--- title: "Frymaster E81: the fryer is short of oil to heat safely" description: "What E81 means on Frymaster E81: the fryer is short of oil to heat safelys, what to check before booking, and when it is not a failure at all." url: "https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e81/" --- # Frymaster E81: the fryer is short of oil to heat safely Heating a frypot without enough oil can scorch the pot and overheat the thin layer that is left. ## What E81 actually means. Heating a frypot without enough oil can scorch the pot and overheat the thin layer that is left. When the controller sees heating behavior that points to low oil, it logs E81 and asks for oil to at least the bottom fill line. Auto top off that has run dry, a leak into the filter pan or a missed refill after filtration can lead to it. Frymaster commercial appliance display · also shown as SAFE MODE FAILURE ERROR What to do when E81 shows on the commercial appliance ### Kind of code Water, fill and drain Water is not arriving, not reaching its level, not heating or not leaving on time. A dish machine may be short of fill because a supply valve is half closed or its line strainer is clogged, it may drain slowly through a scrap basket full of debris, or its booster may be too scaled to heat the rinse; a combi's steam generator may be scaled or its water treatment exhausted; a washer-extractor may time out on a slow drain. Opening the supply valve, cleaning strainers with the unit off and checking the drain line are fair; a pump, a fill valve, a heater or a leak near wiring is a visit. ### Usually leads to Dish machine repair Undercounter, door-type and conveyor dish machines: tank heaters, boosters, wash pumps, fill and drain valves. ### Shows up as Commercial Appliance Error Code on a Combi, Fryer, Dish Machine or Laundry Display A commercial appliance error code appears as letters or numbers on a combi, fryer, reach-in controller, dish machine or laundry machine display, or as a flashing light or an alarm tone. ### Make Frymaster A Frymaster fryer is serviced cold: the visit waits until the oil has come down and the vat has been drained by the crew. ### Source Frymaster FilterQuick FQG30U easyTouch gas fryer manual with FQ4000 controller (error log codes, section 5.6) FQ4000 easyTouch touchscreen controller on FilterQuick fryers (FQG30U and related FilterQuick gas and electric models). ## Before you book, in this order. Each step comes from Frymaster's own guidance for E81 on its commercial appliances. Follow it to the end: the last card says whether this is a visit. 01 Check the oil level against the lines in the frypot and top it up to the bottom fill line or above with fresh oil. 02 Check whether the top off jug is empty (TOP OFF OIL EMPTY on the display) and replace it if needed. 03 If the level is correct and E81 returns, the level sensing and heating circuit need a technician's meter; book a visit. ### Still there? It usually turns into [dish machine repair](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/services/dish-machine-repair/). Book with the code and the model number. ### What not to do E81 is about oil level, not about a bad probe; E13 reports a probe signal the controller cannot use. It is also not the change filter pad reminder (E39). ## What you may notice with it. The commercial appliance problems E81 tends to arrive with. Answer these at the commercial appliance before anyone is booked. [All problems](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/) Before you call ### [Commercial Appliance Error Code on a Combi, Fryer, Dish Machine or Laundry Display](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/commercial-error-code/) [All 8 causes, cheapest first](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/commercial-error-code/) It also comes with - [**Commercial Fryer Not Heating or Slow to Recover Between Baskets**](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/commercial-fryer-not-heating/) - [**Restaurant Equipment Burning Smell: Scorched Oil, Hot Wiring or Lint**](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/commercial-burning-smell/) Problem ### Commercial Appliance Error Code on a Combi, Fryer, Dish Machine or Laundry Display 8 causes, cheapest first Where E81 usually leads ## Dish machine repair. **Dish machine tank heater or booster element, thermostat, fill valve, float switch, drain valve, wash pump seal or motor, conveyor drive · moderate.** Book a visit [What the job involves](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/services/dish-machine-repair/) ## Frymaster commercial appliances. A Frymaster fryer is serviced cold: the visit waits until the oil has come down and the vat has been drained by the crew. [Frymaster commercial appliance repair](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/brands/frymaster/) More Frymaster codes [E13](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e13/) [E16](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e16/) [E17](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e17/) [E18](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e18/) [E19](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e19/) [E25](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e25/) [E28](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e28/) [E33](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e33/) [E39](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e39/) [E41](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e41/) [E42](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e42/) [E44](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e44/) [All 15 Frymaster codes](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/#codes-frymaster) Water, fill and drain on other makes [Alto-Shaam E01](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/alto-shaam-e01/) [Blodgett Water Level Error](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/blodgett-water-level-error/) [Cleveland LOW WATER light](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/cleveland-low-water-light/) [Dexter F2](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/dexter-f2/) [Hatco LO H2O](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hatco-lo-h2o/) [Hobart 019](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hobart-019/) [Miele Professional F18](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/miele-professional-f18/) [Pitco DRAINING TURN OFF](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/pitco-draining-turn-off/) [All 45 codes of this kind](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/#family-water) Frymaster builds this ### Commercial cooking equipment Fryers, griddles, charbroilers, restaurant ranges, convection and combi ovens, steamers, kettles, holding cabinets and toasters, on gas or electric, that make up the hot side of a kitchen line. ## In Frymaster's own words > The system has detected the fryer is not [Frymaster FilterQuick FQG30U easyTouch gas fryer manual with FQ4000 controller (error log codes, section 5.6)](http://fm-xweb.frymaster.com/service/udocs/Manuals/8197521.pdf) [Frymaster FilterQuick FQG30U easyTouch gas fryer manual with FQ4000 controller (error log codes, section 5.6)](http://fm-xweb.frymaster.com/service/udocs/Manuals/8197521.pdf) Every code on this site is taken from the manufacturer's documentation, never from a forum or a parts listing. FQ4000 easyTouch touchscreen controller on FilterQuick fryers (FQG30U and related FilterQuick gas and electric models). ## Frymaster E81 commercial appliance repair, where we come out. The same visit in every metro below: the code, the model number, and a diagnosis before any part is ordered. 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Check the oil level against the lines in the frypot and top it up to the bottom fill line or above with fresh oil. If it comes back, it needs a visit. ### How low is too low for oil on a Frymaster FilterQuick? Below the bottom fill line marked in the frypot. E81 appears when the fryer detects heating behavior that fits oil under that line. ### Why did my Frymaster log E81 when auto top off is on? The top off system can only add what is in the jug. When the jug runs dry, the vat keeps losing oil to product and the level falls. ### Is it dangerous to heat a Frymaster with low oil? It stresses the frypot and can overheat what oil remains. That is why the fryer stops and asks for more oil. --- **[Read on the site: Frymaster E81: the fryer is short of oil to heat safely](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/frymaster-e81/)** **[Book a visit with CommercialApplianceRepair.center](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/schedule/)**