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LG range or oven code F18: meaning and exact next steps

F18 means an Oven Meat Probe Error — LG's own wording. This answer applies only to LG electric and gas ranges and wall ovens. LG documents radiant-cooktop codes separately in the same article; griddle, induction and sous-vide codes apply only to models with those features.

On the covered LG range or oven, F18 means an Oven Meat Probe Error — LG's own wording. First, remove the probe and check the cable and plug. Then: for F18 LG says to press CLEAR/OFF and cook again, and to switch the breaker off for 30 seconds if the code persists — LG's own sequence.

Part of LG range or oven error codes guide

Differential

Likely causes of “LG range or oven code F18”, and how to tell them apart

  1. 1

    An oven meat probe error

    What separates it F18 shows while a probe is plugged in

    How to confirm LG words F8 and F18 identically as an oven meat probe error

  2. 2

    A probe that is not fully seated

    What separates it The plug is loose in the jack

    How to confirm Push it in firmly

  3. 3

    A damaged or worn probe

    What separates it The cable is kinked or the tip is bent

    How to confirm Try another probe made for the oven

  4. 4

    Food or grease in the jack

    What separates it The contacts are dirty

    How to confirm Wipe when cool

  5. 5

    A fault in the oven's probe circuit

    What separates it The code appears with a new probe

    How to confirm Service diagnosis

Before you touch a setting

Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence

  • Whether the probe was plugged in
  • The condition of the probe and its cable
  • Whether the code appears without the probe

Try in this order

0 of 8 completed

  1. What to do first

    Reversible

    Remove the probe and check the cable and plug.

  2. Correct only the documented fault domain

    Reversible

    For F18 LG says to press CLEAR/OFF and cook again, and to switch the breaker off for 30 seconds if the code persists — LG's own sequence.

  3. Unplug the probe

    Reversible

    And let the oven cool.

  4. Inspect the probe

    Reversible

    Cable and tip.

  5. Wipe the jack

    Reversible

    With a dry cloth.

  6. Plug it in firmly

    Reversible

    Up to the stop.

  7. Press CLEAR/OFF

    Reversible

    And retry.

  8. Schedule service

    Reversible

    If F18 returns without the probe.

Model-specific

What is true of this model and not of its siblings

What the probe does
The probe is a temperature sensor on a cable. You push the tip into the food, plug the other end into a jack in the cavity wall, and the oven cooks until the food reaches the temperature you set.
Why errors occur
Probes live in a hot, greasy place and are bent, washed and dropped. A cable with a kink, a plug with a bent pin or a tip that has been crushed gives wrong readings.
The jack
Grease can cover the contacts. Wipe the jack when the oven is cool, using a dry cloth, and do not push anything into it.
Without the probe
If F18 shows even with the probe unplugged, the circuit may have a fault, and service is next.
Replacing
Buy a probe listed for your model from LG or an authorized parts seller.
Safe cooking
Use a separate kitchen thermometer to check meat if the probe is in doubt.
How the probe works
A meat probe contains a small sensor that changes resistance with temperature. The oven reads that resistance through the jack and cooks to the target you set. If the reading is out of range, the oven shows F18 in place of the probe temperature, so the code usually points to the probe, the plug or the jack.
Common damage
Probes are bent by being stored in a drawer, washed in a dishwasher, which LG's manual warns against for many probes, or yanked out by the cable. A cable that is cracked near the plug or a tip that is crushed is a common cause. Inspect both and look at the pins on the plug for bending or green marks of corrosion.
Getting a good reading
Insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat, away from bone and fat, and keep the cable clear of the oven's heating element. Plug the probe in before you start the oven, and press it in until it stops. A probe left to cook in a very hot oven can be damaged.
Cooking safely without it
If the probe is faulty, cook by time and check with a separate thermometer. Safe temperatures for poultry, pork and beef are on food safety sites, and the thermometer is cheap. Once you have a replacement probe approved for your model, fit it and test with a short cook.

Evidence ledger

Sources behind this answer

01
LG USA Support LG Range — Error Codes List

Exact questions

Common questions

What does F18 mean on a LG range or oven?+

an Oven Meat Probe Error — LG's own wording.

Can I cook without the probe?+

Yes, use a timer and a thermometer.

Can I use any probe?+

Use one made for the oven.

Wrong device or version?

Match the path before repeating the steps.

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