Epson EcoTank Prints Only in Black and White After Refilling - Causes and Fixes

Question:
My printer showed a low ink warning. I added leftover ink from all colors, but it still wouldn't print. Then I bought new ink bottles and refilled the tanks following the user manual. The bottles stopped flowing, so I removed them. However, I noticed very little ink was added, and when I tried to print a color document, it only prints in black and white. What could be wrong?

Answer:

Based on your description, it sounds like your printer's color channels aren't receiving ink properly despite your refill efforts. This situation is common with Epson EcoTank and similar ink-tank printers and usually stems from one of three issues: improper refilling, air trapped in the ink lines, or a clogged printhead. Let's go through these step-by-step.

1. Understanding the Ink Refill Mechanism

When refilling an EcoTank printer, the ink should flow from the bottle into the tank automatically. If you noticed that very little ink entered the tanks even after connecting the bottles, a few possibilities exist:

• The tank lids or vents were closed during refilling. Air must enter the tank for ink to flow in; a closed vent will stop ink flow prematurely.

• The bottles were not seated correctly. Each ink bottle has a small valve that opens only when it's firmly pressed into the ink tank port. If not aligned or pressed fully, the ink doesn't flow properly.

• The tanks were nearly full already. In that case, the bottles will stop dispensing even if you think little ink flowed in.

To check this, open the ink compartment and look at the transparent ink reservoirs. If you see ink levels near the top lines, the tanks may already be full even though the printer still reports low levels (which can happen when ink monitoring is off).

2. Run a Nozzle Check and Printhead Cleaning

If the tanks are properly filled but the printer still prints only black, the issue could be with the printhead nozzles:

• Go to your printer's maintenance menu and run a Nozzle Check.

  • If only the black pattern appears, the color channels (cyan, magenta, yellow) are likely clogged or air-locked.

• Run two or three head cleanings, waiting at least 30 minutes between each to prevent overheating the printhead.

• After cleaning, run another nozzle check to see if colors begin to reappear.

If the colors remain missing, air may be trapped in the ink lines, which prevents ink from reaching the printhead.

3. Prime the Ink Lines (if necessary)

In some cases, the color channels dry out or fill with air bubbles, especially if the printer sat unused for several days while low on ink.
You can try the following:

• Use the printer's ink charging or power cleaning function (found under "Maintenance" or "Advanced Settings" in Epson printers).

• If the printer lacks this option, you may manually prime the system using a syringe and priming adapter (available for many EcoTank models). This process involves drawing ink gently from the outlet port beneath the printhead until you see ink filling the syringe line - confirming that the channel is free of air.

Avoid excessive suction, as that can damage the printhead seals.

4. Check the Print Settings

Before assuming a hardware issue, ensure your software settings aren't forcing black-only output:

• In the Print Preferences window, make sure "Black & White" or "Grayscale" is not selected.

• Choose Color or Automatic printing mode.

• Update your printer driver if needed - a mismatched driver can cause color control issues.

5. If Color Still Doesn't Print

If the above steps don't fix the issue, the printhead's color nozzles may be clogged internally or electrically damaged. In that case:

• Try flushing the printhead using a printhead cleaning solution (do not use water).

• If cleaning doesn't restore flow, the printhead may need replacement.

We provide printhead cleaning kits and compatible parts for most Epson EcoTank printers on our website. You can find them under our printer parts section at bchtechnologies.com (https://bchtechnologies.com).

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it might take a few weeks before we can schedule your printer drop-off. Our services can cover the repair of specific parts or the entire printer, with clear step-by-step guidance on the next actions. However, since our rates may not always be the most economical, we encourage self-help through online research - particularly through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the channel menu bar to find videos about Epson EcoTank refilling, ink priming, and printhead recovery.

Thank you again for contacting us and for supporting BCH Technologies. We appreciate your patience and your efforts to maintain your printer - your engagement helps us continue sharing knowledge with the printer community.