Precaution(s) on 1st startup after extensive maintenance?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by pingd, Oct 26, 2019.

  1. pingd

    pingd Member

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    Location:
    Twin Cities, MN
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    2013 Prius Two with 153k miles.
    Completed the list of maintenance below.
    Are there any precautions I should take for the 1st startup? (already double-checked connections)
    (ex run the fuel pump for 5-10 secs before starting)

    Also, is it dangerous/foolhardy to drive it without the wiper cowl assembly? (other than the obvious if raining)
    [Basically, don't want to put her all back together until I know she's running well.]
    Should I run a bottle of Chevron Techron Complete Cleaner through now ... or wait a few hundred miles?

    List:
    - oil pressure sender switch
    - valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seals
    - spark plugs
    - complete EGR circuit cleaning with brand spanking new EGR cooler (ebay/$175) and gaskets
    - new PCV valve
    - intake manifold cleaning and new main gasket and inlet gasket
    - ICE coolant drain and refill (still need to burp out the bubbles)
    - cleaned throttle body from a different gen 3 and new gasket (came with the used intake manifold I bought from ebay/$120)
    - 12v battery maintainer (was out for 3 weeks waiting for various parts and time to work on it)
    - cleaned MAF and MAP
     
    #1 pingd, Oct 26, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2019
  2. mikey_t

    mikey_t Active Member

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    Rather than drive it around, though I think it would be fine, you could put the car in maintenance mode and run the engine while it sits in your driveway. I think it'd be fine to run Techron through now as well, I don't think it'd harm anything.
     
    #2 mikey_t, Oct 26, 2019
    pingd likes this.
  3. anonymous

    anonymous Member

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    I don't think so, I've done it before; you'd want to clamp the wiper motor cable somewhere safe. Also when driving like that make sure to remember not to use the windshield sprayer. I once forgot about it and used the sprayer; that was funny.

    Also I don't think rain would harm anything. I've rinsed the engine bay with water before and never had any issue.
     
    #3 anonymous, Oct 26, 2019
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  4. pingd

    pingd Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
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    Two
    Thank you anonymous and mikey ... clamped the wiper cable down and drove her about 30 miles without the cowl.

    Started up as normal ... just a little white smoke at first.
    Warmed her up for 20 mins in maintenance mode then started out easy on city streets ... kept topping off coolant (maybe 12 oz total after initial Full Line).
    Also initially, threw a P0303 and P0441 but I cleared them and they did not return and I don't see them as pending.

    She seemed a tad noisier ... but in thinking about it ... I bet it is because the cowl and underbody shield are still both off.

    Time to finish up: inverter coolant, wiper cowl, ATF, and that damn underbody shield (got to drill out 2 screw fasteners).
     
    #4 pingd, Oct 26, 2019
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  5. mikey_t

    mikey_t Active Member

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    Does yours burn oil at all? Just curious. If so, now might be a good time for a piston soak. Or if you're itching to get going again flushing the engine w/ BG EPR and then oil change.
     
    #5 mikey_t, Oct 26, 2019
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