How to Fix Magenta Not Printing on HP OfficeJet Pro 8028 After Cleaning Attempts

Question:
I have an HP OfficeJet Pro 8028 that was donated to me. It prints well in black and white, but it won't print in color. After watching your videos, I suspected the issue was dried-up color nozzles from lack of use. I ran multiple cleaning cycles and used your red cleaning solution. This helped-cyan and yellow started printing again, but magenta is still clogged. I've tried the cleaning solution several times, but there's been no improvement.

I also noticed that when I used the red cleaning solution, a significant amount of ink from the other cartridges drained out, even though I hadn't added solution to them. The paper towel diaper was soaked, and the cartridges lost nearly all the ink I had refilled. Is this normal? And what should I do next to unclog or fix the magenta channel?

Answer:

You've already done excellent work troubleshooting-getting cyan and yellow restored shows that both your process and the red cleaning solution are effective. The magenta channel, however, presents a tougher challenge.

Why Magenta Won't Unclog

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8028 uses pigment-based ink for all four colors. Pigment particles are larger and heavier than dye-based inks. When they dry inside the nozzles, they can form a hardened crust that is difficult-or sometimes impossible-to break down.

• Mild clogs respond to repeated cleaning solution treatments and rest periods.

• Severe clogs may resist cleaning altogether. If pigment hardens deep inside the printhead, no amount of cleaning fluid or flush cycles will fully restore that channel.

This is why cyan and yellow opened up successfully, while magenta continues to block.

Ink Drainage During Cleaning

The ink loss you observed is normal during HP's cleaning cycles. These printers flush all channels at once, not just the one being targeted. That means:

• Even though you only placed cleaning solution into the magenta slot, the printer flushed black, cyan, and yellow ink as well.

• The cleaning solution thins the ink and accelerates flow, which pushes even more liquid into the waste pad.

• It is expected for the waste pad (sometimes called the "diaper") to become soaked, and for cartridge levels to drop significantly.

Recommended Next Steps

Here are some practical ways to proceed:

1. Repeat with Rest Periods
   Apply the red cleaning solution again, but wait several hours or even overnight before testing. This allows the solution time to soften dried ink before you attempt another purge.

2. Soaking Method
   If you're comfortable, remove the printhead and soak just the nozzle plate in cleaning solution. This gives the fluid direct contact with the blockage and is often more effective than running repeated internal cycles.

3. Limit Cleaning Cycles
   Avoid running too many back-to-back cleaning cycles. This wastes ink without giving the solution time to work. Alternate between a soaking session and a light cleaning cycle.

4. Consider Printhead Replacement
   If magenta remains completely unresponsive after multiple careful attempts, the channel is likely permanently blocked with hardened pigment. In that case, replacing the printhead is the only realistic solution.

On Ink Waste

Yes, high ink waste is part of the process when dealing with clogs. Even professional technicians expect this. The good news is that by refilling your own cartridges, you've greatly reduced the cost compared to constantly buying OEM replacements.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Because of this, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We do offer in-person evaluation and repair services (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) through our local diagnostic facility. Repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can work on your printer. Our services cover both full printer repair and part-specific fixes with clear instructions on next steps. However, our rates may not always be the most budget-friendly, so we encourage self-help when possible. A great starting point is our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" on the menu bar to quickly find relevant videos, or let YouTube suggest related guides from our nine years of content.

Thank you again for reaching out and for your continued support. We truly value your engagement and wish you the best of luck in getting your printer back to full color functionality.