On the covered Whirlpool top-load washer, F0 E3, oL means the load is larger than the washer's capacity First, open the lid and look at how full the basket is. Then: take some garments out and restart the cycle. Look at the basket with the lid open; garments should not pack above the wash plate line.
Differential
Likely causes of “Whirlpool top-load washer code F0 E3, oL”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A load larger than the basket's capacity
What separates it F0 E3 or oL appears at the start of the wash and the tub is packed to the top
How to confirm Look at the basket with the lid open; garments should not pack above the wash plate line
- 2
Bulky or absorbent items that swell with water
What separates it The dry load looked fine, but towels or bedding swelled once wet
How to confirm Compare the dry load to a smaller batch of the same items
- 3
A wrong load-size reading from the level system
What separates it The load is small but the code still shows
How to confirm Run a small load and see whether the code returns, then look at the water-level tube
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- What the load was made of and how full the basket was
- Whether the code appeared at the fill or during agitation
- Whether the same load ran fine in another washer
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleOpen the lid and look at how full the basket is.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleTake some garments out and restart the cycle.
Open the lid and take garments out
ReversibleThe 2015 Cabrio table says the size of the load exceeds the washer's capacity, so open the lid, remove some garments and restart the cycle.
Split heavy items across loads
ReversibleWhirlpool's oL page points to its guide on unbalanced and overloaded top-load washers. Wash bulky bedding on its own and do not force it into a full basket.
Restart with a smaller load
ReversibleStart the cycle again with a load that leaves room above the wash plate. A washer that runs the smaller load normally was simply overloaded.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Displayed as
- F0 E3 or oL.
- Parts named by the service tables
- None.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Unplug the washer before you reach into the tub to pull out a wet load that has jammed the agitator
- !Stop and call a technician if the code returns on a small load, because the level system may be reading wrongly
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The Cabrio/belt-drive table has no F0 E3 row; the 2015 Cabrio table and Whirlpool's oL page are the sources.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F0 E3, oL mean on a Whirlpool top-load washer?+
the load is larger than the washer's capacity
Is oL the same code?+
Yes. Whirlpool's oL page says the load is too large, which is the same overload fault.
What if a small load still shows F0 E3?+
Then the level system may be reading wrongly; see the F3 E1 page for the water-level tube and control board checks.
Does it apply to Maytag and Amana washers?+
Yes, on the same top-load platform.