First and second generation HE washer performance tests.

[maytagneptune]

I feel like giving the Original Style F&P based Bravos/Cabrio/Oasis washer another chance with a few differences. I had the Oasis for 6 months and hated it. it had the dreaded F1 problem but the board came out fine. I used it for 6 months and it worked OK but the F1 problem got annoying I scrapped it. Honestly I should have gotten a donor machine from the scrap yard or used appliance store and swapped the board. it was a rare blue one. The original style wash plate from introduction to 2007 is a joke. The modern tall wash plate does a better rollover. I feel like putting it and all other "HE" machines I have except the Calypso and Neptune and TL machines. Whichever one preforms worse gets scrapped. sometimes my LG WM2277HW doesn't use enough water or never gets the load wet in the middle. I want something that is going to be reliable enough for this. Direct Drive uses too much water. Once I got the hang of HE machines I don't want to go back to the old school machines anymore. Even if the HE machines are cheaper quality and don't preform as well. I am willing to give up a small amount of performance for water and energy savings.

 

[maytagneptune]

This is what I refer to as the Original style Bravos washer



Not my video.

 

[appnut]

17 minutes to complete the sensing and filling process before it starts washing? I would have had it sent back after the 1st load. No wonder I cannot stand top loaders. Another reason why I only want a front loader!!!

 

[DADoES]

 
Bob, I don't think the initial sequence is related to load sensing.  Seems to be a pretreatment phase with a concentrated detergent solution.  The machine has a floating basket.  Load-size sensing is via the slight basket rotational pulses during the fill that begins at 13:07 on the timeline.  The basket floats at 15:45, then a bit more and the last pulse is at 15:56.

AquaSmart stops filling for HE level and begins agitation immediately when the basket floats, although it may in some cases add more water a few minutes later.  Agitation drag is part of F&P's load sensing and is involved in calculating the final level for the deep-fill cycles, except not the Bulky choices.

This machine is either programmed to fill a little higher after basket float or perhaps does so on this cycle related to it being PowerWash.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I agree with Bob,  if you are going HE, let gravity work for you and get a tumbler.

 

[DADoES]

 
Tom, that is true.  I would get a frontloader if I had to buy a new washer not for collectible purposes.

 

[eronie]

All of the little sprits of water during the fill wastes so much time!!! Just fill and get it over with!!
Front loader for me!!

 

[DADoES]

 
Tony,

Not to be defending the Bravos XL excessively ... but, see Reply #3 above.  Those sprits aren't the main fill.  They're part of a pretreatment with a concentrated detergent solution.  The fill for wash starts at 13 mins 7 seconds, finishes at 16 mins 57seconds, the water runs continuously for that duration.  A little more is added at 17 mins 17 seconds to 17 mins 34 seconds.

 

[eronie]

I did note the Pretreatment with the recirculation pump. But there is no way that machine will get poopy diapers or nasty farm jeans clean.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Bravos XL

I have personally used a machine like Andrew's video that someone posted above. I do not think these machines clean all that well because they do not fill with tap hot water. I have, however, used the coldwash cycle, and found that it actually did really well with normal clothes.

 

[lowefficiency]

>> Whichever one preforms worse gets scrapped.

That's how our Bravos, which came with our house, found its way to the curb.

We used it for a year or so, repairing it twice along them way. When the fill valve started leaking, it needed about $10 worth of parts to fix, and we decided that its washing performance didn't justify that cost.

 

[maytag85]

I’d take this over a HE washer any day

 

[maytagneptune]

reply #10

That was the VMW bravos. that one along with the VMAX one sucks. I am mentioning the Original one ONLY. all other Bravos machines suck!

 

[stuftrock1]

Direct drives use too much water

I don't know how anyone could think that. Direct drives, if using the correct load size, use the perfect amount of water required to get the job done right and in a timely manner. The only thing good about newer he toploaders is the spin speed, but the high price and pitiful dependability completely negate that.

If you live in an area where water is expensive or scarce and that is a major issue for you, then get a front loader. Don't bother with these HE toploader pieces of junk.

 

[lotsosudz]

I agree with Bob

By the time it fills and washes, a front load machine would be half done, and truly clean clothes would emerge. they waste too much time for my liking. They fiddly fart around too much. Just my opinion, and heaven only knows, I could be wrong!
Hugs,
David

 

[pinkpower4]

A Powerwash with presoak < 1 hr. in Maytag mvwp575gw TL

Maytag mvwp575gw. Lots of water with tap hot for the deep water cycles, dual action agitator, and short wash times! The longest cycle is the Powerwash which is 45 minutes. A presoak added to Bulky, Delicates, Mixed, or Powerwash adds 10 minutes. Any load with a presoak is under 1 hour, and this is what I do most of the time. You can add an extra full tub rinse to those loads too, which would add about 8 - 10 more minutes. I rarely use a second rinse. Using a Panda spin dryer (can do half a load at a time) plus machine drying for the remainder of time means I can get a load done in about 1.5 hours.

A Normal "Eco" cycle (half tub fill/spray rinse) only takes 25 minutes. With a Panda spin dryer and machine drying the rest of the time, this load is less than 1 hr. from start to finish. It is great for small loads and quick washes. If I wanted a half tub rinse, I would just run the load again without detergent.

I don't use fabric softener in the washer or dryer.

The only thing the Maytag mvwp575gw is missing is the better build quality of the older machines.

I've owned this machine now for 2.5 years, and it has been used for our family and inside pets' laundry without any issues. It has a five year parts AND labor warranty, so I am guaranteed at least five LOL. I am hoping to get ten years. Even with the older machines, it seems like they were retired after 15 (for the type of use mine will get) due to bearings. With this machine, I think I will get that. Just don't overload, wash like items with like items, and the correct amount of laundry detergent (line 2 for half loads and line 3.5 for deep water with a quality detergent seems to be working for me to have clean clothes and no buildup).

 

[maytag85]

Sometimes I wonder why they even bothered with HE top loaders or HE front loaders for that matter. None have really been good in my experience, and I don’t see the point in investing in something that’s essentially a lemon and has poor washing and rinsing performance and takes forever to get a a load of laundry done.