HP Officejet Pro 8025e

[BertMW]

Even after print head cleaning through LeveI 3, I continue to get severe color streaking on my HP 8025.  What next steps to follow to eliminate this problem?

[Jerry_57]

Hi @BertMW,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

I hear that a Level 3 print head cleaning hasn’t resolved the color streaking on your HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e; the ink nozzles are likely severely clogged, or the print head/cartridges need to be re-seated or replaced. Follow these specific, step-by-step troubleshooting actions:

1. Perform an Ink Smear Cleaning:
 

Sometimes the issue is dried ink smudging on the rollers instead of a clogged print head.
 

• On your printer's control panel, navigate to Setup > Tools (or Printer Maintenance).
   
• Select Clean Ink Smear and press OK.
   
• The printer will slowly feed a blank page, clearing excess ink from the paper path.

2. Check and Reseat the Cartridges:

Dried ink on the cartridge vents or contact chips often disrupts proper ink flow.
 

• Turn on the printer and open the front ink access door.
   
• Wait for the print carriage to idle, then remove one ink cartridge at a time.
   
• Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water to gently wipe the gold contact chips and the small circular vent hole on the top of each cartridge.
   
• Let the vents air-dry for a minute, then firmly snap each cartridge back into its designated color slot until it clicks.

3. Let the Printer "Rest" and Try Again:

If the print head has severe, dried-on blockages, running back-to-back cleanings can deplete ink without fixing the clog.
 

• Turn off the printer, unplug it, and leave it resting overnight. This allows any chemical solvents in the ink to break down the hardened blockage.
   
• The next day, turn it on and run a Print Quality Diagnostic Report via the printer's Reports menu.
   
• If streaks remain, wait 30 minutes, and run one final set of Level 1, 2, and 3 cleanings.

4. Inspect the Print Quality Report:

Look closely at the color pattern blocks on your diagnostic page.
 

• If a specific color block (e.g., Cyan or Magenta) is completely missing or highly streaked, that specific cartridge or its associated print head section is failing.
   
• Ensure you are using genuine HP ink cartridges, as non-OEM brands frequently cause clogs, leaking, and streaking.

5. Clean the Print Head Manually:

If the automated levels fail, you can manually clean the print head assembly using warm distilled water. 
 

• Turn off and unplug the printer.
   
• Remove the print head assembly (which holds the cartridges).
   
• Using a lint-free cloth or a cotton swab dampened with warm distilled water, gently dab and wipe the metal nozzles on the bottom of the print head.
   
• Allow the print head to air-dry completely, reinstall it, and run a standard cleaning cycle to re-prime the ink system.

I hope this will help.

 

Take care and have a good day.