Are Magic Chef dishwashers good?

[moonshiner180]

I'm on the hunt for a different dishwasher. Our current one was in the house when we got it, it's a lackluster white GE from the 90s I'm guessing. It's never been good at washing our dishes,and leaves bits of food all over everything on the top rack almost every time.

Down at the local fleamarket there is a very clean Magic Chef which I think is a du55. It actually looks similar to our GE except the wash arm is metal instead of plastic, and the bottom rack has a tunnel built in to clear it.

Unfortunately I did not think to take any pictures of it, but I would like to know if these were made by GE and if it would be worth swapping out what we have for it? It's $50 and shows little signs of use, if any.

 

[awooff]

Magic chef

With the "cut out tunnel on bottom rack" of the magic chef - this sounds like a "tower wash" system which is not the best for water distribution to the 4 corners of the top rack.

Usually there are plently of 2 full wash arm machines on facebook marketplace - just ask if they will take 50.00 and many will...

 

[pulltostart]

Zachary

For a period of time GE did supply dishwashers with the Magic Chef badge.  The two easiest ways to know are 1) the interior door panel and 2) the control panel.  Here are examples of GE-sourced dishwashers using a very common interior door panel and detergent dispenser.  Also examples of the control panel with horizontal-throw latch and the finned venting area to the left of the latch.

 

Hope this helps.

 

lawrence

 

[moonshiner180]

I went back by and got some photos, one difference I did notice is a much bigger motor. Ours is a 1.8a and the magic chef has a 5.2a.

 

[ken]

Oct 1988 build date. Interior looks like my sister's 85 GE.

 

[appnut]

I built a house in Houston fall 1984/moved in March 1985.  it had a Tappan suite of appliances, including a dishwasher sourced by GE.  It was far superior to the D&M sourced Tappan & Magic Chef dishwashers previously.  It's one of the reasons why I bought my GE GSD1200 Potscrubber in May 1987--got transferred to where I live now January 1987--34 years ago right now I was moving into my current home.  Pics 3 & 4 of Lawrence's photos look like my Tappan's panel too.  And it ran circles around the Kenmore that was in my first house bought July 1980.  

 

[tomturbomatic]

I would try to find a Whirlpool with a wash arm under each rack. They have a superior wash/filtration system.

 

[combo52]

GE Built Magic Chef DW

The one you are looking at does not have a bigger or more powerful motor, but rather it has an extremely inefishent shaded pole motor that uses a lot of power and has a cooling fan that is larger in diameter than the motor to get rid of all the heat generated by the motor.

 

GE finally went to a much more efficient percent split capacitor motor around 15 years ago that only uses about 1/3 as much power and actually has more power.

 

I would skip the MC DW unless you want something really old school that uses lots of hot water and electricity and still only does a so-so job.

 

John L.

 

[neptunebob]

It's not just a Magic Chef, it will be a Roaring Chef too!

 

[moonshiner180]

Alright, thanks guys! I appreciate the advice. As much as I like the cosmetics of it vs what we have now, I'll keep looking for something else.

 

[moonshiner180]

I found a KitchenAid with stainless tub and 2 wash arms that I'll be picking up Friday as long as the seller holds it like they said

 

[appnut]

Did you find it on an online sale somewhere?  Looking forward to seeing what it is.  

 

[combo52]

Kitchenaid DW with two wash arms & SS Tub

Lets hope it is the elusive holly grail KDSS-18 by Hobart, that would be a find.

 

John L.

 

[moonshiner180]

I found it on marketplace, and it is a 90's or newer unit but unknown on the exact model. All I know is it has the dual arms, it's stainless inside and white outside, and it was working when installed and has been in storage for 3 months.

For $25 I can't really complain especially if it's an upgrade over what I have now. I'll make a new post in the appropriate section this weekend if I'm successfully able to pick it up.

 

[ultralux88]

Hopefully its a nice KUDS25!

 

[moonshiner180]

It turns out to be a KUDI01IL, and it also ended up being free! When I got there the guy was nice and wanted it out of the way, so he told me he wasn't comfortable taking payment for it since I'd driven a ways and it had been sitting in the garage a few months. Post with pictures in the Deluxe forum!