Pro 575 not achieving temperatures

[ben]

I got my pro 575 about a month ago. From the beginning I was having problems with everything taking double the time to cook. I called Traeger and they immediately sent me a new rtd probe. I put it in and it was the same problem. I went and got a new oven thermometer and saw that my grill was anywhere from 100 to 125 off. I called Traeger again and they told me to just turn the grill up another 100 degrees because this is how Traeger grill are ......really. I went back to where I bought the grill and was told I needed a return code from Traeger in order for them to take it back. I was trying to support a small local hardware store. I guess this was a mistake also. So, I called Traeger yet again and asked to speak with a manager. She told me that an external oven thermometer is insignificant and that if my controller says it’s at 450/350/250 degrees than it is and that she can’t troubleshoot a “fully functioning” grill. I am beyond frustrated.

I'm new to the forum, but I wish I would have read it before purchasing the 575 Pro. I'm having the same problem everyone else is having. Keep in mind this is the third smoker I've owned. I've had a Weber bullet and I currently own a Primo Large Oval. I purchased the Traeger due to its alleged ease of use, but I still periodically use the Primo. I've cooked on it 6 or so times so far and EVERYTHING takes significantly longer than it should. I've even followed the recipes that come with the app, and they are way off. Concerned that my grill may not be reaching the correct temperature, I used a couple of different probes to check the internal temperature of the Traeger. When the controller says I'm at 225, I'm actually reading around 190 or so. When the controller says I'm at 450, I'm actually at around 385. Called Traeger, they gave me the same line they tell everyone else. "The controller is reading the average of 3 temperatures". I've moved my probe all around the grill and still read significantly below Traeger's. I don't know where there average is coming from. To resolve the issue, they actually told me to insert the meat probe into whatever I cook next and leave it in for the entire cook. Then I am supposed to call them and tell them what I cooked and how much it weighed. They will then tell me if the grill is cooking at the advertised temperature. That is the most ridiculous troubleshooting step I've ever heard.

 

[JordanK]

I spent some time doing a bunch of tests this afternoon and here is what I have found.

• The temperature does vary quite a bit depending on where you take a temperature reading. Its sorta +/- 10F depending on where you test the temp inside the grill.
• I believe that when Traeger customer support says the displayed temperature is based on three locations they don't mean that there are three RTDs inside your grill. They probably meant that they calibrated the firmware update using three test locations inside the grill and the displayed temperature represents an average of the three spots. This also means that if you put your own external test thermometer near your grill's RTD, it won't match because the controller's programming is taking the real temp from the single RTD, adding in an adjustment factor and is then displaying a calculated average temperature. I don't know this for sure but seems logical.
• I have also noticed it takes a while for the grill to stabilize temperature and opening/closing the lid to check temps while mess up temperature readings. You have to let it sit closed for a while to allow the whole thing to stabilize.

Here are my results:

• I ran the grill up to 225F and my cheap Taylor mechanical oven thermometer was typically showing 210F - 213F.
• I ran the grill at 425F and the Taylor was showing about 388F - 390F.
• I don't trust my Taylor oven thermometer but it appears that the temperature is more accurate at lower temps and there is a bit more of a gap at higher temperatures.
• I also set the grill to 180F and watched the performance. At this temperature, the grill cycles up and down quite a bit and there is definitely more smoke. Temperature readings at this set point appear to be very close.

Some thoughts:

• IMHO, Traeger will probably push out another update to fine tune the temperature issue a bit more and this will make everyone happy. The grill is very usable and anyone cooking low and slow (i.e. 225F) won't have issues because the temperature is close at this temperature range.
• Bigger issue is trying to sear at higher temperatures but I'm not sure that this is what this grill is all about. I've got my Weber for this type of thing.
• As an example, I cooked sirloin strip steaks last night. I set the grill to 425F and the Taylor was showing about 390F. Steaks took about 10 - 15 min and I pulled them off the grill at 135F...which was a perfect medium rare. They were awesome and I'm not sure I needed to go higher. In fact, next experiment will be to do the same steaks low and slow (225F) and see how they cook and taste. In each of these cases, I will cook to temperature vs set a temp and then cook to a set time.
• All this temperature testing and complaining about accuracy is kinda crazy if you think about it. Nobody is really able to perfectly control the temperature of traditional wood fire or charcoal grills and I suspect that the professional grill masters build their fires more by intuition and then regulate the air flow to raise or bleed off temperature in a crude kinda way. I think we need to stop treating our grills like ovens and start cooking to temperature using meat probes.

Anyways. Just my 2 cents again. Grill more. Worry less...haha. I'm happy with with 575. I'm sure it will get updated again and improve.

