Is my engine toast?

IMO, unfortunately if that is the case, I wouldn't even bother with the head gasket replacement. That would be like throwing an Elmo Bandage on a amputation worthy wound.

I think unfortunately you are at "major decision" point.

This all comes down to budget, desire, etc, etc....

If the vehicle seems to be in descent shape in all other regards, I wouldn't necessarily abandon the idea of engine replacement.
Chronologically, it's only approaching 6 model years old, which in my mind is still relatively new.
The high miles are more a symptom of being a fleet vehicle for most of it's life.
A new engine, could hit the reset button and offer quite a bit more life.

On the other hand, since you are averaging putting 50K a year on the vehicle yourself?

Maybe it's time to get something newer, to start with.

Sorry, not much help.-tough decision.
Sometimes I'm glad it's a decision I don't have to make.

 

While the head is off, get a spring compressor, remove the valves, lap the valves, Clean head, use a bech grinder with a stainless steel wire wheel to clean the valves. Make sure a hydraulic lifters have movement, soak them in pb blast and use a channel lock wrench to compress them while they are soaked. When reinstalling install new valve seals, do not mix up the order of the intake and exhaust valves, stab the in cardboard and keep track of everything. your main bearing and rod bearings are probably fine.

Valve spring compressor

Valve cleaning and lapping valves, use lapping compound. I highly recommend you do this so you have a perfect seal.

This guy is a little crazy but the method works. You can do the heads and the block. make sure you do get any metal shavings in the coolant passages or pistons/rings. use a lot damp oil rags and tape everything off. The heads can just be hosed down afterwards to get rid of the aluminum.

 

I have called many engine parts manufacturers and have not been able to find any after market pistons for this engine. You will not be able to bore it out. You are stuck with standard (std) for now. I know they make .50 mm and up in the 1.8l corolla, but the piston head is shaped differently and could have clearance, compression issues using this piston if you were to bore it out. custom pistons can be made by jepistons but it will cost more that used motor.
2zrfxe piston 2010 prius 13.0:1

2zrfe 2011 corolla compression ratio 10.4:1


corolla piston looks more dished out for less compression

 

That would appear to be a Gen 4 engine, no?..

I don't see anything denoting Prius v.

 

+1.

Buyer beware.

Look for a 2010-2015 1.8L engine to be sure.

 

I would just hook up any sort of battery charger at the jump start point, under the hood. That said, if you wanted to remove the 12 volt battery anyway, say to clean the connections, that's another story. Also, no need to disconnect that HV battery switch.

 

Find different mechanic...A backyard guy (which is always risky) shouldn't charge much more than $500.

My mechanic would do it for $400...

And for $1000 in labor a lot of independent shops will do it.

My mechanic swapped a 6.6L duramax diesel for $1000 which is one of the harder motor swaps out there so your quote of $2.5k for one of the easiest motor swaps out there is way too high.

 

Entire job should be no more than $2200 for parts and labor....This assumes you find for $1500 a less-than-100k motor and less than $700 for labor.....On car-part.com it shows a difference between prius C, normal prius, plug-in, and prius V....all different motors...You need to get a Prius V motor.

You can go to Craigslist Automotive section and start calling around....or you can go to the "Gigs" section and put it under labor....and you'd be surprised how many people will respond for swapping the motor for X amount of dollars ($400? $500?)....If you use a new mechanic that is a total stranger the #1 advice is make sure you tell them up front you pay when job is done...A lot of them are shady and will try to get $200 up front and then disappear.

I'm not sure what the difference is between the motors but a prius C engine can be found for $250 to $500!

 

Good comeback! If you can see my Joe Ben quote (not viewing on a phone), that's one I use a lot.

 

Pretty sure Toyotas pre-Obama have been known to burn oil. Check out the Camrys and Corollas from the mid 2000s that have oil control ring problems. Also if I'm not mistaken, the Obama CAFE standards you speak of were implemented in 2012. Pretty sure the engine design of the third gen Prius was done well well WELL before 2012.

Without knowing the OP's exact service history of the engine, you can't make a blanket statement and blame Obama. That's just dumb.

If you ask me, the standards aren't strict enough. We should be a modern progressive society and look to BAN gasoline powered cars altogether in the next 10-20 years.

 

Not sure how different Prius engine is vs another DOHC Honda engine. I was charged $1200 for a head gasket / warp head work on my Integra parts and labor. A used engine with around 150k miles for my Honda would be around $1500 parts and labor but we have to wait till we find a lowish mile good condition one before someone will risk installing it. For a Prius regular / V $2000 for a low mile engine pulled from a totaled Prius would be about right.

$6k is a rip off, even if it is a new engine or a complete rebuild. Seriously, this is not a track car with forced induction, a pulled junkyard engine is sufficient.

 

How recently was that? Or maybe the Toyota engine is inherently tougher??

 

You can find them all day long for $1000-$1500.

Here's one rebuilt with new parts for $1100

and another used one for $1350. Rent a uhaul pickup and toss it in a back and take it to your local mechanic. install should be about $1,000.

I know you're not in LA, but just examples you can probably do the same for big cities near you.

TOYOTA PRIUS ENGINE - auto parts - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

Toyota Prius engine - auto parts - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

Here's a wrecked prius in Charlotte NC (I don't know where you live) but you can call and get a idea. 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (2010-2015) for PARTS (PARTING OUT) USED CAR PARTS - auto parts - by dealer - vehicle automotive car truck sale

 

danlatu (in a liftback though, not a v) seemed able to get the engine lifted out without even removing the hood. (I don't think it would even have occurred to me to try!)

-Chap