Should You Use Dye Ink or Pigment Ink in Your Epson WorkForce WF-3640 Printer? A Guide to Avoiding 0x97 and 0xEA Errors

Question:

I watched your video about unclogging Epson printheads and fixing 0x97/0xEA errors in the WF-3640. I’m wondering: why did you switch to dye ink instead of using pigment ink in the printer? Are aftermarket pigment inks okay for this printer? Or is dye ink the better choice when using refillable cartridges and third-party ink, like from Amazon?

Answer:

Why We Recommend Dye Ink for Epson WF-3640

Let’s start by clearing up one important point: your Epson WorkForce WF-3640 can technically use either pigment or dye ink. The decision ultimately comes down to how the ink interacts with your printhead over time, and how that affects reliability and clogging.

1. Pigment vs. Dye: Cleaning Frequency Matters

• The WF-3640 is designed with a cleaning routine optimized for pigment inks, which are more prone to clogging.

• If you use dye ink, the printer will still follow the pigment ink cleaning cycle, resulting in more frequent self-cleaning and, therefore, a lower risk of clogging.

• That’s why it’s completely safe—and in many cases beneficial—to use dye ink in a pigment-ink printer.

2. Why We Prefer Dye Ink

• Cheaper: Dye inks are typically more affordable than pigment inks.

• Easier to Unclog: If a dye ink clogs, it can often be restored with simple flushes. Pigment ink clogs, on the other hand, tend to be more permanent and harder to reverse.

• Modern Dye Ink Quality: Older dye inks used to smear or fail on double-sided prints. However, recent advancements have made dye ink nearly indistinguishable from pigment for everyday printing.

• Water and Sunlight Resistance?Some say dye ink isn’t waterproof or UV-resistant. While technically accurate, these issues are overblown unless you’re printing outdoor signage or long-term archival material. For everyday home and office use, dye ink works exceptionally well.

We highly recommend the following dye ink sets, depending on your printer brand:

• Epson-compatible dye ink set (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-epson-kd600x-ce/)

• HP-compatible dye ink set (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-hp-kd600x-ch/)

• Canon-compatible dye ink set (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-all-printers-kd600x-cu/)

You can also read more about the differences between dye and pigment ink (https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919) and why dye ink often looks better (https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200677489) in print.

Can You Mix Dye and Pigment Inks?

It’s possible—but not ideal.

• Short-term mixing is generally safe, especially when going from OEM pigment ink to aftermarket dye ink. However, for long-term use, avoid mixing them unless you thoroughly flush out the system.

• Pigment ink uses a chemical suspension called a “matrix” to keep particles evenly dispersed. If you mix that with dye ink, the matrix can break down, causing pigment clumps that may clog the printhead.

• For smoother switching, try to use up as much of the old ink as possible, then print several pages after refilling to purge the old ink.

• For extra protection, use a clear dye base or a clear pigment base before changing ink types.

Quick takeaway:

• Dye ink in pigment printers = generally safe.

• Pigment ink in dye printers = risky without extra cleaning.

• Switching between third-party brands (even of the same type) is a gamble due to their different chemical bases.

Once you find an ink you like and your printer handles well—stick with it.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Therefore, we're unable to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, it may take a few weeks before we can arrange for your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either the whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thanks again for watching our video and reaching out with a thoughtful question. We’re grateful for your engagement and look forward to supporting your printing journey in any way we can.