New Bosch Dishwasher Model #SHPM78Z54N

[eurekastar]

I've been on the lookout for a new dishwasher in black stainless and finally scored this new Bosch with Crystal Dry.  The stove and refrigerator are both black stainless, and now, the ensemble is complete!  There is some slight color variation, but no one would notice but me.  The stove is a gas Samsung and the refrigerator is a Whirlpool. 

 

On its inaugural run, the Bosch performed beautifully!  Using the sample of Finish detergent provided with the machine, I tossed in a crock pot with some baked on cheese and goo and it came out almost completely clean.  Everything else was spotless too.  And the Crystal Dry feature lives up to its hype!   

 

[luxflairguy]

Good loading job! Greg

 

[appnut]

I made this response yesterday, but it wasn't posted.

BobLoad certification.

I dislike the flatware basket. It takes up too much space. I saved my splittable baskets from both my previous Kenmore Elites and use those as needed. My suggestion would be to put as much flatware in the 3rd rack. The MyWay 3rd rack I hve has a flatware cradle on the right side taking up about 1/3 of the space. It can hold 16 to 18 pieces. With my coordination issue, it's not the easiest for me to use constantly. And I am still amazed how the dishwasher managest to clean each piece with each item spaced right next to each other and not skipping a space. I've had forks as foiled as yours in the photo come fully clean spaced right next to each other. I also found out measing spoons don't have to be fanned out either. Just almost dumbfounds me as to how it managest to get it all cleran. I've had one piece not get clean. It's a shame Bosch didn't include the splittable flatware bskets with this model. If I hadn't had my old dishwashers' splittable baskets, I'd have sprung for a set of the Bosch splittable.

 

[eurekastar]

@ appnut

I'd have to say that the flatware basket is one minor drawback.  My flatware is Ricci Impero.  The handles are rather large and won't fit into the narrow slots.  I had to use a box cutter and enlarge half the slots!  Other than that, it's performance is impressive. 

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Nice!

What cycle did you use?
I found that the Auto cycle with Sanitize worked great for 90% of loads. The Heavy cycle does use a higher wash temp, but actually has a shorter main wash period. I am VERY jealous that your machine has Crystal Dry. Does it have the Extra Scrub option?

 

[vacerator]

Yep,

thats one of the better Bosch's than the Assentia line. My dad used to complain abpout his tea mugs staying stained.

 

[eurekastar]

@ vacerator

This machine does not have the Extra Scrub option since it came from Lowes; however, I just used the Auto cycle to see how it would handle all that gunk and it performed beautifully!

 

[appnut]

My default setting is Auto, Sanitize, and CrystalDry. Bone dry coffee mugs and all stains removed. I would like to think that adding Sanitize increases main wash a slight bit more. That combination yields a 60-70 minute main wash. For very light soil, even with a full load, I'll add the 1/2 load option and that reduces the main wash to 40-45 minutes. I've also been known to use the delicate option to reduce spray pressure because I have disposable food storage items that fly around without the option. PUtting said items on cup racks helps, but when I run out of psace with that, then the flighty items occurs. Since May I've used Heavy 3 times.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Auto wash time

My slightly older Bosch would wash for around 50-60 on Auto with Sanitize. The Heavy cycle would only be around 30-40 minutes, and ironically was the fastest wash cycle when using Sanitize. Heavy cycle also did not alternate wash arms during the main wash and while heating the water. I'm assuming both wash arms were active. That machine dried everything except for plastics, of course. I would always pack that machine as full as possible and it never complained.

Only recommendation I can make is to use 1 teaspoon of STPP in the main wash dispenser to keep hard minerals at bay!

 

[eurekastar]

@ lakewebsterkid

That's exactly what I do!  I use 1 tsp. of STPP in the main wash too!

 

[tomdawg]

Congrats!

I have the 878 version that does include extra scrub. I have only used this option for baked on items I didn’t want to soak and scrub. Though I feel it does a pretty good job even with out that option. This dishwasher has been by far the best dishwasher I’ve ever used. The crystal dry is amazing. I have young kids with lots of plastic ware and they come out dry. I can put them back together right away in the cabinets.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Crystal dry

How does the crystal dry work?

 

[lakewebsterkid]

GELaundry4ever

Look it up. Loads of videos and good explanations online.

 

[eurekastar]

Crystal Dry video

 

[gelaundry4ever]

crystal dry

I assume it's just a heated dry without the heating element, but with minerals. That sounds like marketing.

 

[DADoES]

 
Hmmm.  What is the heat source if there's no heating element?

 

[eurekastar]

Heat Source

As I understand it, during the washing process, moisture is drawn into the chamber holding the zeolite granules.  When moisture comes in contact with the zeolite, it is absorbed by the zeolite and triggers a chemical process where the granules heat up.  During the drying cycle, a fan blows across the heated granules and into the dishwasher, thus drying the dishes.  The air is heated up to 176º F.  The 800 series also has an "Intense Dry" setting as well, which raises the final rinse temperature like lower tier models with the "Extra Dry" setting.  When that is on and combined with the Crystal Dry feature, even plastics come out remarkably dry!

 

[henene4]

Not quite

There is a heating element in the Chanel for the air right behind the fan.

During drying, water in the form of vapour is sucked into the chamber with the mineral.
The mineral has such a huge surface area that it basically forces the water to condense onto it.
When water condenses, a lot of energy is released.
That heat is carried away with the air back into the chamber to dry the dishes.
There is no chemical reaction, just physics.

During the first heating Portion of a cycle, instead of heating with the heater in the wash pump, the fan AND the heater in the air duct turn on.
That hot air drys the mineral.
The evaporated water is blown into the cool wash chamber where it condenses and the heat is transferred to the dishes for washing.
Once a certain time has passed or the water reaches a certain temperature the fan and heater are switched off and heating resumes with the heater in the wash pump.

 

[chachp]

Silverware in the Bosch dishwasher

 

I agree with Bob.  I don’t know how it’s gets the silverware as clean as it does because there are times I push it.  My goto selection is Auto, Sanitize and Extra Dry.  Mine was before the Crystal Dry option was introduced.  I periodically use the Heavy option is the dishes are really dirty but I don't use Heavy often.

 

We also have silverware that has very thick handles and the pieces are longer than normal, I think.  The longer pieces I place up front of the rack with the handles between the wider spaces.  The smaller pieces I place in back with the fork and spoon end in between the smaller idents.  Unlike Bob, I generally put the smaller pieces on every other one because we don’t seem to use as much silverware as some.  When I have a full load, I put them directly next to each other.