Replace Engine or Repair Heads 2012 Prius V

Just adding another data point here. Utilizing Ragingfit's videos as a guide I put a Gen 4 1.8L in my 2012 Prius V. This was a 2016 with 10k miles and picked it up completely palletized for $1000 out the door. Total number of hours closer to 20. Using OEM gaskets, etc. parts came to $75. As I had mentioned previously, my original motor had the purportedly re-designed intake manifold and EGR so swapping those over was quite easy as they had less than 5k miles on them before the HG blew. The only issue that I see as something I may need to address is the coolant temp sensor on the DS of the motor. The EGR from the Gen 3 motor effectively blocks access to it and the clip so if it or the wiring ever need addressed it will require removing the EGR. But since it appears the EGR should be removed and meticulously cleaned every so often to prevent HG issues that shouldn't be a problem .
Have a bit over 150 miles on it so far and it behaves perfectly. Only time will tell. However, there is really nothing that was going to be as affordable given the 154k miles I had on the original motor.

 

DS equals Driver's Side? I was struggling, maybe others will too. Maybe just me lol.

Thanks for the report!

 

I have a 2012 Prius Plug-In Advanced...

I have similar codes (P0300, P0301, P0304, P219A), but I have 310k miles on my car.
- I have only done 3 oil changes (one for each 100k miles) and now at 300k I also changed Plugs, Air Filter, and Cabin Filter (Yay... I went all out!!!)

I did look at Engines & Transmission on eBay and they seem fairly priced. My only concern is that many (not all) are from Japan that promise to have 40k-60k miles.

I'm looking at an engine for around $1150 and Transmission for around $300... plus installation (which I was quoted $1500 from my mechanic which says he charges other clients like $2500 for labor)

 

That sounds like you don’t care about your car, or you had a high percentage of EV miles for every 100k. Like 90% or more.

 

It's not that I don't care. I am 44 and have owned 41 cars. I have never had a car long enough to need tires or brakes. This care is not my main car as I only use it for Lyft/Uber (as side-gig) and I put the 310k mi. in only 2.5 years. That's definitely not a common thing for me.

 

Ok, so at a best case scenario, you have driven the car 10X farther on the oil change interval then recommended under normal conditions (10,000 miles). How many quarts of oil have you needed to add in the 310K that you have had the car?

When the most basic need of the car gets neglected, then I personally become skeptical of someone’s ability to provide a proper home to a motor vehicle.

 

310k mile in 2 1/2 years. That is 339.72 miles per day for 912.5 days. At normal intervals (10k miles)the car needed an oil change every 29.435 DAYS. You changed the oil only 3 times. I, even after knowing my replacement engine that I put in had around 12k miles on it, get nervous exceeding 5k miles on my oil change by more then a couple hundred miles. Yet you changed the oil around day 304.16 or so.

At any rate, going purely by miles, the engine is past the “average” head gasket/oil consumption mileage window of 150k miles by 2x. I would search on
Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market .
That’s where I found the replacement engine I installed. You can sort by price, miles, or distance from you. And the prices are just as good, if not better then eBay. Especially if you can go pick up the engine in person.

My final thought on this. After you do replace the engine. Please stop abusing your Prius and change the oil at the recommended interval!!

 

I purchased my used very low mileage engine from here:
ebay stores wilberts premium auto parts

I was very satisfied as the engine appeared to be "as new" with everything I needed and was on a pallet ready to pick up. Of course it did help that I was local but if the total with shipping is affordable I'd have no problem going this route.

 

I have a 2016 Prius V so hopefully my Gen 4 engine won't have too many issues as it ages. It has 27k miles on it. I'm following this thread with much interest though, mostly to identify preventive maintenance items that I should follow.

SM-G960U ?

 

As far as I know the "Prius v" (larger version of Prius hatchback, commenced in model year 2012, that's what we're talking about?) has never had an engine revision. It's engine is the same as the regular 3rd gen Prius, regardless of model year.