Engine swap question

So my Prius spit out a rod from the back side of the block. 213400 miles. It still runs, but not well, LoL. So here is my question. Since every salvage yard within 200-300 miles of me wants 900-1400 for a used one, does the replacement have to be a 2010? I found two 2013 or newer with less then 50k for 600 for either one. Any logical reason they wouldn’t fit?

 

Since I am getting my hands dirty, I’ll get the newest engine with the lowest mileage in my price range. I will definately verify it’s a 1.8 before I hand over any money. Probably going to have a core on my hands as it does have a hole in the block.

I just wish there had been a little more fanfare when my engine expired. Just a pop, and a low engine oil pressure message. 32 mph accelerating onto the east west highway thru town. I assume it pitched a rod, but I will have to wait for daytime to see.

 

Been looking at a lot of pictures of engines over the past 48 hours. One thing I have noticed, is the 10-15 Prii have an “as cast” aluminum valve cover. The 16 to current Prii have a black painted valve cover. There is a vent forward and right of the oil cap on the newer that mine don’t have. Working at an auto parts store, I have looked up the valve cover gasket, but our catalog has no data on the 16 to current. Does anyone know if the newer Prii take the same valve cover gasket as the older? I am putting a down payment to the salvage yard tomorrow on a 16 engine with 2200 miles if I can just use my old valve cover on the newer engine.

 

Water pump is the same. Head gasket is the same. Ignition coils are the same. And the mounts are the same. The only question is the valve cover. If the seller was local I’d go put my eyes on it. But they are 6 hours away and 150 in shipping. 25 percent restock if I guess wrong.

 

If the gen 4 is a bolt in, and I’m going to have to spend 1500 dollars on a used one, a 2300 mile 16 is a lot better but then a 107k mile 14 engine at the same dollar price.

 

Better buy that is

 

LKQ has three yards near me. Indianapolis, Scottsburg, and Plainfield. I have checked their site and 1250 plus 250 freight is the going rate. The good thing about LKQ is they don’t want the core back. My local yards want from 1400 plus 200 core(won’t accept mine with the hole in the block). One LKQ listing actually lists the 16 engine as an interchange. Since the LKQ site gives the VIN, I’m headed to my dealer parts department to check part numbers.

One of my local yards said they can only get me a new Toyota engine. Quoted me $9900 for just the engine.

 

I may pick the engine up in person. That way I can put eyes on the prize. It saves me the shipping, but it will cost me a days (10 hours) of driving round trip. Since the one LKQ has them on the shelf, that way I can make sure that it looks like the one I take out.

As for the lunar mileage, it’s cheaper for me to replace the engine then it is to replace the car. Having a car payment already, a second car payment isn’t practical right now. Should be able to trade this one in on a Gen 4 next year though. That’s the plan.