P0301. Replaced coil & spark plug, now it's returned.

Head gasket issues on early gen3s are well known among dealer mechanics in our area and they always recommend a rebuilt replacement engine. Which on early gen3s is not cost effective resulting in trade ins or independent shops getting the work. Best to handle it early recognizing that 2010-13 have poorly designed piston rings which are clearly adding to the hg frequency. Which we have not seen often in 2015-17 gen3s with the same egr and intake manifold designs.

 

Got a call from Toyota that the brake pump is supposed to be in Thursday. That will be two weeks that they have had the car.

 

take notes prospective posters who heard lots of good things about a prius and is in the market to buy one.

 

your back to Grandpa......or did it ever change... think I might be having a senior moment.....

 

Toyota sells a kit that includes the head gasket, and pretty much every other gasket, o-ring and seal you’ll encounter in the process, for around $200~250. Also the head bolts can be bought, maybe around $100 in total? The latter can be checked against spec and reused if ok, but might be best to use new since so much is riding on it.

part no for both is in a 3rd gen TSB regarding oil consumption repair. I can dig it up if you need.

 

So your saying the car has not lost any water? If it stays at the same mark I doubt it's the head gasket.

 

Not losing significant coolant often means its early in the process. Having a proper diagnosis done (leak down test) could save thousands later.

This is a major job with lots of pitfalls for the inexperienced. Which includes many mechanics.

Some have the head gasket changed only to find the piston rods were damaged and its do over time. One guy here had it replaced three times before it was right. We saw one owner out of LA decide he would diy and it took several months, a replacement engine and several do overs.

When gasketmasters change a head gasket in hours, they replace the head with a rebuilt one ready to go. They have whatever they need ready to go. Cleaning the egr alone takes hours. Your cheap guy will skip that step. The danger of waiting is the job changes from a headgasket and head to a rebuilt replacement engine. A rebuilt engine updates the pistons, a major upgrade but the cost jumps to $3500-$7500 with the high end being a dealer.

$1100 for a proper head gasket job on a 2013 Prius would be an amazing deal.

 

Would you like to explain how poor piston ring design contributed to head gasket failure?
The 15-17’s are just not old enough yet for the failures to appear. I know a few techs who have already done 14’s and 15’s that are high mileage.

 

Carbon that clogs everything and causes preignition. Combined with thermal cycling and poor block to head port design.

Does not help when you get multiple complaints a day, often in the same minute.

 

Has the car ever shook at startup. That is pretty much the clue that the HG is leaking into the cylinder.

 

In this posting there’s a couple of TSB’s attached. The one with suffix 169 lists the gasket kit and head bolt part no’s.

 

Have you checked the oil. Any white or chocolate colors? How many miles have you put on to see if the antifreeze is low?
Your probably screwed............ : (

 

I keep thinking you’ve had leak down test, but no mention of it? Either way, look into that; it’s pretty much definitive for HG analysis, how much and where/how it’s leaking.

 

You may want to check on getting a replacement engine. They get them from Japan.and are around $1000 with lower miles.....

 

So your going to need a traction battery, water pump and a ac compressor...... ouch.............................