Leaky Rinse Aid

[mrboilwash]

Problem:

My 17 years old Bosch DW has had the rinse aid dispenser leaking for a very long time making a mess on the door and sometimes even soiling dishes below.
I addressed the problem by simply not refilling it and using All in One tabs that have a sheeting action included.
Thought it would be nice to have some low dosed rinse aid in addition to those tabs, so I gave it a try again. Surprise... it`s still leaking...

 

[mrboilwash]

I was tempted to buy a low end Miele but being cheap as I am I decided to go for a replacement dosing unit instead.
An original Bosch part would have been almost 90 Euros which would have justified a new Dw but I found a replacement for 20 Euros shipping included from an independent dealer, so it was a no brainer.

Lesson #1
Don`t just look for Youtube videos when something went seriously wrong.
It`s better to watch them ahead of a repair project.
In my repair enthusiasm I seem to have ignored the fact that those screws on the side of the bottom part of the door are not needed to be removed for my project.
In fact they are attached to the bottom door gasket and to the springs that balance the door.
Got myself into serious trouble by carelessly loosening those screws
In the picture it`s all good again...

 

[henene4]

Not sure if that leak would be coming from the tank or the valve-thingy controlling the dosage, but either part appears to be cheap (40€ or so) and should be reasonably easy to replace without pulling the machine from the cabinet.

Or maybe it's just the seal in the cap for the tank?

 

[mrboilwash]

Lesson #2

Why can`t I remember to wear work gloves when needed?

 

[mrboilwash]

Lesson #3

Always check your replacement parts before starting a project.
After I removed the dosing unit I realized that the one I ordered was missing a spring and hinge was broken.
So I didn`t install it, called the dealer and asked for another one.
Luckily I they believed me and sent a new one and I didn`t even have to send the broken one back.
So I reinstalled the old one to at least have a dishwasher while I was waiting for the second dosing unit.

 

[mrboilwash]

The second replacement they sent me was fine, so today I could finally finish my little project.
This time it was just a matter of a few minutes, no swearing and no injuries involved ;-)

First test load was done without the front panel on to check for possible leaks.
Thank God the bottom door gasket is still good after what I`ve done to it.
Rinse aid gets dosed properly and no more ugly marks on the door when the cycle is finished.

 

[mrboilwash]

Henrik, it`s hard to tell from the pictures but I`m quite sure that the red rubber stopper (dosing valve) was the culprit.
I paid only 20 Euros for the whole unit and yes it was an easy repair at least on my second attempt ;-)

 

[DADoES]

Bloodshed ...

 
I always catch some sort of personal damage when doing a refurb project.

 

[askolover]

My KUDI23 is doing the same thing and I also have stopped refilling it.  It was leaking so much that over-foaming became a real problem. 

 

[rolls_rapide]

Leaking rinse aid

That happened to me as well, although my machine seems to have had one of the less well known designs of dispenser.

In my particular case, the grey silicone rubber plunger somehow became porous all of a sudden. I tried increasing the tension of the return spring... that only lasted about a week before the leaking recommenced.

I ended up buying a whole new dispenser, complete. The rubber plunger/seal wasn't available alone. The only spares available were something like the hinged rinse aid lid, the sliding detergent lid, and the blue locking catch. Rather disappointing.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

whirlpool gold rnse aid leak

I had the same situation with my whirlpool gold. When I'd run a load of dishes the next time it was full, it would create a small bed f suds.

 

[mrboilwash]

After a few loads with rinse aid I have to say I`m very happy with the results.
A little extra soap in the last rinse (it`s on the lowest setting for now) makes such a huge difference.
I was tempted to buy a new DW but now I`m glad I didn`t. The novelty and excitement about a new appliance wears off quickly and now that the old Bosch works again as is should it almost feels like having a new dishwasher.

 

[henene4]

These machines are such work horses. Quality wise honestly almost obscene.

While we had the pump go out on one of these machines back home and one in my old flatshare, they usualy don't break down much.

Maybe the racks rust, maybe the water pocket clogs up or such small things go wrong like here, but they just run and clean well.

 

[mrboilwash]

Yes indeed, it`s almost indestructible like a VW Beetle, a vintage Krups 3 Mix or a Vorwerk Kobold.

 

[mark_wpduet]

the first

whirlpool dishwasher I had (2005 I think) developed a leak like this. So I stopped using rinse aid........after a few years, I thought, I'll try again, only this time I won't fill it all the way, so I filled it like 40% full. and it didn't leak anymore. LOL

 

[mrboilwash]

LOL... Same here, after a few years without rinse aid I was hoping for a miracle too but in my case it just didn`t want to kick in.

Suppose even silicone rubber or neoprene or whatever is used today in dosing devices is still subjected to some deterioration from the acids in rinse aid.