Kenmore Oasis POS

mrweb

Iron City
I am done trying to repair my washing machine, a Kenmore Oasis. I have done research on purchasing a new machine, all seem to be a POS with no good reviews. I want one that turns on, washes, spins and turns off, no bells, buttons, etc. Simple and easy-peasy...any suggestions on what to buy?
 

Ponytail

New Member
I'm in the same boat. Tried fixing my 20 year old Kenmore, and it didn't work.

Went last night to HHGregg and were sold one of the new HE Whirlpool Cabrio Washers.

Luckily, my neighbor wasn't home and I couldn't borrow his handtruck.

So I did some research online, and naturally we found out that we had one helluva salesman, and he sold us a HUGE POS.

So, it's going back tonight.

I'm actually going to drive to Md and grab the washing machine out of my house down there, and put it in the house up here until we figure out what to do.

From what I'm finding online, is the new HE machines are a Gov't mandate, and it's alot of smoke an mirrors. There's nothing High Efficiency about a washer that you have to do 2-3 times more laundry due to smaller load requirements if you want your clothes clean.

The one we bought last night was supposed to be able to do a king size comforter, but from what folks are saying on line, anything larger than a pair of jeans has to be washed multiple times.

The HE's are supposed to be gentler on clothes, but due to the high spin speeds, folks that have shrunk a long sleeve shirt or two are finding that after washing them with the HE machine, the sleeves are now too long.

I'm taking back the new machine. I'm not taking the chance.

With 4 kids, hairy pets, etc, Our washing machine sees more miles than our cars and I have to have one that just works.

Short of driving to Md, I'm considering guying to a used appliance store and buying an old style agitator type. I did that when I was in college and made out very well on the deal. Machines lasted the 3 years that I needed them and we were able to re-sell when we graduated.

Dunno. I'm waffling. Gotta make a decision today though.
 
Last edited:
If you go with a front loader, look carefully at the options. I got a great deal on a Consumer's Best rated Kenmore, and it works really well. However, I didn't realize until weeks later that it did not have a 'spin only' cycle that most others do. I've needed that option a few times and you have to run it thru a whole cycle just to get the spin.
 

DQ2B

Active Member
Honestly, I think all the new ones out there are POS. I recently purchased a new set (it was cheaper to get the set but all I really needed was the dryer). I should have kept my 23 year old washer. There was nothing wrong with it. Instead I now have a top load HE Kenmore, extra large capacity, no agitator. I thought that beacuse of its size and no agitator I would be able to do mega loads and bulky items. Not so. The stuff just doesn't seem to come out clean if I really load it up (how can it in 3 inches of water, what was i thinking). So how this saves energy is beyond me when I have to do twice as many smaller loads!

Anyway, my advice is to get a plain old high water level agitator type washer, cheap as you can.
 

Vince

......
Still have my old Kenmore washer and dryer. Still working. Gonna keep them. They're like the old toilets that really flush. Going to keep my old one in the upstairs bathroom as long as I can. Recently had the downstairs remodeled and all I could get was one of those stupid low flow toilets. They suck.
 

meddauna

Member
I'm in the same boat. Tried fixing my 20 year old Kenmore, and it didn't work.

Went last night to HHGregg and were sold one of the new HE Whirlpool Cabrio Washers.

Luckily, my neighbor wasn't home and I couldn't borrow his handtruck.

So I did some research online, and naturally we found out that we had one helluva salesman, and he sold us a HUGE POS.

So, it's going back tonight.

I'm actually going to drive to Md and grab the washing machine out of my house down there, and put it in the house up here until we figure out what to do.

From what I'm finding online, is the new HE machines are a Gov't mandate, and it's alot of smoke an mirrors. There's nothing High Efficiency about a washer that you have to do 2-3 times more laundry due to smaller load requirements if you want your clothes clean.

The one we bought last night was supposed to be able to do a king size comforter, but from what folks are saying on line, anything larger than a pair of jeans has to be washed multiple times.

The HE's are supposed to be gentler on clothes, but due to the high spin speeds, folks that have shrunk a long sleeve shirt or two are finding that after washing them with the HE machine, the sleeves are now too long.

I'm taking back the new machine. I'm not taking the chance.

With 4 kids, hairy pets, etc, Our washing machine sees more miles than our cars and I have to have one that just works.

Short of driving to Md, I'm considering guying to a used appliance store and buying an old style agitator type. I did that when I was in college and made out very well on the deal. Machines lasted the 3 years that I needed them and we were able to re-sell when we graduated.

Dunno. I'm waffling. Gotta make a decision today though.
we bought one of the cabrio washers in the fall. it's worked well for us so far. i found that many of the bad online reviews of the new washers were from people that didn't really read the instructions. they've been doing laundry for 20 years, why read instructions, right? well, the instructions tell you what settings are recommended for different types of loads, and that you need to use HE detergent. all of our clothes, bedding, towels have come out clean without a problem. we fit just as much clothing in it than the old agitator washer we had before.
 

Vince

......
When mine finally crap out, I'm getting one of those front loading / stack on washer/dryer units.

Woman says: But honey, just read the instructions.
Man says: I don't need no stinking instructions.
 

monsterman

Dig it!
When the time comes this spring to buy a new washer/dryer combo (after much research) I'm going to drop money on some Speed Queen models. Simple, can be bought with bells and whistles if you really feel you need them, but by all accounts reliable. I've read many horror stories about Kenmore/Whirlpool/etc. and the POS machines they make. Was looking at Bosch as well but will go with Speed Queen. Just my $0.02.
 

