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Can my Canon ink cartridge or ink tank be refilled...?

 Is my Canon cartridge difficult to fill ? Are there any tricks ?
...if your cartridge isn't listed here, please contact us for more information.

Most Canon ink cartridges and ink tanks are easy to refill, but it is important, not to let them totally run out of ink. If you do, you are inviting problems. All cartridges will leak if overfilled and all ink tanks will leak, unless the fill hole is sealed air-tight.  

BCI-3 series cartridges (BCI-3eBk/C/M/Y/pM/pM) can all be refilled, but it's important not to let the sponge part of  cartridge run out of ink. Once it's empty, the sponge dries out very quickly and it can be almost impossible to get printing again after refilling. Ideally, refill when the ink side is almost empty, but the sponge is still saturated with ink. Fill hole is under label on top of the cartridge. Ensure the fill hole is sealed air-tight after refilling, or the tank will leak. Black (BCI-3eBk) ink is pigment (C3), all the colour ink tanks use dye (C6) ink. Ink monitoring is not affected by refilling these ink tanks.

BCI-6 series cartridges (BCI-6Bk/C/M/Y/pC/pM/R/G also BCI-5) are essentially the same as BCI-3 and the same tips apply. All BCI-6 ink tanks use dye (C6) ink.

BCI-24 ink cartridges (BCI-24Bk & 24C) are simple to refill, but original Canon BCI24 cartridges use felt type material which tends to harden, as the cartridge empties.  This makes re-filling tricky, because once the felt turns hard, it can stop absorbing ink. Refilled cartridge might seem overfull and leak, even if very little ink is added. Quality compatible (not Canon) cartridges (eg Print-rite) don't suffer this problem, and are a better choice, if you want to refill. Black BCI-24's use pigment ink (C3), colour (C6) dye ink.

BCI-21 cartridges are the same as BCI-24 and refill the same. Both black and colour cartridges use dye ink (C4).

CL-38 is a low yield versions of CL-41 ink cartridge. Easy to refill, but if your printer can use the CL 41 or CL 51 higher capacity cartridges - get some. The 38 holds very little ink and is easy to over fill. Use dye (C8) ink.

CL-41 is similar to CL-38 (above). Holds more ink and over filling is less of a problem.

CL-51 is a higher capacity version of CL-41 (above). Not all CL-38 and CL-41 printers can use them

CLI-8 series cartridges are similar to "BCI-3s" and the same tips apply (read above). The only significant difference is the ink level chip on the CLI-8's. It is of no real concern to re-fillers, as it doesn't prevent refilling. You have to either disable the ink monitoring or invest in a chip resetter. All CLI-8 cartridges use dye (C8) ink. Read more about disableing the ink monitor here.

CL-511 colour ink cartridge as used in many late model Canons. Easy to refill, but only take about 2ml per colour (C8) ink, less with subsequent refills. Fill holes under top label. If your printer will accept high capacity (CL-513) cartridges, worth getting. 

CL-513 high yield colour ink cartridge as used in many late model Canons. Easy to refill with dye (C8) ink. Fill holes under top label. Refilled cartridges may not work in some MFC's with fax that don't support disabling of ink monitor.

CLI-521 ink tanks are easy to refill, using C8 dye inks. Refill method & tips are same as for "CLI-8" ink tanks (read above). CLI-521 are almost identical to CLI-8 ink tanks, only smaller. Chip resetters now available. Refill friendly ink cartridges with ARC (auto-reset chips) are another way of dealing with the Canon ink monitor. 

CLI-526 (NEW) are the latest ink tanks from Canon. They are same as CLI-521 (above), except there is no ink level inspection window and the chip is different. CLI-526 refill exactly the same as CLI-521, using C8 dye inks. Unless you buy a chip resetter or refill friendly CLI526 ink tanks (with auto-reset chips) the ink monitor must be disabled.

PGI-5 is similar to BCI-3Bk and the same tips apply (read above). Like the CLI-8, the PGI-5's have ink level chips and you have to either disable the ink monitoring or invest in a chip resetter Pigment ink (C5) is used in PGI-5 tanks.

PGI-9 ink tanks can not be refilled (at this time). There is no re-setter for the ink chip and the tank itself is not easily refillable. 

PG-37 is a low yield versions of PG-40 ink cartridge. Easy to refill, but if your printer can use the PG 40 or PG 50 higher capacity cartridges, get some. The 37 holds very little ink and is easy to over fill. Use pigment (C5) ink. 

PG-40 is similar to PG-37 (above). Holds more ink and over filling is less of a problem.

PG-50 is even higher capacity version of PG-40 (above). Not all PG 37 & PG 40 printers can use them.

PG-510 black ink cartridge used in many late model Canons. Easy to refill, but only take about 6ml of pigment (C5) ink, less with subsequent refills. Fill hole under top label. If your printer will accept high capacity (PG-512) cartridges, worth getting...

PG-512 high yield black ink cartridge as used in many late model Canons. Easy to refill with pigment (C5) ink. Fill hole under top label.

PGI-520 ink tanks are the bigger (black) version of "CLI-521" (read above). Refill tips and method are the same. Pigment (C5) can be used to refill them. Ink monitoring has to be disabled unless you have a chip resetter or refill friendly cartridges

PGI-525 (NEW) are the latest black ink tanks from Canon. They are same as PGI-520 (above), except there is no ink level inspection window and the chip is different. PGI-525 refill exactly the same as PGI-520, using C5 pigment inks. Unless you buy a chip resetter or refill friendly PGI-525 ink tank (with auto-reset chip), the ink monitor must be disabled.

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