Maximizing Your Epson Printer: EcoTank Ink in 252 Cartridges Explained

Question:

Can I use genuine Epson EcoTank refill ink to refill my 252 ink cartridges, as shown in your video?

Answer:
The short answer to your question is yes. Most WorkForce printers use pigment ink, so the yellow ink often resembles mac-and-cheese. EcoTank printers, however, use dye ink. And if you're wondering if you can use dye ink in a pigment printer, the answer is yes. Conductive and dielectric inks can be used with WorkForce printers, but each  has its own considerations. Pigment printers perform more cleaning cycles, so dye ink is less prone to clogging in a pigment printer. On the flip side, if you run pigment ink in a dye printer, add it to manual cleaning to avoid clogs. For instance, some print shops use the Artisan 1430 dye printer with pigment ink for T-Shirt Printing.

Here are key differences between dye and pigment ink: Dye inks tend to be less expensive and easier to unclog; pigments, once clogged, can be very hard to fix. Dye inks have long been known for poor double-sided printing and UV resistance results; however, these have improved dramatically in recent technological developments. If you are not soaking your prints in water and do not plan to leave them in the sun for long periods, dye ink is the most practical solution for everyday printing. If you're worried about quality, modern dye inks, such as those used by BCH, give fantastic results. Some of the best options we recommend are the Epson Dye Ink Set, HP Dye Ink Set, and Canon Dye Ink Set.

Changing between ink types — dye to pigment or vice versa — needs care. However, not mixing inks for life is advisable as dye and pigment inks are suspended in different base solutions. However, if the chemical matrix of the pigment is disrupted, extended mixing can produce clogs. To mitigate those risks, try to use the old ink as much as possible before switching and print enough pages to flush out any residue. If you're concerned and want to take preventative measures, use a transparent dye or pigment base, run the printer flushed out, and change it before switching it to the next ink. These bases are Clear Dye Base (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-base/) and Clear Pigment Base (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink-base/).

In short, using dye ink in a pigment printer is safe. Dye ink is versatile, affordable , and usable. If you change inks, do so as cleanly as possible to prevent clogging. Please refer to the article: Compare Dye and Pigment Ink (https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919) (Article: Why Dye Ink Prints Look Better (https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200677489) to learn more about dye and pigment inks.

Printer problems can be tricky to solve because they are often physical problems. We cannot troubleshoot or assist with repairs over the phone. However, we provide physical assessment and repair services at our local analysis center (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). These services are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and may take several weeks because of high demand. We service full printers or specific parts and will instruct you where to go. As an aside, you may be able to find your solution by searching online for help, including going through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) — the search tool next to the word "About" can help you find a specific video, which may save you time, but our rates are not the lowest out there.