2015 Prius with 384832 miles

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Bacchanal, Apr 12, 2019.

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  1. Bacchanal

    Bacchanal Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    How y’all doing... first,i want to thank you all members of this very helpfull forum.i live in los angeles,california.


    Here we go...

    I have 2015 Prius two with 384835 miles on it and starting to give up on me.

    Few days ago the engine shaking when i started amd check engine light on,i brought to autozone and got code P0304-cylinder 4 misfire detected.the next morning i brought to my mechanic and got code P0304 and P0303 thats mean cylinder 3 and 4 misfire detected and he check the coolant(low)And my mechanic told me that its the blown head gasket for sure.he told me to replace the engine for 3k.

    I just dont believe it,i think i need 2nd opinion.

    That afternoon I brought to another shop(hybrid specialist),he said probably just the spark plug,ok he replace 4 spark plug but not the ignition coil.after that still the same but the shaking got better not that rough like the first one.and he said the same thing that the head gasket blown.he told me to replace the engine for 3600 total.4 gen engine with 20k miles and 2 years warranty.

    I said i’ll think about it.

    What do you guys think?should i replace the engine or just sale the car?


    Maintenance record:

    • Oil change every 10k or less sometime and always use mobil 1 full synthetic 0w-20 and oem toyota oil filter.
    • Replace engine air filter and cabin air filter every 50k with aftermarket filter from ebay
    • Replace engine coolant every 100k with toyota oem
    • Replace front and rear brake at 100k,200k,330k with oem toyota
    • Replace tire at 50k,150k,250k,350k always use michelin defender.
    • Replace water pump at 280k(failed)
    • Replace spark plug every 120k with oem/denso
    • Replace transmission oil at 120k with oem toyota
    • 12v battery failed at 372700 replaced
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Bacchanal, Apr 12, 2019
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  2. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    I have less than 2K in a engine swap in ours with a Gen 4 donor engine that had less than 6K miles, but I provided the labor.
     
    #2 FnRedPrius, Apr 13, 2019
  3. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Did you’re 2015 ever get rest?! Wow that’s a lot of miles in 4 years!!
     
    #3 orenji, Apr 13, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2019
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    stay away from the 'hybrid specialist'. spark plugs indeed!:mad:
     
    #4 bisco, Apr 13, 2019
  5. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    Other than the engine and drivetrain wear, how's the car look and feel? I'd seriously consider replacing the engine - depending on the rest of the car's condition.
     
    #5 KennyGS, Apr 13, 2019
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Don't see any mention of EGR clean in that maintenance schedule, would be interesting to see what it looks like.

    DIY replace the head gasket? There's lot of info here; a few people have done it now.

    Still, that's a LOT of miles.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Apr 13, 2019
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  7. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    Maybe somebody between El Lay and the bay can find a little space and start a tip funded engine swap deal. I may remove a wall in the shop and start doing that depending on how my time goes.
     
    #7 FnRedPrius, Apr 13, 2019
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I know a “courier” up here who had 328 k on his 2015 before he got sideswiped last year:cool:.

    Now he has a 2017 with 40k miles on that. But has a job with Fed Ex instead of just being a courier:).

    Still couldn’t believe how fast those miles piled on(y).
     
    #8 Raytheeagle, Apr 13, 2019
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  9. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    I have about $1600 counting head gasket, fluids, and incidentals in my Gen 4 swap, but I did my own labor as well. I rebuilt my Gen 3 head with all the Gen 4 parts
     
    #9 cnc97, Apr 13, 2019
  10. Bacchanal

    Bacchanal Junior Member

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    Model:
    Two
    @ orenji - yes,every weekend,i only use my prius for work as courier.

    I drive 300 miles/day 5 days a week.


    @ bisco - i already replace all 4 spark plugs


    @ kennyg5 - looks very good and drive very good too before this engine shaking happen.


    @ mendel - i never clean NGR,i dont have the time to replace the head gasket


    Update:

    Drive still good but on lower gear the engine starting to rattle little bit,and in the morning when i check the coolant its very2 low.
     
    #10 Bacchanal, Apr 14, 2019
  11. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    + 1,
    At nearly 100K a year, an engine swap makes the most sense. If the engine is not consuming oil, then consider replacing the head gasket. Was the EGR System ever cleaned? Keep us posted.
     
    #11 Bay Stater, Apr 14, 2019
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  12. Jon Watkins

    Jon Watkins Active Member

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    Was the egr cooler/intake manifold ever cleaned and if yes, what mileages? Catch can installed?

    I’d be interested to know as I have a 15 (44k miles) and am hoping to avoid the infamous gen 3 blown head gasket issues.
     
    #12 Jon Watkins, Apr 14, 2019
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  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    It’s never too early to install a catch can ;).

    Egr circuit cleanse schedule at the spark plug change (120 k miles when the windshield wiper cowling is removed):).

    With a 2010 at 200 k miles, I’ve avoided what you’re concerned with(y).
     
    #13 Raytheeagle, Apr 14, 2019
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  14. Bacchanal

    Bacchanal Junior Member

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    I never clean the EGR,and no,the engine is not consuming oil.
     
    #14 Bacchanal, Apr 14, 2019
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  15. Bacchanal

    Bacchanal Junior Member

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    Two
    Ok,i think i’m gonna bring to the shop today and gonna ask abut EGR.thanks everyone,i’ll keep it posted
     
    #15 Bacchanal, Apr 14, 2019
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  16. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    This guy is a courier and has even more miles. His head gasket blew at about 375K:

    Courier CT update: third problem detected - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

    He chose to repair his engine instead of installing a used engine. His mechanic charged him $5400.
     
    #16 The Critic, Apr 14, 2019
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  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    #17 Raytheeagle, Apr 14, 2019
  18. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    I’m in the wrong business. $5400 to replace the head gasket. I could do it for about a third of that. But there is not a huge need (at least that I noticed) in my neck of the woods.
     
    #18 cnc97, Apr 14, 2019
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  19. Raidin

    Raidin Active Member

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    I paid $5,400 because I did a lot more than just the head gasket. I was quoted around $2k for the head gasket by itself. I had a bunch of stuff replaced for longevity and the labor went up as a result.

    I will say that when my head gasket blew, I received no codes. My first indication was when the rough cold start thing started to happen nearly all the time, then all the time, then even while driving. Check throttle body and inside the engine for coolant mixed with the oil.

    If there are misfire codes, and the engine is rough when accelerating at low RPMs, then it's probably just the EGR and intake manifold.
     
    #19 Raidin, Apr 14, 2019
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  20. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Not trying to pick on you here, but the additional items on your laundry list cannot possibly bridge the difference between $2K and $5400.

    Water pump, t-stat, inverter coolant, high tone horn and lifters are probably add $1k-$1.2k total.
     
    #20 The Critic, Apr 14, 2019
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