How to Fix Epson L6170 Waste Ink and Blank Print Issues: A Detailed Troubleshooting Guide

Customer Question

I watched your video on fixing Epson ET-2720’s “waste ink pad end of life” issue by installing an external waste tank. I have an Epson L6170, and I’m facing a problem where the printer performs a head cleaning cycle every time I try to use it. After a few minutes, if I attempt to print again, the page comes out blank. Can I reset the Epson L6170? What could be causing this, and can you provide some assistance?

Answer 

Understanding the Problem: Automatic Head Cleaning & Blank Prints

Your Epson L6170 is performing repeated head cleanings followed by blank pages, and you’re asking whether a reset might fix the issue.

1. Waste Ink Counter Issue (Error Codes: 000031, 000032, “Service Required”)

The Epson L6170 features a waste ink pad counter that tracks the number of cleaning cycles and printhead flushes performed. Once the counter reaches a preset limit, the printer starts behaving abnormally—such as repeatedly initiating cleanings and printing blank pages—to prevent ink overflow.

Unlike older Epson models, the L6170 features a chip embedded in the waste ink tank, which cannot be reset solely through software. Therefore, you have two options:

• Buy a chip resetter compatible with the L6170’s maintenance box.

• Replace the waste ink tank with a new one that has a fresh chip.

In most cases, replacing the tank is the more straightforward route.

2. Install External Waste Ink Tank (If You Want Long-Term Reuse)

If you plan to use the printer extensively, consider installing an external waste ink tank. This bypasses the internal pads and routes waste ink into a bottle or tank, which can be easily monitored and emptied.

We demonstrated this process in the Epson ET-2720 Waste Ink Tank Installation video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDi4YdzXkD8). While the video focuses on the ET-2720, the same principle applies to the L6170. Please note that you'll still need to reset or replace the chip in the maintenance box for the printer to accept the modification.

3. Persistent Blank Pages: Clogged Printhead or Air Block

If you’re printing after cleaning and still getting blank pages—even with a fresh cartridge or ink tank—this may indicate air bubbles in the ink lines or a clogged printhead. Here’s how to troubleshoot:

• Check ink levels visually (don’t rely only on the software indicator).

• Prime the ink lines using the printer's built-in ink charge function or perform a power cleaning if available in the maintenance menu.

• Manually flush the printhead if power clean fails. You may need a syringe and cleaning fluid to push fluid through the printhead gently.

4. Software Reset Tools: Are They Effective for the L6170?

There are some third-party utilities (like WIC Reset Utility) that claim to reset waste ink counters. However, because the L6170 utilizes a physical chip in the maintenance box, these software tools alone are insufficient. You’ll still need to reset the chip or replace the maintenance box.

Additional Notes for Repeated Head Cleaning

Suppose your printer performs a head cleaning every time it starts. In that case, it may be detecting a failure to complete previous cleanings properly, which is often a symptom of a saturated waste pad or an exhausted maintenance box chip. Replacing the maintenance box typically resolves this issue.

Important Service Notice

Printer issues like these often require hands-on inspection and repair, especially when it comes to chip resets or hardware modifications. That’s why we don’t offer remote troubleshooting or virtual support for these kinds of repairs. However, we do provide in-person evaluation and repair services at our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, all services are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks for us to inspect your printer.

Our service packages can address complete printer restoration or repair of specific parts. That said, we acknowledge that our prices may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, we always encourage customers to start with self-help. For DIY repair, your best bet is searching our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon on the right-hand side of the menu under the “About” tab to find the most relevant content. YouTube’s algorithm may also suggest helpful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for reaching out to BCH Technologies. Your continued interest and feedback make it possible for us to provide more targeted guidance and enhanced tools. We hope this helps you get your Epson L6170 running smoothly again!