How Many Prints Can PG-245 and CL-246 Refillable Cartridges Produce After Spongeless Conversion?

Question:
I’m interested in making PG-245 and CL-246 refillable cartridges for my Canon Pixma MG printer. After installing the spongeless modification, how many prints can these cartridges support?

Answer:

1. The Impact of Spongeless Conversion

By removing the sponge inside the cartridge and converting it into a spongeless design, you significantly increase the usable ink volume. On average, this conversion allows you to store about 2.5 times the original ink capacity inside a PG-245 or CL-246 cartridge.

For example:

• A standard PG-245/CL-246 cartridge normally holds about 8 ml of ink.

• After spongeless conversion, it can hold around 20 ml of ink or more, depending on the exact cartridge condition and tolerances.

This increase in volume translates directly to more prints per refill.

2. Estimating the Number of Prints

The actual page yield depends on the type of printing (text, mixed graphics, or full-color images). Canon’s OEM page yield ratings are usually based on 5% page coverage (roughly a short text paragraph on a page).

• If a normal PG-245 prints around 180 pages before running dry, the spongeless version could potentially reach 450–500 pages under similar print conditions.

• For heavier coverage, like color-rich documents or photos, the yield will be lower, but the improvement ratio (about 2.5x) remains consistent.

3. Additional Benefits of Spongeless Cartridges

• More consistent ink flow: Without the sponge, ink is delivered more smoothly to the printhead, reducing starvation issues.

• Less waste: The sponge in original cartridges often traps leftover ink, but spongeless designs allow you to use almost every drop.

• Easier maintenance: When paired with proper refill techniques, these cartridges can be maintained and reused many times, saving significant costs over OEM replacements.

For further reading, you can check out our detailed article here: Difference Between PG-243/CL-244 and PG-245/CL-246 Cartridges (https://bchtechnologies.com/blogs/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-pg-243-cl-244-and-pg-245-cl-246-for-canon-pixma-printer?srsltid=AfmBOoqgUZ25S2pMltFg9kIV5ao0CPpZ9BtKE4gRFffF1kHYVHS-lBUj).

Addressing printer issues and modifications can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the work. For this reason, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting or repair guidance. However, BCH Technologies does offer in-person diagnostics and repair services through our printer repair service center (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can receive your printer. While our pricing may not be the lowest, we encourage self-help options to save costs. A great place to start is our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). You can use the search function on the channel’s homepage (next to “About”) to quickly locate videos that match your needs. With more than nine years of content, this is the fastest way to find relevant guides, and YouTube may also recommend videos from other creators that could be helpful.

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