Epson SureColor P600 Matte Black Not Printing: Nozzle Check Looks Good, But Prints Are Missing

Question

I have an Epson P600 and I'm having trouble with Matte Black. I've run several printhead cleanings, and the nozzle check looks clear for Matte Black. All the other colors look fine. I watched some of your YouTube videos about your cleaning products, and after reading on the BCH site I think the green solution might be what I need. Can you recommend the best printhead cleaner for the P600?

Answer

Why Matte Black can fail even when the nozzle check looks perfect

When a nozzle check shows Matte Black (MK) is clean and complete, but real prints are missing or weak in MK, it usually points to something other than a classic "blocked nozzle." Common causes include:

• Ink delivery weakness (not a nozzle blockage): air in the line, a weak draw through the cap, or ink not feeding consistently under load. A nozzle check uses very little ink; a real print uses much more.

• Capping station / suction issue: if the cap seal is weak or the cap/waste path is restricted, cleanings may not actually move ink the way they should-even if the nozzle check looks okay afterward.

• Dampers / ink selector behavior: the P600 uses a black ink switching system (Photo Black vs Matte Black). A switching or feed issue can show up as "MK prints wrong/weak" even when the nozzle check pattern looks normal.

• Clog forming only under continuous printing: sometimes MK will appear fine on a test pattern, then drop out during a larger print because flow can't keep up.

• Driver/media setting mismatch: on the P600, Matte Black is used on matte/fine art media settings; Photo Black is used on glossy/luster settings. If the job is set to a media type that forces Photo Black, you can think "MK isn't printing" when the printer is actually using PK by design. (It won't always be obvious unless you confirm the selected media type and black mode.)

Before using any cleaning solution: do a "Park and Prime" (strongly recommended)

Before stepping up to chemical cleaners, I suggest doing a park and prime. This often resolves the problem faster and more safely than immediately pushing cleaning fluid through the system.

How to Park and Prime (waste-line syringe method):

1. Park the printhead on the capping station:
   Turn the printer on and let the carriage settle naturally onto the cap. This is safe to do with the power on-what matters is the head is fully seated on the cap.

2. Connect a syringe to the waste line:
   Attach a syringe and tubing to the printer's waste/drain line.

3. Gently draw ink/air to test the seal and flow:

   • Start by drawing 4-6 ml slowly.

   • You should feel slight resistance as the cap seal holds and the system pulls.

   What you feel tells you a lot:

   • If you only pull air with no resistance: the head may not be parked correctly, or the capping station seal is leaking (not sealing against the printhead).

   • If you feel complete resistance and can't pull anything: the cap/waste path may be clogged, and you won't be able to properly prime until that restriction is cleared.

4. Continue to a controlled pull and hold:
   After you draw 4-6 ml, you may hear a faint crinkling sound near the dampers-this can indicate the nozzles are opening and ink is being encouraged to flow. Slowly draw until the syringe passes the 2 ml mark (as you described), then hold for about 10 seconds.

5. Run a normal cleaning afterward, but don't overdo it:
   Use the printer's regular cleaning routine afterward, but:

   • Avoid a strong cleaning within the next 12 hours

   • Don't do repeated back-to-back cleanings without rest time (this can overheat the head, waste ink, and sometimes make air issues worse).

This "park and prime" is especially useful when ink is thicker than standard ink or when the system needs a gentle assist to reestablish stable flow. Even with standard pigment ink in the P600, it can help if the issue is suction/priming rather than a hard clog.

Which BCH cleaning solution is best for an Epson P600?

The Epson P600 uses pigment ink, so you have a few options depending on how stubborn the issue is and how aggressive you want to be.

1) Clear Cleaning Solution (mildest, safest first step)

• Best when: you want the safest option and suspect light drying or minor restriction

• Works with: dye and pigment

• Product: Dual-Action Cleaning Solution for Dye & Pigment (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/dual-action-cleaning-solution-for-dye-and-pigment-inks)

2) Green Cleaning Solution (stronger, often the "sweet spot" for pigment issues)

• Best when: nozzle checks look okay but printing is inconsistent, or clogs keep coming back

• Works with: dye, pigment, and sublimation

• This is often a good match for P600 users who need more power than the clear solution but don't want to jump to the strongest cleaner right away.

• Product: Triple-Action Cleaning Solution for Dye/Pigment/Sublimation (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/triple-action-cleaning-solution-for-dye-pigment-sublimation-inks-1)

3) Red Cleaning Solution (strongest-use carefully)

• Best when: severe clogs, repeated dropouts, or long-term drying where other methods fail

• Works with: dye, pigment, and sublimation

• Important caution: do not leave at full strength in the printer for more than 24 hours. This is a professional-strength option and should be used conservatively.

• Product: Professional Red Cleaning Solution for Water-Based Inks (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/professional-red-cleaning-solution-for-water-based-inks-dye-pigment-sublimation-not-for-solvent-ink)

About DTF/DTG cleaning solutions:
Our MaxStrength DTF cleaner is designed for DTF/DTG ink systems (especially white ink clogging) and is not meant for dye-based setups; it's also stronger and more specialized than most P600 situations require.

• Product: Premium Cleaning Solutions for DTF Inks - MaxStrength (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/premium-cleaning-solutions-for-dtf-inks-maxstrength-against-white-ink-clog)

Practical recommendation for your exact symptoms

Because your nozzle check is clear for Matte Black but MK performance is still a problem, I would typically recommend this order:

1. Confirm settings first: make sure your media type is one that actually uses Matte Black (matte/fine art). If you choose glossy/luster media, the printer will use Photo Black instead.

2. Do the Park and Prime to confirm the cap is sealing and suction is working.

3. If you still want a cleaning solution: start with Green (it's a good balance for pigment systems like the P600).

4. Escalate to Red only if Green + proper priming doesn't resolve persistent dropouts.

If you see any printer message or error code during this process, please note it exactly as displayed. In the scenario you described, there wasn't a specific error code mentioned-this sounds more like a flow/switching/priming issue than a coded "hardware failure" alert.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because the problems are hands-on and often require physical inspection, testing seals, and confirming ink flow behavior in real time. For that reason, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, step-by-step repair suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, we run on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can accept a drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either the entire printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. We also acknowledge our rates aren't the most economical, so we strongly encourage self-help via online research first. A great place to start is YouTube, including our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). To find the most relevant videos quickly, use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of requests daily asking for a specific video topic, and after nine years of content it's difficult to remember every single one-YouTube search is by far the most efficient method, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other channels.

Thanks again for contacting us and for supporting BCH Technologies. We truly appreciate it, and I hope this helps you choose the safest and most effective next step for your Epson P600 Matte Black issue.v