Choosing the Best Ink for HP OfficeJet 8023: Pigment vs. Dye Ink Explained

Question:

I have an HP OfficeJet 8023 printer that takes HP 912 and 912XL cartridges, 917 for black. I want to refill the cartridges but am unsure if I should use pigment or dye ink. What is the difference, and which would be best for my printer? Is it safe to switch inks, and can I mix pigment ink with dye ink?

Answer:

Ink Compatibility Are You Doing It Wrong? Pigment vs Dye Ink Can I Switch Between Ink Types?

Should You Use Pigment or Dye Ink in the HP OfficeJet 8020?

The bright side is that your HP OfficeJet 8023 printer can manage pigment and dye ink. Yet there are significant differences between the two:

Pigment Ink (OEM Standard for HP 912 & 917 Cartridges)

• Bookended by history, revision and longevity.
• And you are also more resistant to smudging and fading.
• Higher cost and less accessible if requiring a maintenance service.
• The printer's clean cycles are set for pigment ink.

Another Choice for HP 912 & 917 Cartridges: Dye Ink

• Generally less expensive than pigment ink.
• Delivers bright, high-contrast colors.
• More resistant to getting clogged, and easier to clean if it does.
• It's okay for general printing, but not as fade-resistant.

Although HP’s OEM 912 set and 917 inks are pigment-based, I advised you to use dye ink for refilling. When pigment ink is used, your printer is instructed to self-clean more often. When dye ink is used instead, the printer will not overclean, so the risk of clogging is less. Conversely, if you ran pigment ink through a dye-based printer, you’d have to do more manual cleaning to avoid clogs.

Top Dye Ink for HP OfficeJet 8023

For dye ink, consider using the specialized high quality dye inks for HP printers provided by BCH Technologies:

BCH Standard 600ml 4-Color Refill Ink for HP (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-hp-kd600x-ch/)

We also have an in-depth article comparing pigment and dye inks for those interested:

Pigment vs Dye Ink Comparison (https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919)

Switching between pigment and dye ink: Is that possible?

Yes, and you should do so carefully. Here’s what you need to know:

From Dye to Pigment Ink:

Before switching, you should flush out the dye ink as much as possible.

The two bases of the ink types do not mix well and can lead to clogs.

After the switch, print a few pages to flush out any remaining dye ink.

Pigment to Dye Ink Transition:

This is safer than the opposite.

Your printer will clean itself more often, which minimizes the chance of clogs.

Mixing Pigment and Dye Ink:

Although mixing inks isn’t recommended long term, mixing up to 20% of a different ink type poses no significant risks.

Some OEMs, such as Epson with its DuraBrite, already blend pigment and dye ink, so it is acceptable to mix in tiny amounts.

If switching between third-party inks, ensure they are cross-compatible, since ink bases vary from maker to maker.

How to Avoid Clogging When Changing Ink Types

One way to mitigate switching risk is to use a clear base solution to dilute and purge the old ink from the system.

Universal Dye Ink Basehttps://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-base/

Universal Pigment Ink Base (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink-base/)

Such solutions prevent pigment particles from flocculating when going from one ink type to another.

Quick Summary

You cannot use pigment ink in a dye printer without significant problems.

No dye printer is compatible with pigment ink or vice versa unless it is regularly cleaned manually.

Strapwork fits snugly with hyphenated ink types, and many switch ink types, necessitating an ink flush to clear any clogs that may form.

You should limit the mixing with another type of ink to 20% or less.

Let us introduce you to high-end ink cartridges by BCH for HP, Canon, and Epson printers.

Printer issues are one of the more hands-on problems that can be pretty arduous to troubleshoot. So, we cannot offer remote problem solving, recommendations, or printer fix support. Our local diagnostic facility provides an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, we serve on a first-come, first-served basis. It may take weeks before we can schedule a time for you to drop it off. We offer complete printer or parts repair service and detailed instructions on how to do so. However, we admit that our prices are not the cheapest. We strongly advise you to take up self-help through internet research. To find specific videos, go to the homepage of our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) or check out YouTube and use the search icon on the right of the menu bar next to the "About" option. Since I get dozens of inquiries in a day, it’s hard to remember every single video, and using YouTube’s search function is the easiest way to find what you need. In addition, YouTube could recommend videos from other channels that might help you, too.

Thank you again for your question and for supporting BCH Technologies! Your engagement means a lot to us, allowing us to improve and enhance our content for you and the printer repair community. Let me know if you have any follow-up questions!