Can You Use Pigment Ink in Canon PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246 Refillable Cartridges?

Question

Regarding the process shown in How to Start Making Canon Spongeless Refillable Cartridges: PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyZecEPcoYc&lc=UgyccCTswyOOASdWlQN4AaABAg], have you tested filling these Canon cartridges with pigment ink? If so, does pigment ink work reliably in both the black and color cartridges?

Answer

Yes, we have tested pigment ink in these types of Canon cartridges, and the results were approximately 50/50. Pigment ink generally works reasonably well in the black cartridge, but using pigment ink in the color cartridge is much less reliable.

Canon PG-240 and PG-245 black cartridges are normally designed to work with pigment-based black ink. Pigment black ink contains microscopic solid color particles suspended in a liquid carrier. It is commonly used for printing text because it produces sharp, dark characters and tends to resist water and fading better than standard dye-based black ink.

For that reason, a compatible pigment black ink is usually the appropriate choice for the PG-240 or PG-245 black cartridge. However, the ink must still be formulated specifically for thermal inkjet printers. A generic pigment ink, sublimation ink, DTF ink, or pigment ink intended for another printhead design may have the wrong viscosity, surface tension, particle size, or drying characteristics. Even when the ink is technically pigment-based, an incompatible formulation can cause poor ink flow, missing lines, nozzle clogging, overheating, or premature cartridge failure.

The Canon CL-241 and CL-246 color cartridges are normally designed for dye-based cyan, magenta, and yellow inks. Dye ink uses colorants that are dissolved in the liquid rather than suspended as solid particles. This allows the ink to pass more easily through the cartridge's internal material and the extremely small printhead nozzles.

When pigment color ink is placed into a cartridge designed for dye ink, several problems may occur:

• The pigment particles may collect inside the cartridge, at the internal filter, or near the nozzle plate.

• The ink may not travel through the cartridge at the correct rate.

• One or more colors may stop printing shortly after refilling.

• The nozzle check may show broken lines, missing colors, or severe banding.

• The cartridge may print initially but clog after sitting for a short period.

• Repeated cleaning cycles may overheat or damage the integrated printhead.

This is why the color cartridge sometimes clogs immediately or becomes unreliable soon after filling. Even very fine pigment particles can behave differently from dye ink inside a cartridge and printhead originally engineered for dye-based color ink.

Another important factor is that the PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246 cartridges contain an integrated thermal printhead. The printhead is part of the cartridge rather than a permanent component inside the printer. Tiny heating elements rapidly heat the ink to create bubbles that eject droplets through the nozzles. The ink does more than create color; it also helps cool the heating elements. If an incompatible ink does not flow correctly, the nozzles can run dry and the heating elements may burn out. Once an electrical heating element is damaged, cleaning or adding more ink will not restore that nozzle.

For the most reliable results, we recommend the following:

1. Use compatible pigment black ink in the PG-240 or PG-245 black cartridge.

2. Use compatible dye-based cyan, magenta, and yellow ink in the CL-241 or CL-246 color cartridge.

3. Do not mix pigment color ink with the dye ink already inside a color cartridge.

4. Avoid using sublimation, DTF, DTG, solvent, UV, or other specialty inks in these cartridges unless the complete system has been specifically engineered for that ink.

5. Use properly filtered ink formulated for Canon thermal inkjet cartridges.

6. Avoid overfilling the cartridge, because excessive ink can flood the nozzle plate and cause color contamination, dripping, or poor firing.

7. After filling, allow the cartridge to stabilize before printing and confirm that ink is reaching the nozzle plate without leaking.

8. Print a nozzle check before running repeated cleaning cycles.

9. Stop printing if a color is completely missing. Continued printing with dry nozzles may permanently damage the cartridge's heating elements.

If pigment ink has already been added to a CL-241 or CL-246 color cartridge, replacing the ink with dye ink may not be enough. The remaining pigment particles can stay trapped inside the cartridge and later move toward the nozzles. The cartridge may need to be thoroughly flushed before being refilled with the proper dye ink. However, flushing an integrated-printhead cartridge also carries risks. Excessive pressure, strong cleaning chemicals, prolonged soaking, or improper drying can damage the nozzle plate, internal seals, electronics, or heating elements.

A mild cleaning solution intended for thermal inkjet cartridges may help with a soft ink blockage, but it cannot repair an electrically burned nozzle. If the cartridge prints some lines but has small gaps, cleaning may improve it. If an entire color remains missing after ink flow has been confirmed, the printhead circuit for that color may already be damaged.

The spongeless modification also requires careful control of air and ink pressure. Removing or bypassing the original sponge changes how the cartridge regulates ink flow. Too little pressure can cause ink starvation and missing nozzles, while too much pressure can cause flooding or dripping. An ink that is thicker or flows differently from the original Canon dye ink makes this balance even more difficult. This is another reason pigment color ink may perform inconsistently in a spongeless CL-241 or CL-246 cartridge.

In practical terms, pigment black ink is generally acceptable for the black cartridge when the ink is designed for the correct Canon cartridge family. For the color cartridge, dye ink remains the safer and more reliable choice. Pigment color ink may work temporarily in some tests, but the risk of restricted ink flow and immediate or delayed clogging is significantly higher.

Addressing printer issues can be complicated because many failures require direct, hands-on inspection. For this reason, we cannot provide individualized remote troubleshooting or repair support. We do offer in-person evaluation and repair through our local printer diagnostic and repair facility [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take several weeks before an appointment or drop-off opening becomes available.

Our services are structured to repair either an entire printer or certain individual parts, with instructions provided for each available service. We recognize that our repair rates may not be the most economical option for every situation, so we strongly encourage customers to begin with self-help and online research.

You can search YouTube or visit the homepage of our BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. To locate a particular repair topic, select the search icon near the "About" section on the right side of the channel menu and enter the printer model, cartridge number, or problem description.

We receive dozens of questions each day asking whether we have a video covering a particular subject. Since we have produced videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every video by title. Using the channel's search function is usually the fastest and most effective method. YouTube may also recommend useful videos from other creators that address the same issue.

Thank you again for your thoughtful question and for supporting BCH Technologies. We sincerely appreciate your participation in our technical community and hope this explanation helps you select the correct ink for your Canon refillable cartridges.