Whirlpool · Dishwasher Minor

F6E3 — Suds or Air in Pump

The pump cannot move water because of excessive suds or air in the sump. Usually caused by hand dish soap or the wrong detergent.

Keep using it?
Yes — fix when convenient
DIY difficulty
Easy
Verified against
applianceaid.com ↗

How to fix it

  1. Open the door and sprinkle a few tablespoons of table salt or vegetable oil onto the suds to break them.
  2. Manually scoop out as much suds and water as possible.
  3. Run a Rinse-Only cycle (no detergent) once or twice to flush all soap from the system.
  4. Going forward, use only detergent labeled for automatic dishwashers and dose per the soft/hard water guidance.
  5. Wipe up any spilled rinse aid around the dispenser.

Why it happens

Typical signs: F6E3 on display · Visible suds in tub · Pump runs but no spray pressure

  • Dish soap used instead of dishwasher detergent Hand dish soap creates massive suds that lock the pump.
  • Too much detergent in soft water Soft water needs much less detergent.
  • Spilled rinse aid Overfilled rinse aid dispenser leaking into the tub.

More Whirlpool dishwasher codes

E1 E1 — Fill / Water Supply Problem (legacy code) E4 E4 — Overfill / Water in Drip Tray F1E1 F1E1 — Control Module Fault F1E2 F1E2 — Incompatible or Failed Control Board F2 F2 — Water leak detected F3E1 F3E1 — Thermistor/OWI Sensor Open

All Whirlpool codes → All dishwasher codes →

Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician. Verified against manufacturer documentation: applianceaid.com.