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Radiator Coolant is Low

Discussion in 'Prius v Technical Discussion' started by KingKhan, Mar 24, 2019.

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  1. KingKhan

    KingKhan New Member

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    2012 Prius V Radiator Coolant is very low. It shows on the bottom of the container. I noticed when I saw the low coolant light on the dashboard.

    I filled the container and it went down again the next day. No low coolant light is on yet.

    It’s not the gasket, I didn’t see in the engine when I opened the oil cap.

    I’ll be changing oil soon.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her?

    anything under the car?
     
  3. PriusVirgin

    PriusVirgin Junior Member

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    Head Gasket-using coolant internally. Does it run rough at start up? No leaks-coolant has to be going somewhere-Most likely internal consumption.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    turned out to be a cracked rad hose
     
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  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Occams Razor delivers again...
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Sounds like ongoing gen 3 head gasket failure.

    From (Mar 2019:

    2012 Prius V Shaking during acceleration | PriusChat

    ^ Of interest, OP started this thread, it ran to two pages, and he never came back to it.

    and before that, in Jan 2019:
    Engine Knocking (twice) at Startup - Anyone Else Experience? | Page 5 | PriusChat

    Puzzleld by this in initial post (this thread):

    What's the miles?
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Oct 26, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2024
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not seeing in the engine when opening the oil cap is all about perspective.
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Pulling the spark plugs and inserting a boroscope, preferably one that can look "over it's shoulder", will allow you to check for evidence of coolant leaking past the head gasket, the usual head gasket failure condition with these gen 3's.