Priming an auger means filling it with pellets before ignition, necessary during initial firing, after replacing parts, running out of pellets, or clearing jams. Procedures vary by grill model, involving adding pellets, removing internal parts, activating the auger via controller or buttons, and ensuring pellets reach the firepot. Different grill series have specific priming steps to ensure proper pellet feeding and grill operation.
When to Prime Your Grill's Auger
Simply put, priming the auger is letting the auger fill itself with pellets before ignition.
You only need to prime the auger when the auger is empty, typically in the following scenarios:
- Initial firing/seasoning
- After running out of pellets
- After clearing an auger Jam
- After replacing the auger or any part that requires removing the auger
Non-WiFIRE Grills
Non-WiFIRE grills have two categories of controllers: Pro and ARC controllers.
- Pro Controllers have a dial that's rotated to select temperature
- ARC Controllers have buttons that appear similar to an old iPod
Pro Controller
- Add fresh pellets to the hopper.
- Remove the grill grate, drip tray, and heat baffle. Look in the firepot to ensure it is not full of pellets.
- Set the controller dial to High (or the highest temp possible). Wait until pellets begin to fall into the firepot, usually 2-5 minutes.
- Turn the dial to Shutdown Cycle.
- Return all internal components (heat baffle, drip tray, and grill grates) to their correct places inside the grill.
ARC Controller
- Power on the grill. It should enter standby mode (display LEDs flashing).
- Press and hold the UP and IGNITE buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds.
- The display will flash Pri, and the auger will begin to turn, bringing pellets from the hopper into the firepot.
Depending on the model, the Prime function will either:
- Run continuously until canceled manually (see next step).
- Run for 30 seconds and stop automatically (Models with a Priming time limit can still be canceled manually)
- Once a small amount of pellets are in direct contact with the igniter, press and hold the UP and IGNITE buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds to stop priming.
D2 Grills
- Add fresh pellets to the hopper.
- On the grill controller, hit Menu.
- Select Auger>Prime Auger.
- Once pellets begin to fall into the firepot, select Done to turn off the auger.
Touchscreen Grills
- On the controller, go to Menu>Maintenance & Care>Auger>Prime Auger>Start.
- Controller will read Priming in Progress
- When Prime Complete displays, hit the exit button.
Woodridge Series Grills
- Plug in the grill to an electrical outlet. Turn it on using the switch on the front of the controller.
- Add fresh, dry pellets to the hopper.
- On the grill controller, set the temperature to high (or highest temperature possible), until pellets begin to fall into the firepot. Usually takes about 2-5 minutes.
Manual Auger Priming Function
While the Woodridge Series grill does not have a "Prime Auger" function, there is a way to clear any pellets from the auger tube or fill the auger with pellets after running out of them.
Make sure the grill is idle and cool.
Remove grill grates, drip tray, and heat baffle.
Make sure the firepot is not full of pellets.
With the grill in idle (display showing ---F), press and hold both ignite/shutdown button and the selection dial.
The auger will begin to move, and the screen will display the auger moving animation.
If you are moving fresh pellets to the firepot, continue holding the ignite/shutdown button and the selection dial until pellets begin to fall into the firepot, then release both buttons.
If you are clearing pellets from the auger tube, continue holding both buttons until all pellets have exited, then release both buttons.
Westwood Series Grills
Similar to Traeger non-WiFIRE Pro controllers, Westwood series grills do not have a specific "Prime Auger" function; however, filling the auger with pellets is required prior to the initial seasoning to ensure pellets are properly fed into the firepot allowing your grill to season correctly.
- Ensure the grill grates, drip tray, and heat baffle are properly placed inside the grill.
- Press the main power switch located on the back of the hopper to the ON position.
- Ensure the grill is in standby mode by checking for a white LED underneath the grey outline flame and ---F displayed on the screen.
- Press and hold the ignite/shutdown button to initiate the auger filling process. Hold the ignite/shutdown button until the animation stops (about 2 minutes).
- Once the auger has been filled, check the firepot and remove any pellets that fell in. Ensure the firepot is clean and empty.
- Refill the hopper with fresh pellets.
- Ignite the grill.