New Whirlpool Dishwashers (just a little update)

[logixx]

Mentioned in the New Whirlpool Cario thread, this new spray arm will be featured on Whirlpool and Kenmore dishwashers. Not sure... I have seen a picture of the base of the tub without the arm in place and it looked like there was a gear in there. Might be that the spray arm changes direction (WP has a patent on this) and the Kenmore 360° Wash Arm is driven by a motor already, I think. The nozzles do remind me of a shower head.

Also, the KitchenAid KDTM354DSS has this "filter". It's supposed to be self-cleaning, as the manual mentions nothing about cleaning a filter:

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ultra-Fine Filter </span>
Breakthrough technology continuously removed food particles from the wash water. The result is clean wash water for excellent performance: 18% shorter cycles and 35% less water use on heavy soils. Plus, there's no need to ever remove and clean the filter.

 

Link to manual: http://www.kitchenaid.com/digitalassets/KDTM354DSS/Use and Care_EN.pdf

 

[murando531]

This may be a silly question, as it seems nowadays it's rare that a new design actually makes sense, but why is water not coming out of all the holes in that picture?

 

[a440]

It is wild that they would use a photo that shows several holes of the wash are without water coming out of them.
I must say the spray looks anemic!
B

 

[tolivac]

I have seen LAWN SPRINKLERS that give better water spray than that dishwasher sprayer arm!Thats the spray action you get with those tiny "phono motor" pumps!!!Put a REAL pump behind that spray arm and we might get somewhere-but the pressure just may shatter the plastic arm!Don't waste your time or money on new dishwashers if this is what you get!Get a vintage machine from a swap shop and fix it up instead!

 

[logixx]

I was wondering about not all jets spraying as well. Maybe this has to do with potential reversing of the arm. Have 50% of the jets spray one way, and the other 50% when it reverses. Theoretically, this gives more coverage but won't increase the water usage. Google Patents shows up a bunch of documents from various manufacturers regarding spray arms.
 
Here's a recent one that relates to a spray arm:
 
Dishwasher with spray system

And this one must be for the self-cleaning filter. It scrapes itself clean - much like the Fisher&Paykel dryer lint screen.

Rotating filter for a dishwashing machine

 

[mrb627]

Reminds me...

Of the maytag jet-clean spray arms.

Malcolm

 

[murando531]

Maytag JetClean spray arms

Except that the JetClean had a real motor behind those small spray holes, and the material they used to mold the arms was much, much higher quality. I can go buy Dollar Tree toys made with better plastic than what companies are using in dishwashers now.

 

[cam2s]

I believe the Maytag advertised that the JetWash system in the Reverse Racks had 54 jets, and of course a 1/3 hp motor that actually had some oomph. There used to be a video on you tube of somebody running a Reverse Rack open in their yard...it easily threw the water 20 or 30 feet out. I don't think that spray would even make it to the top of the tub.

 

[logixx]

That's the one

 

[a440]

In defense of the Maytag reverse rack on the lawn....It also uses the closed door as a bounce back for rotating the wash arm.
These reverse racks...although it took time to get used to loading them for your lifestyle....you rarely were disappointed in the cleaning performance.
And the filter was never clogged! I have never seen one clogged.
B

 

[murando531]

I think he meant that the new WP wouldn't reach the top, and from seeing them live, I can vouch that they barely do. I'd take the Maytag or a PowerClean anyway, and of course a Hobart. Open the door too quickly and you'll have a face full of water.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Is that the water level

for a full fill? I mean, in the new Maytag I just bought, there's a good inch of water in the tub.

 

[nmassman44]

I was thinking the same thing too...that cant be a full water charge for this machine...there is barely any in the base area. Methinks it wcould be just for the pics but I do agree one would think that they would at least have water coming from all the jets to show coverage. I have noticed how small the jets are getting on dishwashers these days to cope with the anemic pumps. One thing I did notice while I was at Home Depot today is the Maytag dishwashers touting to have the most powerful motors on the market. Now I know that Viking puts a full half hp motor in their machines. And my Miele packs a whollop in the Pots and Pans and Intense cycles, so one has to wonder just how much water is the Maytag moving. Also the Maytag machine with the stainless steel uber sized middle wash arm is kinda overkill and its wobbly as well. Just my opinion, as usual .

 

[mrb627]

Perhaps...

They took the picture as it was filling and needed to get the door closed before the full water charge?

Malcolm

 

[logixx]

CR has a video where you can see the water level on a Kenmore:

 

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/video-hub/2407324492001/

 

[washerdude]

Whirlpool has released a model WDT920SADM. Apprantly they call this the "Total Coverage Spray Arm" when water isint even flowing out of half the jets...

 

[kenmoreguy89]

That wash arm with the blue things smells "crap" from miles away...IMO.....Looks like typical euro-junk style technology.
Would never get one unless donated....
The kitchenaid one and block seems alot better....

 

[murando531]

Current thoughts on WP's new machines?

I'm never sure whether to start a new thread, or just continue one if it's about the same subject, but since adding a thread causes an old one to fall out, I suppose it's better not to potentially lose a good forum post.

With time passing since the new revisions to Whirlpool's current dishwashers, does anyone have any experience so far with them? And what thoughts might you have on them now that they've been around for a little while?

The bug is catching me (I blame the Bravos XL after it converted me from anti-new/anti-HE to now wanting everything to be as efficient as possible). I have this urge to try new things and be "up-to-speed" on new technology, and somehow the new Whirly's are slowly grabbing my interest. I know that it goes against everything I feel about how a machine should be built, much like everyone else here; ie. weak pump/motor, alternating arms, long cycles, manual filter, etc., and yet somehow after a lot of reading and research on them, they're growing on me.

And here's my reasoning for such a change in heart lately: It seems that WP has done some improving to this design, much like they did to the Voyager design, and the PowerClean before it. When those designs first arrived, there were complaints left and right, but down the road they became excellent machines. That said, from what I can tell, the filter has been slightly modified, with arch shaped cutouts along the bottom, I assume to allow better removal of soils during the drains, but also because there is a slightly larger motor being shown on some of their higher-end models. I can't tell for sure about the motor or what type/power rating it is, but it looks almost the size of the one being used in the current Maytags.

Could it be that WP finally figured out that the tiny magnetic induction pumps couldn't cut it and they are using the more powerful, possibly variable speed, motor from the MT?

I'm a bit conflicted. I love my PowerClean but it also is a bit dated, though it looks brand new. The new detergents are made for machines that have longer wash cycles, and unless I add options and run heavy cycles on the PC, the main wash is 14 minutes. On the other hand, my current Maytag is a Voyager design, which means a little less water but longer main washes, but I also DESPISE the top rack. I've been searching far and wide for a Voyager on Craigslist or appliance outlets with the same colored racks, but with the standard type, but so far my findings almost equal a new machine as far as pricing the parts that I would need to convert the current machine.

I only know of one person with one of the new "updated" machines, and while they could care less about how it works or what it is, they say that it does just fine for them loading it full of scraped but not prerinsed dishes. I took the filter out and it only had a few little kibbles that rinsed right off. They also have the "TotalCoverage" wash arm in theirs, which looks so cool. Honestly, the machines as a whole are gorgeous in looks. And I'm such a sucker for sleek and streamlined looking appliances...

 

[washerdude]

Here is a kicker.

New kitchenaid dishwashers with the orbit spray arm and the new type of filter actually have a real motor.

Sears PartsDirect

www.searspartsdirect.com