What does Frymaster E13 mean?

The controller's temperature probe (RTD) is reading outside its valid operating range. The fryer shuts down heating to prevent uncontrolled temperature conditions.

What does Frymaster E16 mean?

The controller has detected that vat oil temperature has exceeded 410°F (210°C), triggering the first software high-limit threshold. This event means the fryer's normal temperature regulation has failed to prevent overheating. The oil in the vat is likely degraded and must be discarded.

What does Frymaster E17 mean?

The physical bi-metallic high-limit safety switch has opened, cutting power to the burner circuit. This is a hardware safety device independent of the controller — it trips when vat temperature reaches its rated cutoff point, or if the switch itself has failed in the open position.

What do Frymaster error codes mean and how is the scheme organised?

Frymaster fryers (FilterQuick, FootPrint Pro, MJ-Series, OCF / BIGLA30-T, and McDonald's-spec models) report faults as E-prefixed numeric codes on M3000 / M4000 and FQ4000 controllers, plain-English words on older 1814 / RE / Pro Series digital controllers (HOT, PROB, HELP, CALL TECH), and lit indicator lights on the simplest analog units. The codes group into three families: thermal safety (E13 RTD probe, E16 software high-limit at 410 °F / 210 °C, E17 mechanical high-limit switch tripped, E18 catastrophic 460 °F+ overheat); gas-side ignition (HELP for ignition lockout); and service / configuration messages (CALL TECH on the M3000 family for problems the operator cannot resolve, plus filtration and oil-quality prompts on FilterQuick and OCF models). Always note the controller type before searching codes — the same E-number on different generations can have slightly different root-cause hierarchies.

What does E17 mean on a Frymaster fryer?

E17 on Frymaster fryers — BIGLA30-T (OCF), FilterQuick, FootPrint Pro — means the bi-metallic high-limit safety switch has opened and cut power to the burner / element circuit. This is a hardware safety device independent of the controller: it trips when vat temperature reaches its rated cut-off, or when the switch itself has failed open. Sequence: (1) let the fryer cool fully — do not attempt to reset hot; (2) press the manual reset button on the high-limit switch (typically on the exterior of the frypot or burner housing) — if it clicks and holds, the switch has reset; (3) if the button will not hold, ohm the switch at ambient — no continuity means the switch has failed open and must be replaced; (4) inspect the high-limit harness back to the SIB board for broken wires, loose spade terminals, or heat-damaged insulation, since an open in this harness presents identically to a tripped switch; (5) if the switch genuinely tripped on overtemperature, diagnose the underlying cause (probe fault, latched heat relay, SIB board) before returning the fryer to service — a repeat E17 with a good switch means an unresolved overheat condition that risks oil-fire.

What does E13 mean on a Frymaster fryer and how do I fix it?

E13 on Frymaster fryers signals a temperature-probe (RTD) fault — the controller is reading the probe outside its valid range and shuts down heating to prevent uncontrolled temperature. Causes: failed RTD element (open or shorted), damaged or oil-soaked probe harness, loose / corroded connector at the controller terminal block, or a probe-input circuit fault on the controller board. Diagnostic flow: (1) power down the fryer and let oil cool to safe handling; (2) reseat the probe connector at the controller, clean any oil contamination with electrical contact cleaner; (3) measure RTD resistance with a multimeter — Frymaster RTD probes read approximately 100 Ω at 32 °F (0 °C) and rise roughly 2 Ω per °F, so room temperature should read in the 113–115 Ω range; (4) zero ohms (short) or infinity / OL (open) confirms probe failure — install an OEM RTD with Loctite PST56765 sealant on the probe fitting to prevent oil leak into the conduit; (5) if the probe tests good but E13 persists, the controller's probe-input circuit has failed and the controller board requires replacement.

What is the difference between E16, E17, and E18 on a Frymaster fryer?

Three escalating thermal-safety faults on the same fryer. E16 is a software high-limit — the controller has detected the RTD reading 410 °F (210 °C) or higher and disabled heating; the mechanical high-limit switch has not yet tripped, and the most likely cause is a stuck latch or heat relay on the SIB board, a contaminated OIB sensor giving a falsely-low reading, or a probe issue masked an overheat. E17 is the hardware level — the bi-metallic high-limit switch has physically opened, cutting burner power independently of the controller; reset the switch after cooling and diagnose what raised vat temperature to the trip point. E18 is the catastrophic case — vat temperature has exceeded 460 °F (238 °C) and the high-limit has failed to open: both the software thermal protection and the hardware switch have been defeated simultaneously. E18 is an emergency — disconnect power immediately, do not drain the oil, allow the frypot to cool passively, and call Frymaster service at 1-800-551-8633 before any further action. After E16 or E18, all oil in the vat is degraded and must be discarded.

Commercial Kitchen

Frymaster error codes, decoded.

Look up any Frymaster fault code below. Each one is grounded in Frymaster's own service documentation — the meaning, the symptoms, the causes, and the steps to clear it.

Quick answer

Frymaster (Welbilt / Ali Group, sister to Pitco) builds US commercial fryers — FilterQuick, FootPrint Pro, MJ-Series, OCF / BIGLA30-T, and McDonald's-spec QSR lines. M3000 / M4000 controllers display E13 (RTD probe), E16 / E17 / E18 (software / hardware / catastrophic high-limit), and HELP (gas ignition lockout); legacy displays show PROB, HOT, and CALL TECH.

By Nichita Herput

Co-founder & CEO · Reviewed May 2026

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Frymaster sits in our Commercial Kitchen coverage. Every page here is transcribed from the manufacturer's manuals, not scraped from forums.

What error codes does Frymaster display?

Tap a code for the full breakdown — meaning, symptoms, causes, and fix steps.

E13

Temperature probe failure - RTD out of range

E16

High limit 1 exceeded - vat temp above 410°F

E17

High limit 2 exceeded - high limit switch opened

E18

High limit problem - vat temp above 460°F, disconnect power immediately

PROB

Failed temperature probe or controller

HOT

Frypot temperature above 410°F

HELP

Heating problem / ignition lockout

E19

Heating failure. The heating-control latch circuit failed, or the heat contactor failed to latch.

E25

Heating failure - blower. The air pressure switch(es) failed to close.

E27

Heating failure - pressure switch. The air pressure switch has failed closed. Call service.

E28

Heating failure. The fryer failed to ignite and has locked out the ignition module.

E29

Top-off probe failure. The ATO (auto top-off) RTD reading is out of range. Call service.

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