Buying a gen 3

90k mile. Probably 5k since last oil change. I change at 10k intervals and will continue to do so. Oil was closer to low part of dip stick, but not below. I only added oil because I was taking a road trip. There's a chance that when I changed the oil at Walmart, that was the level to which they added the new oil- I know that I probably should have checked. I used to check oil on every gas fill up but stopped because the oil level never dipped. Now I'll check it every fill up again to be sure.

Have not cleaned the EGR and have no plans to unless I can find a mechanic that can do it very cheap. I follow the maintenance schedule very closely. That's better than many, but not as diligent as some on this board who take it the extra mile. I have an extended warranty that will carry me through another 6 months and will decide then if I'll upgrade to a gen 4, or keep it. That's why I'm always reading up on warning signs for battery, head gasket, and EGR issues.

 

At 90,000 miles, you're due for the EGR cleaning. SMART to do it know.
I'm not sure if any shop will "clean" it. They replace parts. But if you find a cooler, and cleanr it, then they can install that one..

 

This is why I always answer G3 "should I buy??" questions the way I do.

10k OCI is too long.
Most people trade out around the 120,000 mile mark.
The EGR cooler is a KNOWN defect for the car that almost always expresses itself after the max extended warranty period.
No dig intended on the melon Prius owner, but there's no real incentive for any party involved to keep this car from being a ticking time bomb for an unsuspecting second owner.

The real loser?
Toyota's reputation for quality and reliability.

The real winner?

ME!
If I can find a pristine, dealer-maintained, 2-owner Prius with a blown head gasket....

 

Very likely the only cheap one is who you see in the mirror. You can do it!

 

what if he doesn’t have a garage of lease that says no car wrenching?

 

Stealth wrenching? Yeah good point.

This CAN be done with minimal spillage. Preemptively draining two qts coolant for starters. and use more brushes and rags, less brake cleaner, on the intake. And work over a decent drain pan.

For the EGR cooler, oxi-clean in laundry sink is relatively benign.

And for chrisakes DON’T pull off throttle body coolant lines, they’ve got plenty of slack.

dealing with used brake cleaner fluid: pour it over kitty litter in a shallow pan, outside, let it evaporate. Then bag securely and into garbage.

 

So you dump that nasty stuff down the drain???
Then send used oil to the dump? Where it goes in the growd? And into the drinking water????

 

Oxi clean is a laundry additive. Brake cleaner in kitty litter vaporizes.

 

Thanks for the input, everyone.
I'm a test study here for an owner that follows the manual- nothing more and nothing less. If I run into head gasket issues early, then I'll be a warning to others that my 10k oil change interval was too long or the EGR should have been cleaned out. If my Prius is indeed burning oil (and I'm not sure at this time), I'll probably sell it earlier than anticipated.

 

You’re checking the dipstick?

 

I wouldn't worry about the head gasket until about the 120,000 mile mark - and besides.....you SAID you had an extended warranty - right?
I'm not a fan of the product, but you're covered AT LEAST until it expires.

120,000-150,000 miles is a SWAG but based on the fact that you're not using a lot of oil and you know where the dipstick is tells me a lot about how well this vehicle is being maintained - which seems to be a little above average.
Check your oil usage every 1000 miles (or third fillup) and if you're putting more than a couple of quarts in the motor in between 10,000 mile changes then you can start worrying about where the oil is going.

10,000 miles is too long to keep less than 4q of oil in a 1.5l engine - especially if you're losing 1q before the next oil change - but - you're maintaining the car according to factory specs (IF you are checking your oil like the manual says) so this is a Toyota problem and not a MellonPrius problem.

 

oxi stuff may be a laundry detergent, but any oil/carbon it cleans isn't.
Brake cleane evaporates, but the oily stuff it cleans doesn't.
Besides, the earth have been taking care of itself for 7000 years, it's not going to stop now.

 

If the engine is burning oil, you aren't keeping 4qts in it, you are adding new oil.
10,000 miles intervals are not the problem, if you are using the correct oil.

Driving habits contribute. I drive 85% highway, at 65mph mostly, and at 10,000 miles changes,
the oil still looks clear.

 

Yes, the dipstick. I had a '96 Camry that burned a quart every 3k miles. I had a '95 Land Cruiser that burned a quart every 1k miles before it hit 100k miles. The Prius situation is nothing, by comparison.

My coolant was near the high end of the range (using a visual inspection) when I purchased the Prius. After 60k miles, it is now at the bottom end of the range for both tanks. So, I'll add some coolant to both. To me, adding fluids (oil, coolant) is just routine maintenance. I usually like keeping my cars for a long time, but I really don't want to spring for a new traction battery, so that's why I'm probably going to sell before '24.

 

Man, I just picked up a 2014 Gen 3 with 65k miles in good shape for $6,500 and did the EGR/manifold cleaning myself. I thought I had a pretty nice deal, but after reading all the horror stories here I'm suddenly wondering if I shouldn't just sell it as soon as a better car presents itself. I'm not completely inept, but I don't really want to change out head gaskets myself.

edit: it doesn't have the late 2014 piston and piston ring upgrade.

 

It's a GOOD car! Only 65,000 miles? And you've cleaned EGR system.
So you should be in good shape. Drive it like a Prius, not an F1 Car, and it will last a long time!
I have 242,000 miles and I've had no problems.
Don't let the whiners scare you off.

 

Agree with the @ASRDogman post above!!!

Check your oil.
DO your maintenance.
Maybe replace the transaxle fluid.
Consider a 5,000 mile OCI.

Drive it for another 200,000 miles.
You can even drive it like you stole it…..NOT that I ever would do so myself in a company car….

Seriously,
The Prius is a DANG GOOD CAR.
As long as you go into the ownership experience KNOWING what pitfalls to avoid your car will be as reliable and economical as any other 2014 - and MUCH more than most.
If you’re wrench savvy enough to do your own maintenance - and lets face it…..the tasks are mostly VERY simple….you’re good to go.

If you change your mind, you can sell it today and probably make a profit but…..what’s $7000 going to buy you to replace it with?

 

so when did you install the catch can?

 

Bought the stuff, just 3d printed the mount, the oil catch can gets installed this weekend. I did the transaxle fluid when I did the oil change.

 

Installed the OCC. I was surprised how much oil had accumulated in the bottom of the manifold in just a few hundred miles. Is checking the OCC when I fuel up the tank about the right frequency?