Kenmore Washer F8 Error — Suds Lock (Excessive Suds)
The F8 error code (also displayed as Sd on some models) indicates the washer has detected excessive suds in the drum. Suds lock occurs when foam reaches the sensor level, causing the control board to pause the cycle and run additional rinse cycles to reduce suds before continuing.
Cause: Wrong Detergent
The most common cause is using regular (non-HE) detergent in a high-efficiency Kenmore washer. HE washers use very little water, so standard detergent creates far too much foam. Even small amounts of non-HE detergent — or using too much HE detergent — can trigger F8.
How to Resolve F8
- Do not add more water or detergent.
- Run a Rinse+Spin cycle without any detergent to help clear the suds.
- You may need to repeat 2–3 rinse cycles to fully clear the foam.
- Going forward, use only HE-labeled detergent in the amounts specified on the package.
If F8 Appears Without Excess Suds
If the machine shows F8 but suds are minimal, the pressure switch (which monitors water and foam levels) may be faulty. Our technicians can test and replace this inexpensive component to restore normal operation.