New LG Dishwasher

[frigilux]

I was poking around at the LG website and noticed they've just released a new TOL dishwasher. I downloaded the manual and was surprised to see a manual-clean filter (coupled with a hushed 42 decibel sound level) and a disarmingly cool main wash temperature on the Normal cycle. 86-122 degrees?! 122 I understand, but anything lower than that just boggles the mind. The final rinse temp is high, though. My 2008 TOL LG heats to 140 in the main wash on the Normal cycle. I almost always use the 160 degree rinse option, as it aids in drying and only adds about 10 minutes to the cycle.

You'll notice they accidentally reversed the spray intensities on the STEAM DUAL cycle. The upper rack gets a soft spray; the lower rack strong spray.

One other change I just noticed: The soil sensor is engaged only in the Normal cycle, apparently. It is engaged in all cycles but Quick on my machine. LG's have a great sensor; mine often opts for one or even two fewer water changes in a cycle. I never use the Quick cycle, as I find the Normal cycle uses fewer water changes, and is completed far sooner than the default 2:19, especially with a small or lightly soiled load. I usually open the door and do a "flash dry" as soon as the final rinse water has drained, anyway.
[this post was last edited: 6/7/2012-07:10]

 

[frigilux]

More cycle info:

 

[frigilux]

LG dishwashers have a poor track record for reliability, although (knock wood) my 2008 TOL has never misbehaved despite very heavy use. There's a video at their website about the new "Smart Diagnosis" feature. Have a watch: I think it's an interesting choice of words that they say "When something goes wrong..." and not "Should something ever go wrong..."
[this post was last edited: 6/7/2012-07:03]

http://www.lg.com/us/support-product/lg-LDF8574ST

 

[combo52]

LG DWs [ and every other DW or major appliance ever Made ]

When something goes wrong,   Is actually just refreshingly honest.   Every appliance ever made will breakdown eventually if you keep it long enough and you don't die first.

 

LOL.

 

[frigilux]

Well, it's June 24, and the new TOL dishwasher model LDF8574ST has mysteriously disappeared from the LG website! I wonder what happened there? Glad I printed out a manual while I could.

 

[jerrod6]

22 minutes?

22 minutes for rinse only? ....I guess rinse/hold.

 

Normal is most likely the cycle used for measuring energy efficiency in the USA, thus 3 pre rinses to get at the water in your water heater, and a heated water temperature of 86F in the main wash.  They are assuming that the DW will  NOT be heating any water.

 

So the cycle named Normal doesn't mean it is the best cycle for actually cleaning anything well.  People will try it, it won't work well and they will use a cycle that consumes more energy but  that actually cleans the dishes.  Meanwhile the LG company( as with many others selling product to the USA) get their DOE Energy Star rating.

 

 

 

[combo52]

5 Year old LG DW

We just pulled out another LG DW last Thursday, it is the TOL all SS front with hidden controls , it looks to be in good shape, the owners got disgusted with frequent EXPENSIVE repairs and gave up and had us install a WP DW. Anybody want to play with one of these speak up soon before we recycle it.

 

[logixx]

The Normal cycle must the sensor one. It's the only one with varying temps and water consumption. I suppose you only get all the prewashes with heavy soil.

 

[frigilux]

John-- The LG dishwasher you pulled sounds like mine, model 9810. Mine is four years old. So far, I've had no problems, and it gets very heavy use. It's by far the best dishwasher I've owned--cleans even the worst pots/pans, has a powerful steam option, a useful 3rd rack for silverware, and it's water/energy efficient. It's also very, very quiet. My only quibble is there's no heated dry. Dishes, glasses, and silverware emerge just fine, but plastics are always wet.

Too bad LG can't improve the reliability of their dishwashers as they have with their front-load washers. There are, unfortunately, nightmarish posts all over the internet about a host of problems people are experiencing with dishwashers that are only a couple of years old.  Consumer Reports's readers concur; LG has the worst reliability rating, with about 26% of all respondents saying their LG has had to be repaired, compared to about 8% of Whirlpools.

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Update</span>: I called LG support to find out what happened to the new TOL model (LDF8574ST). The young man I spoke to was surprised it had disappeared from the website, as he had just spoken to a customer about it last week. His manager was also dumbstruck, but thinks the roll-out date for the machine has probably been pushed back. He said he would call me back when he found out exactly what happened. LG must be trying to improve their support, as my call was answered quickly and handled efficiently---at about 11:00 a.m., which I'd think would be a high call-volume time.

 

The LDF8574ST is the first LG to feature a manual-clean filter/no food disposer, and thus it's had a few decibels shaved from the operating sound level.  Mine is rated at 45 decibels; the new 8574 at 42.  They've matched the quietness of the upper level Bosch machines, save for the $2,000 TOL Bosch, which has a rating of 39 decibels.