Epson ET-8550 how to refill an ink tank
When the ink level is below the lower line on a tank. Fill the tank to the upper line.
Steps
If ink spills, wipe it off immediately with a damp towel to avoid permanent stains. If ink gets on your clothes or belongings, it may not come off.
Marked CAUTION by the manufacturer Source: Refilling Ink and Replacing the Maintenance Box: Refilling the Ink Tanks, p. 225
- Turn on the product and lift up the scanner unit until it locks into place.
- Open the ink tank cover, then open the cap of the tank you are going to fill.
Do not shake or squeeze the ink bottle. Do not touch the top of the bottle after its cap is removed.
Marked CAUTION by the manufacturer Source: Refilling Ink and Replacing the Maintenance Box: Refilling the Ink Tanks, p. 226
If ink gets on your skin, wash it thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water. If ink gets into your mouth, spit it out immediately. Seek medical advice if problems persist.
Marked WARNING by the manufacturer Source: Refilling Ink and Replacing the Maintenance Box: Refilling the Ink Tanks, p. 226
- Hold the ink bottle upright and slowly turn the bottle cap to remove it.
- Insert the bottle into the filling port. The bottles are keyed for each color, so do not force them. Ink flows into the tank and stops automatically at the upper line. If ink does not flow, lift and reinsert the bottle.
- When the tank is full, remove the bottle and close it securely with its cap, then close the ink tank cap.
- Repeat for each tank you need to refill, then close the ink tank cover and lower the scanner unit.
- Select Maintenance > Fill Ink and follow the on-screen instructions to reset the ink levels for every ink you refilled.
If the ink levels are not reset for every ink you refilled, you may get an error message or the levels will not change on the LCD screen.
Source: Refilling Ink and Replacing the Maintenance Box: Refilling the Ink Tanks Source: Refilling Ink and Replacing the Maintenance Box: Refilling the Ink Tanks, pp. 224-228
Other ET-8550 procedures
- How to run a nozzle check from the control panelWhen printouts are light or banded, to see whether the print head nozzles are clogged before cleaning.
- How to clean the print head from the control panelWhen the nozzle check pattern has gaps. The print head may not be cleanable when an ink tank is low; refill first.
- How to run a Power Cleaning from the control panelWhen white or dark lines or missing nozzles remain after cleaning the print head several times.
- How to align the print head from the control panelWhen printouts are grainy or blurry, vertical lines are misaligned, or dark or light horizontal bands appear.
- How to clear a paper jam in the paper cassettesWhen the LCD screen reports paper jammed in a paper cassette.
- How to clear a paper jam inside the productWhen the LCD screen reports paper jammed inside the product.
- How to reset the ink levels when the LCD asks for itWhen the LCD screen prompts you to reset the ink levels. The message can appear even when ink remains in the tanks.
Sources
- User's Guide, ET-8500/ET-8550. Epson America, Inc. Document CPD-59879, revision CPD-59879R1, 346 pages, en-US. files.support.epson.com (PDF). Listed on the manufacturer's support page. Retrieved 13 November 2026.
Page numbers are the numbers printed in the manual. Where this page and the manual differ, follow the manual.