You only use black anyway, and
the cost per print will certainly be a lot less.

Mark

 

[Ron Hunter]

How about the reverse situation with an HP DeskJet 5550? I used up all
the black ink printing school projects because I still can't get my
laserprinter up and running. Now I have to print in blue as long as that
lasts. Will this hurt the printer? I bet it wishes it had some black to
adjust the hue of blue in actuality, but it seems to print fine so far.
I am loathe to buy an ink replacement cartridge for this freebie,
cheapo, but really quite decent ink jet printer when hopefully the
resurrection of my laserprinter is imminent.

Doug

Doug,
Cheap is cheap. Buy a black cartridge, or at least a refill pack.
But if the printer allows you to do this, no harm will come to it from
your 'frugality'.

 

[Bob Headrick]

How about the reverse situation with an HP DeskJet 5550? I used up all
the black ink printing school projects because I still can't get my
laserprinter up and running.

The DeskJet 5550 will allow you to remove one cartridge and it will
automatically switch to "reserve mode", using only the other cartridge.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

 

[C J Campbell]

Like so many others, I discovered that if an inkjet printer is not
used on a regular basis, the ink dries up inside the nozzles and clogs
them, requiring the running of cleaning routines and possibly manual
servicing.

I use my printer about once a month (or even less often), and find
that each time I have to use the printer, I have to put head cleaning
fluid on the "nipples" as well as into the exit holes of the
cartridges.

This printer is obviously more trouble and effort than it is worth. I second
the idea of getting an inexpensive laser printer.

I also find the practice of re-filling cartridges to be highly questionable.
Everybody I know who does this has ruined their printer. Most people don't
have to put head cleaning fluid or anything else on their printers.

 

[Andy Petro]

From the standpoint of ink cost you cannot beat a Cannon printer. I have
tried all the other brands but still prefer Cannon.
=====================================

 

[Ron Hunter]

From the standpoint of ink cost you cannot beat a Cannon printer. I have
tried all the other brands but still prefer Cannon.
=====================================

It bears mentioning, again, that if you leave a printer ON, it uses VERY
little power and will be ready for use when you want it, AND most
printers will do a headcleaning pass periodically to prevent this drying
out. Turning off the printer for long periods will make the clogging
problem MUCH worse.

 

[Safetymom123]

It depends on the printer but on an Epson when you turn it off it caps the
heads. Something it doesn't do when it is left on.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Unless you have a pre-chip (pre-"intellege") Epson and buy generic or
refill...

Art

 

[George Kerby]

Besides, WTF is a "Cannon"?

Unless you have a pre-chip (pre-"intellege") Epson and buy generic or
refill...

Art

 

[Airman Thunderbird]

Big round thing with hole in front, goes BOOM.

Besides, WTF is a "Cannon"?

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I believe they make inkball printers ;-)

Hey, give the guy a break, it's a common mistake.

Art