When printing grey scale on a MX882 printer, is the color ink used at all?

[mbmoyer]

We set all of our home PCs to print gray scale on our printer, an MX882 (serial # ACAT48275) in order to not use so much color ink.  That seemed to be working very well until the big black ink cartridge (the 226BK) emptied out.  I didn't think anything of it because the small 225 BK cartridge was still full.    The 225 BK is about 1/2 full now, but all of a sudden, the color inks (226C and 226M) are empty, with the 226Y 1/2 empty.

My question is, if the BIG black cartridge (226BK) empties, does it not "switch over" to the 225 BK?  Or does is start "creating" black by using both magenta and cyan?

Thanks.

Mark

[akm]

Looks like there may be no answer to this question ?

Is there another way/place to get some help/answers ?

Ps:  Also, why should the MX882 use color ink if the black cartridge is full ?

[Michael]

Hello.

If plain, letter sized paper is used, the printer should use the large black tank for grayscale printing.  If specialty paper or duplex printing is used, the printer would use the dye based inks.    If grayscale printing is not enabled, the printer may create 'composite' blacks by using mixtures of the color inks.  This may occur when graphic or web-based printouts are performed.

The reason for the two different black ink tanks is for the different types of printing your unit is able to perform.  They are not intended as backups to each other.  The larger black tank is pigment based, and is primarily used for standard black text printing or output.  The smaller black ink tank is dye based like the color inks, and is used for photo and graphics output. 

If additional assistance is needed, feel free to call us at 1-800-OKCANON.

[akm]

Thank you for the info ! In my case, we are printing all the time with 'Fast' / 'Grayscale' settings, and the printer still seems to be using the color cartridges... ie we have to replace them periodically. Is there any way to set up the printer itself to only copy/print with the large black cartridge ? Maybe a workaround, by needling-in fake color ink in the cartridges ? Or, should we be taking the printer back to the vendor under warranty ? And, thanks again for your help. Ps: When try 'Preview' tab, the message does not show, and when go back to 'Rich Text' tab, it is gone, hopefully it will post ?