1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius 3 engine

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Louie aguilar, Aug 17, 2018.

  1. Louie aguilar

    Louie aguilar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2018
    6
    1
    0
    Location:
    San Jacinto
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I was told by my mechanic that the engine has some moisture around the piston 1. Possibility anti freeze. He’s saying I need a to get a engine now. Can anyone help me with some info if that’s the case. Stressed out!!!
     
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hiya, Not sure why no one has replied to you here? Could this be a head gasket? What were the symptoms prior to bringing it in?
     
    RMB and Raytheeagle like this.
  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,257
    15,491
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Some questions:

    • How many miles on your Prius?
    • Any recent maintenance or work performed?
    • Any accident or damage history?
    • Is the Prius running rough?
    • Have you cleaned the egr circuit?
    • Would this mechanic do the engine swap?
    • Have you gotten a second opinion?
    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
    Robert Holt, amos, RMB and 2 others like this.
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,174
    4,078
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Could be that there are many post like this and probably the most I’ve seen posted about this issue in particular.

    It’s like the question “not sure the weight engine oil Prius used, what is it?
     
    mjoo likes this.
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,164
    50,060
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
  6. Louie aguilar

    Louie aguilar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2018
    6
    1
    0
    Location:
    San Jacinto
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    well the engine just blew today, oil all over the place had to have it towed to my house. now i have start looking for engine, 2012 3rd gen 1.8L.if you know where i can get one? plz let me know.thx
     
    amos likes this.
  7. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Was it the head gasket? Or something else?

    First step is to get familiar with all the nearby junk yards that are actively buying Prius & find a wrecked car buyer you can work with... Them knowing you're ready to buy an engine may work to both your&their advantage!
     
  8. putty

    putty Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    147
    39
    0
    Location:
    somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    LQK has engines
    search 2ZRFXE
     
    bisco and Raytheeagle like this.
  9. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,424
    3,413
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Why would you wait until the engine blows? If you knew there was a problem, and what it could possibly be,
    why not repair it? Wouldn't the cost be lower? And then you also control when your down time is.
     
    RMB likes this.
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    We're all guilty in one way or another when it comes to ignoring the truth of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of repair...
     
    GrGramps likes this.
  11. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,913
    16,216
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    amos likes this.
  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,424
    3,413
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    This is true. Not changing a timing belt on my 1990 Probe because I didn't want to do it until the next weekend,
    left me stranded in the middle of nowhere and had to walk 2 miles in the heat to get to a phone to call someone
    to come get me. I was lucky they were home!
    That was over 20 years ago. I learned the hard way!
     
    Raytheeagle and PriusCamper like this.
  13. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    And me putting a brand new rebuilt engine in my old Subaru but not replacing all the hoses because I convinced myself I couldn't afford it meant several times on the side of the road overheating replacing hoses and ultimately only getting 60K out of the new engine before the aluminum heads were too warped and damaged and no more heads available for an engine that outdated. Only bright side was I got a Prius after that!
     
    amos and Raytheeagle like this.
  14. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,424
    3,413
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've never done that! Always changed the hoses! Unless they were recently changed. I even change the
    heater hoses!
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  15. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My problem was I always keep a really clean car inside and out and I smeared so much Armor-all and other junk on the hoses that they looked like new even when you squeezed 'em. But the part of the hose where the clamps hold it on... That's what led to the demise of my beloved '92 Subaru wagon that I bought with 100K miles on it and put an additional 200K miles on it.
     
    amos likes this.
  16. Robin312

    Robin312 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2018
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Riverside
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My Prius 3 engine is acting up too- almost 300k miles 2013 - rides rough and rumbles and shakes when you Hit the gas it’s gobbling up: now like crazy I checked all in the: every morning and this morning it was an inch from the bottom and I filled it to the max the day before- error messages= misfire one
     
  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,257
    15,491
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Welcome to Prius Chat (y).

    Sounds like your Prius has been well used and racked up lunar mileage.

    But with high mileage comes worn out parts and other issues.

    Yours sounds like it burns oil and maybe some coolant. Signs of a blown head gasket:(.

    If you haven’t had the egr circuit cleanse done, you might want to look into that soon;).

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
  18. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,244
    2,257
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I saw a completely rebuilt engine on eBay from a vendor in California for $1800 delivered.
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  19. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Dang, with prices like that, I think I can turn my current 1/4 million miles into over a million miles... So happy I bought a Prius with 104K miles almost six years ago. These cars are so far beyond what I thought possible when it comes to durability/reliability.
     
    Georgina Rudkus likes this.