ItalianScallion

Harley Rider
Still have my old Kenmore washer and dryer. Still working. Gonna keep them. They're like the old toilets that really flush. Going to keep my old one in the upstairs bathroom as long as I can. Recently had the downstairs remodeled and all I could get was one of those stupid low flow toilets. They suck.
Let's face it folks, anything the government (or business) does to improve something or save money has proven to have less than acceptable results for consumers. I could name a number of items but I'll name only a few that I've owned:

Light bulbs: While LED's are great, they won't be desireable until their price really comes down but those CFL's will never replace incandescent bulbs!

Toilets: Like Vince said, those "low flow" ones are not working well. I have only one in my house and I have to flush it multiple times because of the lack of water in the bowl.

Yard equipment: I have been a TroyBilt fan for 25 years. I bought an alleged TroyBilt snow blower & weed wacker and have had lots of trouble with them because they really aren't made by Troy Bilt. They're made by MTD (Murray) which is made by the Chinese. They also have engines NOT made by Briggs & Stratton or Tecumseh but by some CHEAP Chinese company and sold to us under a name that we Americans used to rely on.

Fortunately I still have my original Whirlpool washer & Dryer and they're working extremely well after 27 years. Of course today Whirlpool is no longer made here so I'd be getting screwed if I ever have to buy another set.

I think it would have been much more beneficial if people were better educated in what it takes to save water and electricity, instead of redesigning things that have worked very well for hundreds of years...
 

Ponytail

New Member
we bought one of the cabrio washers in the fall. it's worked well for us so far....

What size did you get? I can only fit a 3.6 CU. It seems that the smaller ones are where a majority of the complaints are. You might be right, as far as reading the directions go, but unfortunately my wife and kids, I already know, won't like it if they have to do something different. Just had an argument about that this morning on another issue as I was leaving for work. :banghead:

How about water consumption / electrical usage...you see a difference?
 
I read this thread yesterday and sure was glad I still had my old reliable agitating lotsa water washer... was washing a king-size blanket last night and it was lopsided during the spin so it wobbled and died and now it throws the breaker whenever it hits the spin cycle...:bawl: I do believe I'm going to have to get a new washer this weekend...:bawl:

I DON'T WANT NO STINKIN' H.E. WASHER THAT WON'T CLEAN DIRTY, GREASY, OILY JEANS... :cds:
 

Pete

Repete
I'm in the same boat. Tried fixing my 20 year old Kenmore, and it didn't work.

Went last night to HHGregg and were sold one of the new HE Whirlpool Cabrio Washers.

Luckily, my neighbor wasn't home and I couldn't borrow his handtruck.

So I did some research online, and naturally we found out that we had one helluva salesman, and he sold us a HUGE POS.

So, it's going back tonight.

I'm actually going to drive to Md and grab the washing machine out of my house down there, and put it in the house up here until we figure out what to do.

From what I'm finding online, is the new HE machines are a Gov't mandate, and it's alot of smoke an mirrors. There's nothing High Efficiency about a washer that you have to do 2-3 times more laundry due to smaller load requirements if you want your clothes clean.

The one we bought last night was supposed to be able to do a king size comforter, but from what folks are saying on line, anything larger than a pair of jeans has to be washed multiple times.

The HE's are supposed to be gentler on clothes, but due to the high spin speeds, folks that have shrunk a long sleeve shirt or two are finding that after washing them with the HE machine, the sleeves are now too long.

I'm taking back the new machine. I'm not taking the chance.

With 4 kids, hairy pets, etc, Our washing machine sees more miles than our cars and I have to have one that just works.

Short of driving to Md, I'm considering guying to a used appliance store and buying an old style agitator type. I did that when I was in college and made out very well on the deal. Machines lasted the 3 years that I needed them and we were able to re-sell when we graduated.

Dunno. I'm waffling. Gotta make a decision today though.

I have the Cabrio HE washer and Cabrio dryer and have not had any issues other than if you forget and leave wet clothes in the washer for a week you have to wash them again :lol: Mine is a top load washer, it uses way less water, clothes come out clean and nearly close to dry because it spins so damn fast which means you have to dry them less.

If I had a complaint, and it really isn't a complaint it was when you do a load of sheets or towels you can get an unbalanced load. I noticed the towl or sheet mode and if I use them it seems to not happen much.
 

Ponytail

New Member
I read this thread yesterday and sure was glad I still had my old reliable agitating lotsa water washer... was washing a king-size blanket last night and it was lopsided during the spin so it wobbled and died and now it throws the breaker whenever it hits the spin cycle...:bawl: I do believe I'm going to have to get a new washer this weekend...:bawl:

I DON'T WANT NO STINKIN' H.E. WASHER THAT WON'T CLEAN DIRTY, GREASY, OILY JEANS... :cds:

If you are throwing breakers, you probably just killed the start capacitor. It's a $30 part.

Google/youtube your make/basic model with "Start Capacitor". Just don't self de-energize the old capacitor.
 

Ponytail

New Member
I have the Cabrio HE washer and Cabrio dryer and have not had any issues other than if you forget and leave wet clothes in the washer for a week you have to wash them again :lol: Mine is a top load washer, it uses way less water, clothes come out clean and nearly close to dry because it spins so damn fast which means you have to dry them less.

If I had a complaint, and it really isn't a complaint it was when you do a load of sheets or towels you can get an unbalanced load. I noticed the towl or sheet mode and if I use them it seems to not happen much.

Thanks for your timely response. had you posted this yesterday, it may have saved me a 6 hour round trip last night. :ohwell:
 
If you are throwing breakers, you probably just killed the start capacitor. It's a $30 part.

Google/youtube your make/basic model with "Start Capacitor". Just don't self de-energize the old capacitor.
Oh cool. Thanks for the heads-up... I will check that out!
 
Top