Jordan

 

[Johnmil2000]

I smoked a brisket on Sunday. My first one on the Traeger. It was a full 16 lb packer - 2 to 3 lbs of trimmed fat. Started at 175 temp placed 2 oven thermometers in the smoker - one on the left and one on the right. I noticed every once in awhile, a very light smoke would come pouring out of the stack. This would only last for a few minutes. I read a lot of complaints about no smoke. I guess this is what they are talking about. I was expecting constant flow of smoke.

Every hour i would open the lid to spritz the brisket and check the oven temp. Averaging both and it was very close to the RTD - within 10 degrees. After a couple of hours, increased temp to 200. A hour later opened the lid to spritz and to check the reading of the thermometers - again avg very close to the RTD. Repeated this with 25 degree increments until 250. Throughout the cook, it was pretty accurate.

After 15 hours, the brisket temp reached 195. it was 230 am. Would have liked to get to 200 - 205 but i was tired. Resting time was only 1 hour. Separated the flat and the point. Cut a few slices of the flat and saw a very nice smoke ring - about 1/4 inch thick. I couldn't believe that a pellet smoker could produce one that size. My wife was impressed too. Before the firmware update, I was going to return this to HD because it was off by 50 to 100 deg. Glad I kept it.

 

[ndfan6464]

I spent some time doing a bunch of tests this afternoon and here is what I have found.

• The temperature does vary quite a bit depending on where you take a temperature reading. Its sorta +/- 10F depending on where you test the temp inside the grill.
• I believe that when Traeger customer support says the displayed temperature is based on three locations they don't mean that there are three RTDs inside your grill. They probably meant that they calibrated the firmware update using three test locations inside the grill and the displayed temperature represents an average of the three spots. This also means that if you put your own external test thermometer near your grill's RTD, it won't match because the controller's programming is taking the real temp from the single RTD, adding in an adjustment factor and is then displaying a calculated average temperature. I don't know this for sure but seems logical.
• I have also noticed it takes a while for the grill to stabilize temperature and opening/closing the lid to check temps while mess up temperature readings. You have to let it sit closed for a while to allow the whole thing to stabilize.

Here are my results:

• I ran the grill up to 225F and my cheap Taylor mechanical oven thermometer was typically showing 210F - 213F.
• I ran the grill at 425F and the Taylor was showing about 388F - 390F.
• I don't trust my Taylor oven thermometer but it appears that the temperature is more accurate at lower temps and there is a bit more of a gap at higher temperatures.
• I also set the grill to 180F and watched the performance. At this temperature, the grill cycles up and down quite a bit and there is definitely more smoke. Temperature readings at this set point appear to be very close.

Some thoughts:

• IMHO, Traeger will probably push out another update to fine tune the temperature issue a bit more and this will make everyone happy. The grill is very usable and anyone cooking low and slow (i.e. 225F) won't have issues because the temperature is close at this temperature range.
• Bigger issue is trying to sear at higher temperatures but I'm not sure that this is what this grill is all about. I've got my Weber for this type of thing.
• As an example, I cooked sirloin strip steaks last night. I set the grill to 425F and the Taylor was showing about 390F. Steaks took about 10 - 15 min and I pulled them off the grill at 135F...which was a perfect medium rare. They were awesome and I'm not sure I needed to go higher. In fact, next experiment will be to do the same steaks low and slow (225F) and see how they cook and taste. In each of these cases, I will cook to temperature vs set a temp and then cook to a set time.
• All this temperature testing and complaining about accuracy is kinda crazy if you think about it. Nobody is really able to perfectly control the temperature of traditional wood fire or charcoal grills and I suspect that the professional grill masters build their fires more by intuition and then regulate the air flow to raise or bleed off temperature in a crude kinda way. I think we need to stop treating our grills like ovens and start cooking to temperature using meat probes.

Anyways. Just my 2 cents again. Grill more. Worry less...haha. I'm happy with with 575. I'm sure it will get updated again and improve.

Jordan

That's a lot of data and thanks for taking the time to share with the rest of us.

Before I tested the water with these pellet smokers all I ever did was cook with cured wood. I was able to keep more of a steady temp in the cooking chamber by the methods you mentioned. With that said I wasnt expecting to have a machine that cost $900 to have temp issues. Let alone almost every single one that came off the assembly line.

I am still pulling for the 575 to be a great cooker. I am hoping they do find the issue. Just not enjoying the super super long cook times. Again, pork butts shouldn't take as long as a packer brisket.

 

[KirkP]

I follow RecTec on facebook and they have probably the best marketing I've ever seen. Super cool guys and their how-to grill videos are awesome. If you don't mind, let us know how that Stampede works for you.

