Dreaded head gasket failure on 2012 Prius V

My question is how mechanically inclined are you? If you can do your own repair, it’s about $400 in parts and chemicals to do it. Maybe you have a family member that is mechanically inclined. Toyota and your mechanic are under the impression the engine must be removed for the repair. It can be done with the engine in the car. That will cut the repair time by 70%. Look it up on YouTube. It’s not hard, just labor intensive.

 

welcome!

LKQ

did you drive it much after it began shoeing symptoms? any dash lights?

 

I'm having the same issue on my 2012 Prius V. The car has over 170,000 miles on it, but other than the current engine problem, it looks and feels almost brand new! I sure would love to see some input here as to what the best option is. I'd hate to have to trade it in, but is that going to be cheaper by far than either rebuilding the engine or buying a new rebuilt engine for it?

 

I used K-seal from Amazon for $12.97 and GM Cooling System Seal Tablets for $6.52 and that took care of my problem that the dealer wanted $4,700 to fix. Just added two of the tablets (crushed) to the overflow coolant bottle. A few days later I added the bottle of K-Seal to the overflow bottle. The engine light that was on went off after adding the tablets and the shuddering was less often when starting the car. After adding the K-Seal the engine shuddering (cold soak rattle) went away completely. A couple of months later the shuddering started to show up again periodically. I got in touch with K-Seal and told them that the shuddering had started to come back and they immediately sent me another bottle at no cost. That took care of the shuddering.

 

We ran a Dodge Grand Caravan that evidenced a factory crap rear bank head gasket failure at just 3+ years and less than 30,000 miles right out to its 120,000 mile end on a single bottle of Barr’s Leaks.

 

My 2012 Prius started doing the same thing at 220,000 miles. After determining that it definitely was a head gasket problem I decided to do the engine swap, due to the high mileage on my engine. I believe that although swapping the engine is a lot of work, it requires less technical skill than doing a head gasket.
I was able to buy an engine from LKQ junkyard, with only 19000 miles on it, for under $1,000.(it was local so I saved several hundred on shipping). And did the swap myself. Granted I have quite a few years of wrenching in my background but I am not a pro.

 

There is little harm in trying the mechanic in a can solution since the engine is toast otherwise anyway. But if the rest of the car is good I believe an engine swap is worthwhile.

 

If you go with the "mechanic in a can" route, may also want to inspect your intake manifold for oil and EGR for evidence of carbon build up since either or both could have conspired to cause your head gasket problems. Should also know that a blown head gasket can destroy your catalytic converter, depending on how much coolant went downstream.

 

WOW, I hate to say it but, I dont trust anybody except me when it comes to my wifes prius v its a 2012 with 147000 miles on it. recently it started shaking and making noises when I started the car, iI took it to a repair shop near my home, I was told the engine needs to be replaced! then I took it to the dealer, they said the heads can be resurfaced for $4,000-$5.000 or I could buy a new engine for $8,0000-$10,000 YEA RIGHT ! First of all this car has never overheated period! so none of that made any sense to me at all, and how can I drive this car 80-95 Miles per hour smooth strong and solid like a brand new car if the heads are blown? LOL People think we are stupid and I wasnt buying it, so to make a long story very short, I was watching youtube and this guy had the same shaking and stuff going on he was a real gearhead and took most of the engine apart to find the problem, I noticed that he said he had the fuel injectors cleaned for $176.00 which helped but didnt solve the shaking when starting the car, I went to the dollar store and bought some fuel injector cleaner 3 bottles @ $1.75 each and some "Sea Foam" motor treatment, I had never used this before and its $10 a bottle I bought 2 and put about 6oz in the oil through the cap and the rest in the gas tank with less than half full of gas, started the car it shook a little then I drove it like never before, I reached the cars top speed of 107 mph and cruised for a few short minutes watching out for the police while stepping on the gas in burst releasing the gas pedal and then pressing it all the way to the floor,did this for about 30 minutes off and on , once again, how can this car drive at 107-108 mph with a blown head gasket? IT CANT! they Lie, cheat, brake and sabotage people who are like sheep or cattle living in a daze or something dont be stupid research for yourself take the time to learn about your car from youtube and the like, theres is so much good data out there, anyway, We havent heard a peep from the car when starting early in the cold cold mornings ever again, clean your injectors, quiet your engines insides with Sea Foam in the oil case and in the fuel take, Like I said I have

 

no connection with the Sea Foam product company this was the first time I saw it in the dollar store lol
and thats in the oil case and the fuel tank! A clean engine and clean fuel system will keep your car running smooth, think about it , the injectors are clogged the upper engine has sludge and grit and grim in it and when the engine first starts up that comes into play its hard to start up smooth and quite when your engine cant breath or get fuel on demand with dirty clogged and sludge filled compartments in your engine. Clean it up! from the inside! Peace be the Journey


swami

 

Big thanks! I was looking at $4700 to fix a head gasket on a 2012 V with 200K miles, that my wife and I have been so happy with all these years, saying that it's still (almost) like a new car. (It's worth half that thanks to two accidents caused by others, but fortunately repairs were stellar and years later there's no evidence I can find.) I used the K-Seal Head Gasket repair, and so far seems to be working (but need to drive it more to find out for sure.)

I won't be surprised if we fail the next emissions inspection, due to the misfires. Catalytic converters used to be very fragile but I'm hoping by 2012 they've been made more robust. Or at least, cheaper to replace.

Seems to me the only benefits of a new Prius would be better gas mileage and hopefully better phone integration. In any case, I'd like to postpone it as long as possible. The only issue we had with this car was the inverter failed, and by amazing luck it happened two days before the extended warranty ran out. So, it's been a really good really inexpensive ride all these years.