Whirlpool Washer Rant!

[agiflow]

@agiflow consider yourself lucky to not have a washer like mine no matter if i select warm or hot even when doing a control board reset its stuck to cold water wash oh the world that it would break before reaching the 10 year mark so that i can convince my mom into looking into a use refurbish as new direct drive kenmore like thisView attachment 318208View attachment 318209

It's kind of funny because I wanted to go back to new again after having these other old machines which work well. The only old machine I want to keep is my Kenmore. As long as the control board holds up on this Whirlpool 4816 I'll be happy.

 

[vacerator]

Hot vs. cold washing; I know that cast iron retains heat. Porcelain on steel might a little. Stainless less.

 

[pstehle]

Superior results as in ? I'll get just as clean clothes out of a VMW as any Speed Queen front loader or top loader and I dare say moreso because of the extended cycles and pauses depending on cycle chosen. Build quality yes, the Speed Queens have it, but I'm not impressed. They really do have a cult following and I was in that....today not soo much. Too much money for a classic top loader with limited options. It's nice that it's there but at this point I would agree with John and if I was to go with Speed Queen I would probably go for the front loader.

I'm looking forward to hooking up my SQ front load stack. It's a model specifically intended for Commercial use, the documentation actually states "not to be installed in a residence". Picked it up in pristine condition for $500, looks to have been used very lightly. Of course it weighs as much as a 1950's Frigidaire side-by-side...

 

[pstehle]

Porcelain costs money. They all used to have it.

A good powder coat finish can last nearly as long as porcelain and won't chip as easily. SQ makes pretty much anything about as well as possible.

 

[pstehle]

Wait, I'm confused Pat. WTW4816 shows up as some type of weird off market novelty/export model. Doesn't even seem to have a transmission or brake. I don't even know why its being offered in the US.

Why not get a descent direct drive or dependable care?

GWTXW-8500-NFD is a good middle line model, comes with dual action agitator and stainless steal inner and outer tubs. Ball bearing balance ring, Porcelain enamel lid and cabinet. They're now offering a free 24oz Clorox bottle with the Tide and Downy. Flood Check hoses standard. It has that goofy temperature/cycle matrix selection scheme yes and that grey galore control panel but it gives you everything else you need for the price.


View attachment 318105



Wiring diagram indicates nothing superfluous besides the indicator lights.

View attachment 318106



I go with this as your daily driver.

WOW!!! Only $1425 for a washing machine with plastic gears inside a tin transmission... where do I sign up? Is this a fast-forward to 2045?

 

[Chetlaham]

WOW!!! Only $1425 for a washing machine with plastic gears inside a tin transmission... where do I sign up? Is this a fast-forward to 2045?

Thats what a direct drive would cost today in 2025 with an all porcelain coated cabinet, commercial drive components, stainless steal wash basket, metal timer, beefed up motor, and Eaton style water valves. If anything the price is really low for all the vintage engineering involved.


Even a simple residential grade direct drive from the 2000s would approach the cost of a Speed Queen if built new today. Raw material costs have gone up substantially.

 

[appledude1]

I don’t understand why anyone would want the 4516 instead of the 4519 either, it has worse quality suspension rods and smaller tub although when new the 4516 spins smoother, the 4519 has more options and I don’t mind the taller impeller VMWs, although I’m not too big on the smaller balance ring on that unit (not sure why Whirlpool did this in 2018).

The commercial units had the bigger balance rings as well as the older washplate ones (like my WTW4900BW0). I don’t like that Whirlpool is now using the smaller balance rings plus when those go off balance they often bang while the tub is spinning at full speed causing it to put holes in the wall. They don’t usually explode, tho but I’ve seen some get somewhat damaged. Plus during the spin cycle the smaller balance ring narrow drum whirlpools make this weird “popping” noise.

The NTW4516FW seems to spin smoothly at first but prone to suspension rod issues after about 3-6 years. Don’t be surprised if your 4516 starts to bang after about 4 years (if the control board doesn’t fail in 9 months).

If you overload the 4519, that hub will strip out within a few years.

Both have this control board issue, all the six light Whirlpools from 2024 or 2023 did pretty much, both Amana and Whirlpool, and I’m pretty sure some units from Crosley, Roper, and Kenmore did as well. As well as that 3.5 cu ft Admiral that isn’t sold anywhere. Any whirlpool with the six lights underneath the panel has the control board issue, regardless of the brand or model. The newer style whirlpools don’t seem to have it. Every whirlpool machine that’s VMW or VMAX has a flood mode, they don’t just flood your house when it’s overfilling like a GE Model-T does.

The older VMWs (pre-2018) with the stainless narrower drums (not the 4.2 to 4.3 models) didn’t get suspension rod issues often at all and the suspension on those usually lasted at least 7 years before failure. Also, as much as I hate modern GE washing machines, I think those are more reliable than the newest Whirlpools. LG’s don’t seem too bad as long as you buy the ones without the AI controls.

The removable agitator was introduced in 2021 as a Whirlpool exclusive, it’s essentially just a washplate machine with a random stick.

If you’re buying a Whirlpool right now I’d strongly recommend getting the newer style models (although those are junk and are prone to vibrations on spin cycle), although they don’t have a major control board issue. The basic models have major issues with the control board. I’d you’re getting a whirlpool I’d also recommend getting a VMAX and not a VMW (the big drum VMWs have issues with the pump wires). The big drum VMWs should’ve just continued using the same drain pumps as the VMAX machines (that was already done with the first models of those from 2020), I’m guessing Whirlpool changes the pumps to save some Pennies as the other pumps were cheaper to use. Even the 4.2 to 4.3 cu ft VMWs used to use the VMAX pumps until 2019, although I didn’t really see pump wire issues with the smaller big drum VMWs.

I bought the commercial Whirlpool gas dryer for an elderly friend, as I wanted something more robust and reliable -

 

[agiflow]

I bought the commercial Whirlpool gas dryer for an elderly friend, as I wanted something more robust and reliable -

I had my 2012/13 SQ AWN432 for 7 years in a somewhat damp basement. The finish looked as new as the day I bought it