Thundering Thermador Throwdown

[rp2813]

It took me many months to find the opportunity, but tonight we had 10 people for lasagne and I knew I'd be able to load up the old Thermador THD 3600 steam dishwasher to the gills for the first time since it was installed back at the first of the year.

A disclaimer is in order. I'll call this a RalphLoad because this was more for the sport of it and I realize that not every item has been placed in a position where I can expect it to emerge perfectly clean, but the cycle option will be "Heavy Steam" and the main wash will have Lemishine added to the phosphated Cascade with Dawn powder.

It's very difficult to defeat Thermador/Waste King's orderly configuration of the lower rack and really cram it full. If Bob gives it his blessing, you can forget the RalphLoad BS.

 

[rp2813]

Lower rack

 

[rp2813]

Upper rack

 

[toploader55]

Extra Credit Ralph

Very Good.

It is fun to jam the racks only to have Great Results.

Can't wait to see the results.

 

[toggleswitch]

Cram it in, even if it hurts.

What is the wash/rinse sequence on these? What is the cycle time with and without steam? Thanks!

 

[appnut]

It's a BobLoad!!!!!

I tihnnk this takes BobLoad certification to a new level, the bar has been raised. Did it all come out clean on the most intense cycle?

 

[bajaespuma]

I LOVE these dishwashers, but on the two I have, there's no way to cancel a cycle; you can't even move the dial manually. Can you do it with this Thermador model?

 

[cleanteamofny]

You sure know how to ram it in!
How did you get your elbow out of it?
Did everything come clean?
Dirty minded people wants to know!

 

[revvinkevin]

Now THAT is one helluva load... but I see a problem.

Looking at the first photo, it looks as if the large white plate behind the small green plate (lower rack) is "too tall" and would interfere with the upper spray arm, preventing both upper and lower spray arms from rotating properly. OR... do the upper and lower spray arms rotate independently from each other?

Am I seeing things or is it just the angle of the photo?

Kevin

 

[combo52]

MAXIUM DISHWASHER LOAD

Good packing job but most of the dishes don't look very dirty, refer back to the pictures that Peter took of my 1987 WP DW and you can see not only a packed load but a filthy one that came totally clean on the normal 45 minute cycle.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Ken, if your machines have the little lens over the dial, it is usually designed to be removable and then you can turn the dial by hand.

 

[bajaespuma]

Bingo!

Tom, you're so smart.I didn't want to mess with it; I've broken many a vintage machine by tinkering.

 

[rp2813]

The Results

But first, the machine:

 

[rp2813]

The panel

 

[rp2813]

Nate took some better panel pix with his camera back in January when we were making repairs prior to installation.

 

[rp2813]

The other side

 

[rp2813]

Everything Came Out Sparkling

Preview

 

[rp2813]

The Glassware In Particular

Thanks to a little dose of Lemishine, although the machine does a decent job without it. And not a bit of moisture to wipe from anything in the top rack. That's one of the things I love about this machine, and it does it without forced air.

 

[rp2813]

Bottom Rack

That stuff on the back of the green salad plate up front is some kind of marring.

 

[rp2813]

Kevin and Tom

You are both right. That is a platter on the lower rack, but I made sure it cleared the upper arm. It was within millimeters of it. The upper and lower arms are independent of each other, and they contra-rotate!

The load didn't look real dirty, but the plates were well-smeared with dried-on tomato sauce and lasagne residue.

The "after" doesn't look dramatically different from the "before" but everything did sparkle.

 

[rp2813]

Cycle Times

Heavy Steam: 75 minutes, give or take, based on 140 degree water supply. Water use: 13 gallons.

Sequence: Pre-wash, rinse, main wash begins, pause for steam heating, main wash resumes and cup opens, three rinses, dry.

Only on "Heavy Steam" and "Sani-Steam" is a rinse provided after the pre-wash. I usually select "Regular" without steam and don't put detergent in the pre-wash cup so it's a pre-rinse instead.

The instruction book pegs "Regular Wash" at 64 minutes and 11.3 gallons. I think the steam cycles take more time than the book suggests.

So Bob, this load used the second most-intense cycle. I probably could have gotten away with "Full Steam" or no steam at all, considering I kind of cheated by adding Lemishine.

 

[retropia]

I love a dishwasher that dries well. Does it also dry plastics well?

That's my only real complaint about our new Kenmore standard-tub Ultra Wash dishwasher. For the sake of stricter Energy Star standards, my understanding is that the heater pulses on-and-off to use less electricity than our old Kenmore Ultra-Wash. The new one doesn't dry plastics very well.

 

[appnut]

Pulsing dry heater

It is my understanding the drying heater cycles on & off only on the light/china cycle, it should stay on the entire time for normal, heavy, and Pots & Pans cycles. There is a "however" to that last phrase, if Sani-Rinse temp option is selected, then yes, the drying heater will cycle on & off at 7 minute intervals during the dry cycle.

 

[rp2813]

Plastic Items

I think they are a tough thing to dry for most machines. I usually have some moisture at least in the grooves of plastic items, although the basket components for the coffee maker are usually dry. The "Gladware" type stuff is tough to dry. There is almost always a need to wipe it off.

 

[a440]

OMG!
What a huge load you have there!
I love your Thermador! I have always had a soft spot for them!
Brent