How to tell if your CIJ ink has expired

Not all expired inks look bad. This guide explains how to assess shelf life, print quality, and performance if you're unsure.

Ink expiration = performance degradation

Expired ink may:

• Fail to dry properly

• Lose adhesion on non-porous surfaces

• Produce faint or blotchy codes

• Shorten the life of filters and restrictors

Signs your ink may be expired

• Ink is past printed expiry date

• Fluid has settled or separated

• Nozzle clogging occurs more frequently

• Increased solvent consumption from VMS

• Print quality declines with no system faults

How to check

• Look for expiry date on bottle or drum

• Compare colour and consistency to new fluid

• Test print and compare drying speed and adhesion

• Run a filter replacement early if suspected