Hybrid Pit Stop

I really need to be on this forum more often but building these engines are my main
Priority.

My notifications are now turned on and I Wish you would have DM or send an email out with your questions.

 

mmm So you're the only one working there?
I send emails, phoned, and written here on Prius Chat..... I don't know
what else to do.
I don't know know what "DM" is.

I just want to know if you sell remanufactured short blocks for the 3rd Generation Prius.
Isn't this something all your employee's should know? I could understand if you can't give
out prices here, but they should be on your web page. You have the engines, why not
short block prices? Or at least state you don't sell them.

 

It’s 2:50am right now so I will respond. We are a small shop and honestly it might have been a better route to send us an email at: [email protected]

DM = direct message via Prius Chat

We normally build engines from the ground up so we can ensure the quality of our work. Yes we can sell the bottom end but that may lead to people cutting corners by installing the other parts that are not up to our specs for a quality install.

Example is not cleaning the EGR system, using the OEM Toyota Head Gasket or using the same water pump that was originally on the car.

Since you are not local to us, I would suggest you purchase the short block from Toyota or from this link:

BLOCK SUB-ASSEMBLY, CYLINDER




I am now going back to sleep

 

Go back to sleep! Read this after you wake up!
You should turn off notification while you're sleeping???

Perhaps you didn't read my message, because you were still sleeping?

"I send emails,"

Yes, I understand your'e a small shop.
Yes, some people may go the cheap way and not do the head gasket job completely,
but not me.
I changed the head gasket at the first sign it might be leaking, at 301,000 miles.
And the wasn't warped. Only one valve was ever so slightly seeping after sitting for
15 minutes, so I seated them all in. It was fairly easy to do.

I was thinking maybe the cost of the short block from you would cost less than
Toyota, since the cost of their short block is only slightly less than a complete engine from you.

I'm just going to have to "guess" you don't sell the short block since you haven't
yet said yes or no.
Sorry that my message woke you up.

 

So what was the route that you took after that?

Glad to finally read your backstory on how you got to this situation!


iPhone ?

 

Back story? I had driven about 7 miles, parked for 20-25 minutes.
When I started drived and the engine kicked in, it knocked. I stopped, turn the car off.
Backed back into the parking spot, checked the coolant. It looked to be where it always was.
It was cooler when I stopped, so I just figured it was some condinsation.... It didn't happen again
until the next morning. The coolant looked like it "might" be down slightly.
I had planned on replacing the head gasket before this happened and had planned on getting the
engine gasket kit from Toyota that week. And was going to doing it within the next month.
But I didn't it sooner.
I rarely drive over 65mph and have only been burning 1-1.5 qts of oil every 5000 miles.
Unless I drive faster.... I've tried that BG crap, and it's crap. I used the sea foam in the engine
before oil changes the last 3 times. I'm thinking it "might" have helped some.
Valvoline has their "NEW" restore oil I just put in about an hour ago. So I'll try that for the next 3 oil
changes. It's only about $4.50 more per oil change so it's worth a try. But the Toyota oil filters have
doubled in price to $13.00! If it helps, great, if not, I know sooner or later I'll need either new pistons
and rings, or short block, which will be a lot less work and easie and faster. But it's likely the
cylinders are out of round or scored and honing probably won't fix it.
Complete new/refurbished engine would be the easiest, but more expensive.

 

Somebody here recommended this video, for piston/ring replacement, and it's a good one. Another Toyota engine, but very helpful.

 

I thought you then did a head gasket job.

 

NOT retyping, read the WHOLE post...

 

I like your style on how you came up with the conclusion to what you are experiencing now.

It is best to tear down the block and inspect tolerances for rebuilding. If the block is burning oil it is best to hone and replace with the revised pistons and rings from Toyota.

If you have a machine shop close to you they can measure each cylinder to check for warp age. Hell they might even give you a very good price to Hone and install the pistons for you!

Just do me a favor, use a Felpro Headgasket! I have a wall of Toyota Headgaskets that are failures including many from the GEN 4 Prius

 

I've watch several video's about the block with the messed up oil rings. They all show either damage
or out of round or both. Usually they have a lot of mileage. And even if honing is able to clean it
up for the new rings, now the cylinder walls were already slightly worn from the mileage, but now from
the honing. So will the new pistons and ring, that have more tension, you've kinda defeated that so now
the rings now have less tension. Granted, if you change the oil more often, it's likely to last longer.
Do I want to do all that work, just to be back where I'm at? Not really,

Felpro is 50/50. Toyota's Gaskte lasted 301,000 miles for me. That's a lot for any car.
As with anything else, I've heard good and bad about them. I've used them before both at work
and on my own cars, and they seem to work.

I'm antique, it's getting harder to do any work anymore. So they less I have to do, the better.
And my "desire" to do the work is going away. I'll likely go with a Toyota block. With the veteran's
10% discount, it's $1600. And I'll have to try to find the use of a engine hoist, and stand.
And about a weeks worth of time....

Seems like the Gen 4's seem to have a similar issue with the head gaskets also. Even with all the
changes to the block and egr system. So, the common part, head gastet. So maybe they need to
make a better head gasket? Not just Toyota, but other manufacturers also.

Only time will tell....

 

Yeah I wonder about this too; the stock gaskets fail, but is that due to a design shortcoming, or because they’ve endured 150~200k miles of increasing inoperative EGR?

 

Or 150~200k miles of whatever it is that matters?

 

Lowered a GEN 5 Prius today


iPhone ?

 

Good Morning! Made it to Hybrid Pit Stop!

Engine Transplant this week!

 

And what's happening with your current engine, what's the miles? They'll keep it?