Hello all:

I have a Whirlpool Model DU8700XY-4 dishwasher (14 years old) that
came with the house when we moved in. It never did a fantastic job
cleaning and over the last few weeks it has gotten much worse. In my
reading of various posts on the subject I discovered that the water
level should be coming up to just under the heating element. Lo and
behold I was only getting a few cups worth of water. If I add about 8
cups of water manually to the tub the dishes come out better than
ever.

I removed the inlet valve and dis-assembled it. I rinsed it out
removing a very small amount (a few specs) of gunk and replaced the
old supply line with a flexible metal dishwasher line. I also tested
the valve with an ohm meter and I do get a reading, which is supposed
to indicate that the solenoid is OK.

I now get about twice as much water, but still not enough so I rigged
the door so that I could watch the tub fill and it the water just kind
of flows slowly out of the hole. In contrast, the sink faucet has
plenty of pressure. I've even made sure there was no other water in
use anywhere in the house that could be lowering the pressure.

My question is should the water be entering the tub with more pressure
and thus filling it up higher? If so, is the valve still the most
likely suspect at this point?

Thanks.

Just thought I would point out that you will probably be much happier with a
new dishwasher. A good one (check consumer reports ratings) will very
reasonably priced, quiet and get your dishes clean without rinsing. One of
the great advances in dishwashers is that they stop for a moment and let the
garbage settle before pumping out the dirty water. Lots of simple
improvements have made a big difference.


"demiurge" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello all:

I have a Whirlpool Model DU8700XY-4 dishwasher (14 years old) that
came with the house when we moved in. It never did a fantastic job
cleaning and over the last few weeks it has gotten much worse. In my
reading of various posts on the subject I discovered that the water
level should be coming up to just under the heating element. Lo and
behold I was only getting a few cups worth of water. If I add about 8
cups of water manually to the tub the dishes come out better than
ever.

I removed the inlet valve and dis-assembled it. I rinsed it out
removing a very small amount (a few specs) of gunk and replaced the
old supply line with a flexible metal dishwasher line. I also tested
the valve with an ohm meter and I do get a reading, which is supposed
to indicate that the solenoid is OK.

I now get about twice as much water, but still not enough so I rigged
the door so that I could watch the tub fill and it the water just kind
of flows slowly out of the hole. In contrast, the sink faucet has
plenty of pressure. I've even made sure there was no other water in
use anywhere in the house that could be lowering the pressure.

My question is should the water be entering the tub with more pressure
and thus filling it up higher? If so, is the valve still the most
likely suspect at this point?

Thanks.

On Jun 4, 11:52 am, "Art" wrote:
Just thought I would point out that you will probably be much happier with a
new dishwasher. A good one (check consumer reports ratings) will very
reasonably priced, quiet and get your dishes clean without rinsing. One of
the great advances in dishwashers is that they stop for a moment and let the
garbage settle before pumping out the dirty water. Lots of simple
improvements have made a big difference.

"demiurge" wrote in message

oups.com...

Hello all:

I have a Whirlpool Model DU8700XY-4 dishwasher (14 years old) that
came with the house when we moved in. It never did a fantastic job
cleaning and over the last few weeks it has gotten much worse. In my
reading of various posts on the subject I discovered that the water
level should be coming up to just under the heating element. Lo and
behold I was only getting a few cups worth of water. If I add about 8
cups of water manually to the tub the dishes come out better than
ever.

I removed the inlet valve and dis-assembled it. I rinsed it out
removing a very small amount (a few specs) of gunk and replaced the
old supply line with a flexible metal dishwasher line. I also tested
the valve with an ohm meter and I do get a reading, which is supposed
to indicate that the solenoid is OK.

I now get about twice as much water, but still not enough so I rigged
the door so that I could watch the tub fill and it the water just kind
of flows slowly out of the hole. In contrast, the sink faucet has
plenty of pressure. I've even made sure there was no other water in
use anywhere in the house that could be lowering the pressure.

My question is should the water be entering the tub with more pressure
and thus filling it up higher? If so, is the valve still the most
likely suspect at this point?

Thanks.

Agreed, and I could also use a new refrigerator, chimney, and a car or
two. Just trying to make the dishwasher last as long as possible.
Like I said, with the extra water I add manually the dishes come out
great - no rinsing required.

On or about Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:37:01 -0000 did demiurge
dribble thusly:

Hello all:

My question is should the water be entering the tub with more pressure
and thus filling it up higher? If so, is the valve still the most
likely suspect at this point?

Thanks.

Every dishwasher I've seen doesn't determine water level by how long
it's been filling, but via a float of some sort on the bottom. Look
for something sticking up, probably in the front on one side or the
other.

