HP Smart Jet 7602

[Qwattz]

I was distracted when filling the ink reservoirs for the first time and put the wrong ink into the Magenta and Yellow. I've been living with it for about a year hoping to drain and refill with the proper ink. But I've only used about a 1/4 of the tank. Is there any way to drain the reservoirs? 

KW

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Qwattz,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

I can imagine how frustrating it must be to realize the wrong ink was added to your HP Smart Tank 7602, especially after living with it for a year and watching those tanks barely drain. Let’s walk through your options.

First, What Happens When Wrong Ink Is Used?

Using incorrect ink in the Magenta and Yellow reservoirs can lead to:

• Color distortion in prints
• Clogged printheads
• Reduced print quality or ink flow issues

Since Smart Tank printers use gravity-fed ink systems, draining the tanks isn’t as straightforward as removing a cartridge.

Safe Ways to Drain Ink from HP Smart Tank Reservoirs

Option 1: Manual Drain Using a Syringe

This is the most practical method if you’re comfortable doing it yourself.

You’ll need:

• A clean syringe with a thin nozzle
• Lint-free cloths
• Gloves (to avoid staining your hands)

Steps:

1. Power off the printer and unplug it.
2. Open the ink tank lid for the affected colors.
3. Insert the syringe into the tank opening and slowly draw out the ink.
4. Wipe any spills with a lint-free cloth.
5. Once drained, refill with the correct HP ink.
6. Run a printhead cleaning cycle from the printer’s control panel or HP Smart app.

⚠️ Be gentle to avoid damaging the tank seals. Never tilt the printer or use suction pumps not designed for ink tanks.

Option 2: Let It Run Dry (Slow but Safe)

If you prefer not to manually drain:

• Print color-heavy pages using mostly magenta and yellow.
• This will gradually use up the incorrect ink.
• Once low, refill with genuine HP ink and run a cleaning cycle.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

VikramTheGreat