MAXIFY GX4020 infrequent monthly printing - better to auto-clean or print something and how often?

[m011nyo]

I just got a Maxify GX4020 - I only print once every month or two months (mostly a few pages of text, I use the scanner more frequently; typically less than 250 pages printed a year, less than 10 photos). Understand the GX4020 has pigment inks. One website someone posted on another Canon model and said if you leave it Power On and standby, the printer will perform an auto-mini-clean every 58 hours for pigment inks (and 120 hours for dye inks).

Several questions:

1. Does this model perform an auto mini-clean as needed?
2. For this model how often will it run the auto mini-clean?
3. To avoid print heads clogging, is it as good to print a test page every X days, or let it run an auto-clean?
4. If the test page is as good, the Nozzle Check test or something else?
5. How much more ink used in an auto-mini clean cycle vs. the test page?
6. Has anyone measured this printer's standby power consumption?
7. What settings to use so it will standby but not fully power off when unused for days at a time?

Thank you in advance - please do not speculate but only answer if you have information on this model.

Other inkjet printers I've had including Epson, HP and another Canon have all had issues with print heads clogging from infrequent use whether cartridge or "printhead+ink in one" HP. This is my first tank printer. I've also tried HP and Brother laser printers but found print quality deteriorated over several years even in a laser with infrequent use and consumable cost was much higher. When I do need to print, usually on a deadline and so running multiple deep clean cycles is not convenient. 

[m011nyo]

Is there anyone from Canon reading this? I discovered if I leave the default power management on with maximum delay, the printer powers down after less than 1 day. Can't find out whether will re-power-on briefly to do a mini-clean when needed, or if I have to disable power management to get it to mini-clean as needed? Given how expensive printer heads are I wish Canon would make this clear. Is there an email address for tech support? Or phone where I can get an advanced technician familiar with the specifics of this?

[SamanthaW]

Hello!

The Canon Community isn't intended for immediate assistance from Canon USA, but rather for other Canon users to chime in and help if they have the answers.

If your question is of an urgent nature, please feel free to check out your support options HERE.

[m011nyo]

Thanks I registered but chat is offline right now and there is no email support. The manual says the printer caps the printheads to prevent drying if turned off, and to print once a month. This is different from what other uses have shared for other models (keep the printer on for auto mini-clean, print at least once a week). Anyone else know what to do / has asked Canon support for the Maxify GX4000 series?

[m011nyo]

I just see that Canon reps used to answer the forums here, so I'm hoping someone with technical expertise (even if unofficial) will answer this! And no email for Canon and I didn't have time to phone Canon support plus I doubt their level 0 techs would have such detail info as it's not in the product manual. 

Anyway here's what I found after hours of searching:

1. I've found buried in the manual that the Maxify GX4000 will cap the print heads if one powers down from the printer panel (on/off button) and leaves connected to mains power, and that is better for the printheads not drying out, so for infrequent printing rapidly pressing power off (on the printer) seems best and setting ECO Mode on and rapid power off if not printing for an hour (which I hope will also cap heads, manual ambiguous if ECO Mode auto-power off caps heads).

2. I have not found whether or not the printer will wake up and do a mini-clean. I have not found any info if this model performs a mini-clean even if left on indefinitely with ECO Mode off.

3. Separately I found a macOS free utility that is no longer being developed but might still work called InkJet Plumber which will periodically print to any printer and the Maxify GX4000-series can apparently be set to wake on network access (and then auto power off in ECO mode) so perhaps I'll try that: https://github.com/leftytennis/InkjetPlumber

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

For best results. I would suggest printing something regularly every 2 to 4 weeks.  The printer does not wake up to perform auto cleaning.  I'm not sure how effective printhead "capping" would be just by turning the printer off.  I'm not familiar with the feature, so I'll have to read more about it later. You mentioned it was in the manual. 😉 Inkjets do not like to sit idle for long periods.  it's best to print on a regular basis. An inkjet printer may charge itself when powered on (after inactivity or use).  However, if the printhead is clogged, degraded prints might result until a cleaning is performed.  Canon product experts do frequent the forums on a regular basis.  It might not be on your schedule however.  To receive official support, register your device in your MyCanon account.  You will then be provided with your support options.  

If you don't want to deal with these types of headaches (any manufacturer) and are not printing photos, consider buying a laser printer.  I stopped using inkjets long ago and a laser printer is always ready to print at a moment's notice.  

[m011nyo]

Thank you @shadowsports. I did register for a Canon account but there is no email support and during the workday I don't have time. I tried a Brother laser printer but also with infrequent use found something inside the drum deteriorated with time long before the toner was exhausted leaving gray streaks everywhere and replacing the cartridges and drum with OEM didn't help - and was almost the price of a new printer with less than 5,000 lifetime pages after about 4 years. I realize most of these printers are designed to expire and be replaced every few years regardless of how many pages they print but am hoping to get at least 5 years out of this new purchase even though my annual printing is less than 250 pages.

[jrhoffman75]

Head cleaning uses a lot of ink. 

Just run a nozzle check every week or so. It uses little ink. If all colors print you are OK. If one or more don’t then run a cleaning and shorten the time between nozzle checks.