Usually, even if not doing frequent printing, the Epson does a self cleaning every time the computer (iMac - 10.6.8 OS) wakes up from sleep.
The only thing that crosses my mind, Jerry, is that my R1800 (might be different) only did that head cleaning and pressurizing when I hadn't used it in a few days.
It had little or nothing to do with the computer starting up.
Toward the end of its life, though, it would do that whirring very often and I chalked it up to the heads bleeding back and losing seal.
Maybe, the printer is not in need of a re-pressurizing/cleaning, and that's why it's quiet???
Fred