It may still be shutting off after a fixed filling time (as a safety
measure for a broken float, perhaps), but it's hard to tell without
knowing just where your float is, and what it looks like when the
washer thinks it's filled.
--
- Mike

Ignore the Python in me to send e-mail.

On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:57:51 -0000, demiurge
wrote:

On Jun 4, 11:52 am, "Art" wrote:
Just thought I would point out that you will probably be much happier with a
new dishwasher. A good one (check consumer reports ratings) will very
reasonably priced, quiet and get your dishes clean without rinsing. One of
the great advances in dishwashers is that they stop for a moment and let the
garbage settle before pumping out the dirty water.

Is that one new? Mine pauses at that point, I think, and it's 28
years old. I'll do a load to check if you want me too.

Lots of simple
improvements have made a big difference.

"mm" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:57:51 -0000, demiurge
wrote:

On Jun 4, 11:52 am, "Art" wrote:
Just thought I would point out that you will probably be much happier
with a
new dishwasher. A good one (check consumer reports ratings) will very
reasonably priced, quiet and get your dishes clean without rinsing. One
of
the great advances in dishwashers is that they stop for a moment and let
the
garbage settle before pumping out the dirty water.

Is that one new? Mine pauses at that point, I think, and it's 28
years old. I'll do a load to check if you want me too.


How long does it pause for. The new ones give a good thirty seconds or
more. THe old ones just stopped to change modes. In any case the newer
dishwashers do one heck of a job. Of course part of the improvement is also
the detergents.

On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:05:21 GMT, "Art"
wrote:


"mm" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:57:51 -0000, demiurge
wrote:

On Jun 4, 11:52 am, "Art" wrote:
Just thought I would point out that you will probably be much happier
with a
new dishwasher. A good one (check consumer reports ratings) will very
reasonably priced, quiet and get your dishes clean without rinsing. One
of
the great advances in dishwashers is that they stop for a moment and let
the
garbage settle before pumping out the dirty water.

Is that one new? Mine pauses at that point, I think, and it's 28
years old. I'll do a load to check if you want me too.


How long does it pause for. The new ones give a good thirty seconds or
more. THe old ones just stopped to change modes. In any case the newer
dishwashers do one heck of a job. Of course part of the improvement is also
the detergents.

Don't usually pay that much attention so I'll have to check. I'm
curios but tired. Maybe tomorrow. With the clothes or dish washer --
dont remember which--, I've gotten impatient and advanced the timer
when it wasn't doing anything. I thought the pause was just a foible
of construction. If it's the dishwasher, I'll stop doing that.

"Mike Ruskai" wrote in message
...
On or about Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:37:01 -0000 did demiurge
dribble thusly:

Hello all:

My question is should the water be entering the tub with more pressure
and thus filling it up higher? If so, is the valve still the most
likely suspect at this point?

Thanks.

Every dishwasher I've seen doesn't determine water level by how long
it's been filling, but via a float of some sort on the bottom. Look
for something sticking up, probably in the front on one side or the
other.

It may still be shutting off after a fixed filling time (as a safety
measure for a broken float, perhaps), but it's hard to tell without
knowing just where your float is, and what it looks like when the
washer thinks it's filled.
--
- Mike

Ignore the Python in me to send e-mail.

Agreed, it may be a float issue.

"mm" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:05:21 GMT, "Art"
wrote:


"mm" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:57:51 -0000, demiurge
wrote:

On Jun 4, 11:52 am, "Art" wrote:
Just thought I would point out that you will probably be much happier
with a
new dishwasher. A good one (check consumer reports ratings) will very
reasonably priced, quiet and get your dishes clean without rinsing.
One
of
the great advances in dishwashers is that they stop for a moment and
let
the
garbage settle before pumping out the dirty water.

Is that one new? Mine pauses at that point, I think, and it's 28
years old. I'll do a load to check if you want me too.


How long does it pause for. The new ones give a good thirty seconds or
more. THe old ones just stopped to change modes. In any case the newer
dishwashers do one heck of a job. Of course part of the improvement is
also
the detergents.

Don't usually pay that much attention so I'll have to check. I'm
curios but tired. Maybe tomorrow. With the clothes or dish washer --
dont remember which--, I've gotten impatient and advanced the timer
when it wasn't doing anything. I thought the pause was just a foible
of construction. If it's the dishwasher, I'll stop doing that.


Some of the newest dishwashers actually stop for a moment while washing, let
out a bit of the dirtiest water and then continue.

I was once talking to a dishwasher designer and it was interesting to hear
all the stupid stuff they worry about. For example, are you better off with
a flat wide seal on the door or a narrow seal that has much more pressure
per square inch. All kinds of stuff. Then they put in a crappy motor from
China!