Loss of coolant 2017 prius, headgasket??

Take it back to them, and contact corporate Toyota, and let them know you’ve contacted them.

 

puffs of white smoke might be an issue, i would have a leakdown test performed if toyota refuses to deal with it.
and try another dealer first

 

Well - another call with the dealer Service Manager. After I spoke with Toyota. They would like to have to car again for a week and drive it. They said it was good to know about the white smoke because they can do other tests. If it's the head gasket they said $4-5k. I can go to Toyota on my own to see if they will help (has 115k miles). They swear it's not fluid in the exhaust, based on the tests they have done previously. Not sure what else do to other than let them have it again. Paying 5K would be bad, but if it means I can drive for another 100k miles then ok, I guess. Would be cheaper than a new car of course. Either that or I sell now at Carmax and get something else...

 

Maybe they replace the head gasket, charging you $5k, then you keep losing coolant, and they, well, who knows.

 

For the 2017, it's more than likely NOT the head gasket. Ask if your dealer ran a borescope into the exhaust heat exchanger (per the TSB) to see if there was a coolant leak in there. For the responses you mentioned, it might be a better idea to find another Toyota dealer. My 2017 had the heat exchanger leak, and it took a while for the parts to come in, but was fixed on Toyota's dime. Good luck!

 

^ This.

 

I think they did scope it on the first visit to the dealer. No fluid.

 

Yeah that wouldn't be good. I want them to be sure of course. The puff's of white smoke means it could be the HG???

 

Well that’s the issue; maybe they’re so used to 3rd gen blowing head gaskets, they make knee-jerk diagnosis. 4th gens, judging from reports here, never blow head gasket, but have frequent exhaust heat recovery leaks.

To have a fourth gen, not that high of miles, no problem with the exhaust and a blown head gasket, is a very long shot.

 

I guess to ask, what makes you so certain it's not the head gasket?

From what I've been able to discern, the 2016-2018 production models are basically the Gen 3 motor with some revisions. It was not until the 2019-2020 and then 2021-2022 models that had the latest updates to prevent head gasket failures largely like the Gen 3 did. I could be wrong but... these first few years of the Gen 4 motors are basically no better than a Gen 3 motor.

 

The gen4 2016 and newer hatchback engine was significantly revised. The 2016-17 Prius v remained a gen 3.

 

from those I know that replace motors often... they have had to replace the 2017 Prime motors more times than they thought they would be needed. I have this spidey sense that there's more to this. Well, my 2017 Prime tonight had the coolant light and no heat from the heater. I looked at hybrid assistant and the engine temps were in the red. After putting in coolant the temps went down and taking it to the dealership tomorrow. I hope it's not the head gasket and just the Front Exhaust Pipe Assembly. I just know months ago I noticed it was low but not this low and told them about it, need to check if they noted they added coolant and the mileage. wondering why no investigation was done.. but. we shall see. its not even at 100k miles yet. smdh.

 

Leaks are harder to find because of all the covers they have on modern cars...so gonna require some work to get covers off and inspect all around everything. But the covers, when removed, should give clues to where stuff has been leaking. I love finding odd little nuts and bolts on the covers "where the heck did this come from?"
My guess would be the heat exchanger, water pump, or head gasket if the car had poor maintenance.

 

What I find interesting is these issues are popping up around the 5 and 6 year intervals which match what many say is about double how long you should go before changing your coolant. Interesting.

 

"...more than likely..." does not imply certainty.

 

Touché

literally under car doing bypass to check that off the list... have the cherry picker ready should the pump need me to swap in a new propeller I have handy.

 

One thing I've stumbled on... Toyota isn't the only manufacturer to have had these issues with their engines from the same years. It's like they all bought their parts to build the cars from the same manufacturer and now 5 years later those cars have issues. My 2017 Prime... yep.. at the 5 year mark!