Looks like my RecTec Stampede will show up maybe by the weekend. Essentially the same price as the 575 (also with WiFi), but mostly stainless steel. All the reviews seem to indicate it really keeps the temperature within just a few degrees. For that much money, I want control. I will post again once I get my first cook or two on it. Oh, I should mention that HD took my 575 back with no questions asked.

 

[ndfan6464]

All the reviews seem to indicate it really keeps the temperature within just a few degrees.

So did all the reviews I read on the 575...lol

 

[KirkP]

So did all the reviews I read on the 575...lol

Unfortunately true. I found this forum a bit too late. I wonder now if all these great reviews about the 575 were actually written by people who had one (and who actually tested the temperatures of the grill). Once I knew what to look for, suddenly I found several poor reviews on the 575 online. So far nothing but stellar reviews on the RecTec. I will see soon enough though. At least their customer support sounds impressive.

 

[ndfan6464]

Unfortunately true. I found this forum a bit too late. I wonder now if all these great reviews about the 575 were actually written by people who had one (and who actually tested the temperatures of the grill). Once I knew what to look for, suddenly I found several poor reviews on the 575 online. So far nothing but stellar reviews on the RecTec. I will see soon enough though. At least their customer support sounds impressive.

Hahah man we are paddling the same boat. I didnt know this forum was around untill I was doing research on the temp issues. I was like Dang me to betsy this grill is a Lemon! Like you I was wonder where all these 5 stars were coming from..

 

[Coloradotrailrider]

So far nothing but stellar reviews on the RecTec. I will see soon enough though. At least their customer support sounds impressive.

I have been through the exact same issues with the 575 with the inaccurate temps. I’ve been a Traeger fan for years, and I still am, I've owned three Traeger’s so I’m very schooled in how they operate and what to expect.

I had called customer service about the temp issue and of course got the expected responses that many have gotten. The rep even told me to either wait for the fix or just return it and try another one, so I returned it and got another lol. Well of course it had the same issue. A few days later it updated to the latest firmware, it did help but it was still way off. Customer service works well with you but man it takes forever on hold each time I call to get someone, like 30-40 minutes each time. I’d had enough, returned the grill and ordered the RECTEC Stampede. Their customer service is amazing, I get someone immediately every time I call. The sales people are the same people for tech support as well. They know their grills! The Stampede is built like a tank and has one of the best WiFi PID controllers in the industry for around the same price as the 575. Four year warranty as well.

 

[KirkP]

I have been through the exact same issues with the 575 with the inaccurate temps. I’ve been a Traeger fan for years, and I still am, I've owned three Traeger’s so I’m very schooled in how they operate and what to expect.

I had called customer service about the temp issue and of course got the expected responses that many have gotten. The rep even told me to either wait for the fix or just return it and try another one, so I returned it and got another lol. Well of course it had the same issue. A few days later it updated to the latest firmware, it did help but it was still way off. Customer service works well with you but man it takes forever on hold each time I call to get someone, like 30-40 minutes each time. I’d had enough, returned the grill and ordered the RECTEC Stampede. Their customer service is amazing, I get someone immediately every time I call. The sales people are the same people for tech support as well. They know their grills! The Stampede is built like a tank and has one of the best WiFi PID controllers in the industry for around the same price as the 575. Four year warranty as well.

Great to hear about your Stampede. I can't wait for mine to arrive, hopefully this weekend.

 

[O C]

I wish I had bought the Stampede
It was my second choice. Bought the traeger because my brother has had such good results with his little Junior, and the new features on the 575 sounded great.

 

[CampWhatnot]

I wish I had bought the Stampede
It was my second choice. Bought the traeger because my brother has had such good results with his little Junior, and the new features on the 575 sounded great.

Hang in there. They will get the code sorted out and release a new firmware. You have to expect some glitches when a new product released to the masses.

 

[Coloradotrailrider]

I wish I had bought the Stampede
It was my second choice.

I have no doubt Traeger will figure this out with time. I think they just released the D2 controller a little to soon before throughly testing it out and tweeking it. Once they do it’s going to be a game changer. I just ran out of patience lol.

 

[Coloradotrailrider]

Great to hear about your Stampede. I can't wait for mine to arrive, hopefully this weekend.

Mine is supposed be delivered this Friday, can’t wait either!

 

[KirkP]

I have no doubt Traeger will figure this out with time. I think they just released the D2 controller a little to soon before throughly testing it out and tweeking it. Once they do it’s going to be a game changer. I just ran out of patience lol.

I really hope they do. I was extra worried since the last firmware update for the Ironwood series seemed to fix all of that grill's problems while the latest update for the 575 did pretty much nothing (at least for me). Makes one wonder if it's a hardware problem, which will make fixing it much more difficult.