Replace Engine or Repair Heads 2012 Prius V

welcome!
i have seen it go both ways, mostly do to cost. price out both options.

 

Any recourse with the seller?

 

Here is video of a diy head gasket change.

Not hard, just tedious and I would clean out the sludge before putting it back together.

 

I would consider calling Hometown Hybrids in Houston who primarily replace HV batteries. Ask them who they would recommend for the work. I would think a head gasket repair might be the better option but it might be a toss up against a used engine with less miles. Hometown Hybrids - 21 Reviews - Auto Parts & Supplies - Houston, TX - Phone Number - Yelp

 

Any engine with 160k on it will most likely need a new head gasket. I head gasket keeps two major components of the motor together, while keeping them separate. I know that doesn't make sense, but the head controls intake and exhaust, the core creates heat, mass and combustion. All this constant movement puts a strain on the gasket and what happens is tiny hair line leaks (usually in the areas where coolant flows from the core into the head) cause pressure to escape and eventually grow to a major leak.
As for your answer for swapping a motor vs. getting work done, I always go the route that will cost me the least amount of labor and time without my car. Engine swap is less labor and time and is usually much less time than replacing gasket.

 

if it is anything like the lift back engine, the egr circuit clogs and puts pressure on the gasket, which seems to have some thin areas that blow out.
there are tons of threads, posts and videos on the subject.

 

If it were me, I’d replace the engine with a low mileage 2015 engine. If a HG replacement was less expensive than an engine swap, I’d STILL choose the 2015 engine because with that, you’d be getting the redesigned pistons, rings, and, I think, head gasket. I’d think you’d be looking at a few thousand $$ (minimum) to swap in an engine though. Not sure about the cost of head gasket replacement.

 

After the 75k swap, just keep up with the routine maintenance and you should be ok.

 

I have a 2012 Prius V that started having the rough start, rough idle back in the fall at roughly 140k miles. Took it into dealership once it threw the P0302, P0303 codes for mis-fire. I was told the EGR system was covered as an extended warranty but I'd need to purchase a newly re-designed intake manifold. Had the coolant flushed and replaced and new spark plugs at that time as well. This past Sunday, with 154k miles on it, it threw the mis-fire codes again and had the big puff of white smoke out the tail pipe. Dealership confirmed head gasket failed and scoring in the #2 cylinder was bad enough, along with the relatively high mileage, that an engine replacement was the best option.
Personally, after reading through all of the negative findings about the Gen 3 1.8-liter - the oil rings, the EGR, the predictable HG issues - I'd never put a Gen 3 back in no matter what the mileage. The 2016-17 Gen 4's with under 30k miles are pretty common for ~$1500.
Just for reference, the Toyota dealership near me quoted me $3k for a head gasket job, $5500 for a Gen 3 motor with 100k miles and $6500 for a Gen 3 with 30k miles. They told me Toyota shop labor showed approximately 18 hours for the work for a motor swap.

 

It will.

See @Ragingfit .

 

Yes it fits because it's the same engine. I think Toyota made some changes to the cams but not much else as far as function is concerned.
There were changes to things that are not the engine but the old stuff fits on the new engine, ie. flywheel and damper, motor mount, intake, EGR and EGR cooler, exhaust manifold and the exhaust system, coolant hose routing and locations, sensor locations, and ground wire landings.
So, technically it won't fit but if you give the new engine what it wants it'll be happy in a Gen 3 Prius or Prius "v".

- Fix That Prius!