While setting up a new HP Smart Tank 5101, I accidentally put yellow ink into black tank.

[ccb11]

While setting up this new printer, I accidentally put yellow ink into Black tank.

[Hawks_Eye · Accepted solution]

Hi @ccb11 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for explaining what happened—I'm really sorry you’re dealing with this mix-up during setup. Accidentally filling the black ink tank with yellow ink on the HP Smart Tank 5101 can cause serious print quality issues and may affect the internal ink delivery system if not addressed promptly.

Here’s a focused recovery process to help you move forward:

Step-by-Step Guidance for Ink Cross-Contamination

 

1. Do Not Attempt to Print

• Avoid printing until the black tank is fully flushed and refilled
• Printing with mixed ink can damage the printhead and cause permanent staining

 

2. Manually Drain the Black Ink Tank

• Power off the printer and unplug it
• Use a syringe with a flexible nozzle to carefully extract the yellow ink from the black tank
• Continue until the tank is as empty as possible

Be gentle to avoid damaging the tank or ink lines. Use gloves and paper towels to contain any spills.

 

3. Flush the Tank with Distilled Water

• Fill the black tank halfway with distilled water
• Let it sit for 10–15 minutes to loosen any residual yellow ink
• Drain again using the syringe

Repeat this process until the water runs clear. Avoid tap water, which may contain minerals.

 

4. Refill with Genuine HP Black Ink

• Once the tank is clean and dry, refill with HP GT53 or GT53XL black ink (depending on your region)
• Do not mix brands or ink types

This helps restore proper ink flow and prevents future clogging.

 

5. Run Printhead Cleaning Cycles

• On the printer’s control panel or via HP Smart:
  • Go to Settings > Maintenance > Printhead Cleaning
  • Run at least two cleaning cycles

This helps purge any remaining yellow ink from the black ink line and printhead.

 

6. Print a Test Page

• After cleaning, print a diagnostic page or alignment sheet
• Check for:
  • Solid black output
  • No yellow tint or streaking

If black output is still tinted or missing, a deeper cleaning or printhead replacement may be needed.

Let me know how the cleaning goes or if you need help locating the correct ink or tools—I’ll guide you through it. 

You’re doing everything right by catching this early—I’ll stay with you until it’s resolved.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye