Frymaster M3000 Fryer Error Code E11: Drain Valve Not Closed
ERROR DRAIN VALVE NOT CLOSED (E11) on a Frymaster Gen II LOV fryer with the M3000 computer means the drain valve failed to close and its position is unknown. The manual says to call service. Watch the vat, because oil could be leaving it.
Medium: filtering and draining are unreliable and oil could leave the vat if the valve is partly open.
What does Frymaster error drain valve not closed mean?
After a drain or filter operation, the M3000 computer commands the drain valve closed and waits for confirmation that it reached the closed position. If the valve fails to close, or the computer cannot confirm that it did, it logs E11 and shows ERROR DRAIN VALVE NOT CLOSED. This is the more urgent of the two drain valve messages for an operator, because a valve that is not fully closed can let oil leave the vat or prevent the vat from refilling correctly. The manual states only the meaning and a single action, call service. A technician finds out whether the valve is physically stuck partway, blocked by debris, or only failing to report its closed position. The computer treats the position as unknown, so it will not trust the valve until it is repaired. E11 belongs to the Gen II LOV M3000 table and is not found on the 3000/3010 controller.
Affected models and control systems
Gen II LOV fryers with the M3000 computer, BIELA14 series electric; the BIGLA30 gas fryer uses the same computer family.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- ERROR DRAIN VALVE NOT CLOSED on the computer
- Oil level in the vat dropping or oil in the filter pan
- Filter cycle that stalls
- Alarm sounding
Possible causes
Likely causes — what usually sits behind error drain valve not closed on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- A food particle or hardened shortening holding the valve open
- A drain actuator that stops short of the closed position
- A closed-position switch that no longer reports correctly
Safe checks before calling for service
- Check the vat oil level and look for oil collecting in the filter pan.
- Do not reach into the drain area or force the valve while the oil is hot.
- If oil is leaving the vat, turn the fryer off and keep the area clear.
- Write down the vat, the step in progress and the exact message, then call service.
How a technician diagnoses error drain valve not closed
- Read the error log for E11, and E10 if present.
- Inspect the drain valve ball and seat for debris or buildup once the oil is cool.
- Check actuator travel to the closed end and the linkage for binding.
- Test the closed-position sensing to the computer.
- Replace the actuator, switch or valve only after a test shows which part is wrong.
- The valve sits in a hot oil line and a partly open valve can spill oil.
- Actuator tests are done on live circuits with the computer commanding movement.
- Sensing and actuator can look the same from outside, and only measurement separates them.
How error drain valve not closed differs from similar codes
E11 means the drain valve failed to close, while E10 means it failed to open; both report an unknown position.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Frymaster owner support
- Edition
- May 2011, 819-6446
- Models / control
- 3000 controller / M3000
- Section
- 1.14.4 Error Log Codes, p. 1-35
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Frymaster fryer error codes
Should I worry about oil leaking?
Yes, check the vat level. A valve that is not fully closed can let oil move where it should not.
Is E11 the same as E10?
No. E11 is the drain valve not closing; E10 is the drain valve not opening.
Can the fryer keep cooking?
It may heat, but do not filter or drain until a technician has checked the valve.
Need help with Frymaster error drain valve not closed?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.