Rebuilt engine or a 2013 Prius engine with 100k miles

100k miles vs rebuilt, ultimately comes down to how truthful the mechanic is about the 2 engines. If they both work properly, it would not matter for the few months you intend to use the car.

 

I wouldn't trust a rebuilt modern Toyota engine. This is because you can't bore or hone them. So if there's any damage to the cylinder walls, which is usually the main reason you rebuild an engine, your engine is essentially un-rebuildable.

A new short block is a possibility though.

 

Update the 2013 engine with new pistons, rings and gaskets while its out. Which is exactly what Toyota did if it was responsible for a "rebuild" during the 60k mile powertrain warranty.

 

If the 13 has 100K on it you got about 130 to go and then it's probably going to pop a head gasket and if the car isn't worthy of shape you'll buy a JDM spec Gen 4 engine or by then maybe Gen 5 who knows and stuff that in there or you'll walk away and get another car just just did this a few months ago the JDM in my 2013 to me the best way to go all lower mileage and what I had and not from around here

 

If you can choose, I guess the engine with 100k does sound better. But not sure how you can verify the engine actually has that mileage on it.

 

how bad is your current engine?

 

Yes, but best practices to deal with with Gen3 Engine (headgasket, bad piston rings that burn oil) is to swap it with a used Gen4 engine.

 

It's really a matter of who's doing the work, how much they're charging and how much you can afford. If you just need to get it back on the road for a few months before you sell it, finding a friend or family member who works on engines to just do the head gasket is the way to go. It will be way more affordable than what a shop will charge. There's also mobile services that specialize in doing these because they're so common and it takes them less than a day to do it because they do them so often.

 

Mobile service? meet them at 7-11 and pay with cash?

 

Actually it's a legit business and they probably have the best reputation/mentioned more than any others here on PriusChat: https://www.gasketmasters.com/head-gasket-replacement-san-diego

 

If you decide to go with them please let us know how it went and how much it ended up costing?

 

It should have a vin plate which then can be checked with carfax. However most salvage engines are conveniently missing the vin plate leaving the mileage a crap shoot from guys with far worse reputations than used car salesmen. JDM engines never had the US vin plates.

Which is why the smart move is to do a ring and gasket job on a used engine. I would not risk a rebuild on a known head gasket failure engine. But if 50k miles is your goal you can roll the dice. However I would change casinos to LKQ salvage, perhaps the most reputable junk yards.

 

I'm not sure how comfortable I am with a mobile head gasket change. These things are never that straight forward, once opened up, the guy would want to finish and get paid. Every car engine is different, there may be issues with one engine and a different issue with a different engine. It cannot be a one size fits all type of service. Whether or not it's done correctly, it'll need to be done to get paid and get home. Not sure I would trust that type of repair

 

They bring a truck full of machined heads, cleaned egrs, even rebuilt engines. So if its more than a gasket you have a choice.

 

You can also head over to hybridpit in Buena Park and tell them Azusa sent you.

You can also use the code azusa on their website hybridpit.com to save some cash.

I got a rebuild from them and was able to pick from 3 different engines with vin plates and I picked the lowest mileage.

They then did their magic on it and its been great for a year now.

Check out my profile for helpful links.

 

So how much does one expect to pay for all those services? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just put in another engine?

So it's advertising for a cheaper head gasket job, but ends up being a rebuilt engine at what cost?

 

I second going to HybridPit for a rebuilt engine. I recently got one to replace my 2010's engine and it's been really great, plus the final invoice was less than what the dealership quoted me for a headgasket job and what it would've cost to buy a JDM and have someone install it. They do quality work there. If you're in Southern California I think that's the best solution and value; using a band-aid to cross your fingers on the car running for a few extra months usually isn't worth it.