How is the 2010 Prius?

Do you do your own (DIY) car maintenance?
You have wrench experience?

That answer will lead the replies in the correct path

 

biggest issue is clogged egr circuit/oil burning/blown head gasket. at 120k, it may be fine, or it may already be too late

but not all of them. and of course, you're closing in on a battery

 

there's no way to know. we only see the problems here, but we do have some members without problems.

search the blown head gasket, egr ,oil catch can threads.

the egr is very likely to be clogged, unless someone cleaned it

 

At 120k miles....the car is ready for all the preventative/cleaning works.

Just have to hope that they can all be remedied before major stuff that may happen.
And also HV battery is no longer warrantied, so replacement in the future should be
worked into your thought process and purchase price.

 

EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) clogging is pretty much a 3rd gen inevitability. As long as you get on it, 120K would be a good time, hopefully not too far gone. Proper EGR flow seems to be important to keep combustion chamber temperatures lower. EGR clogs, temps climb, head gasket fails, coolant gets into cylinders, pistons break, and so on.

Watch @NutzAboutBolts videos on intake manifold (part of the EGR) and EGR cleaning. You can find links here:

Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

It's a bit of a sand pounder, that this is is the pat response when someone poses a question like yours. But yeah, it's the Achilles Heel of 3rd gen Prius, and Toyota doesn't want to know about it.

I'd second the hybrid battery concerns, they don't last forever.

Another possible biggie, the brake booster has been problematic. There's a Warranty Enhancement Program on that; I would check the dealership for your car what it's status is. In Canada it's basically 10 years from when it rolled off the lot brand-new, or 240K kms, whichever comes first. If you did have to pay for replacement of that item out-of-pocket, it's another multiple $1000's bill.

 

Some of us are trying to gather data on a simple test using Techstream that may offer a clue how clogged the EGR system is. At the moment, we don't really have enough data to say much confidently. Less confidently, the EGR in my 2010 does not seem to be acting very clogged, at around 150k.

 

Also at 120K miles, the plugs will need changing, the coolant fluids for both the engine and inverter need to be changed. If the transmission fluid has not been changed, consider doing so. Definitely deal with the EGR System as others have said.

Some of the 2010s do burn oil. Check for the signs. Eg black exhaust tip. Oil dip stick. Ask the current owner. Check maintenance records.

Good luck.

 

In the US schedule engine coolant is 10 years or 100K miles (whichever comes first), and the inverter coolant is 15 years or 150K miles. The distinction is in the fine-print, footnote #3 IIRC, and poorly worded:

In the main instruction it says unequivocally to change both at 100K, but then attaches footnote 3. Go see that, and it contradicts the first statement, and governs I guess.

FWIW, Toyota Canada doesn't make a distinction, says to replace both, same interval as US engine coolant (except in kms). And then of course, there's a bloody sticker on my inverter coolant reservoir, saying not to touch it till 150K miles.

I emailed them, and the response was to ignore the sticker, follow the (Canadian) schedule.

 

135k on mine. Indestructible.

 

I test drove a 2010 Level 5 last week, prior to buying my 2015 Level 4.

The 2010 had 90,000 miles on it, seemed louder, and the ride was harsher. It was rolling on Pirelli tires. The car had the radar cruise, and LKA, which was cool, but I did not like how harsh and loud it was. Maybe it was just that model? Idk. I've owned 3 Pri, and I walked away from it.

The 2015 I ended up buying wasn't much more money, is certified pre-owned by the dealer, only has 15,000 miles and is definitely quieter and smoother. If your budget permits, I would try to find newer. You may be surprised with the gas prices, and the state of the used hybrid/EV market because of such, that you may be able to find a newer Pri for not much more.

 

@PriusGuy32

wowzers! 15k miles
half as much as mine. darn thats low @3k/year

 

It definitely caught my attention!

Turns out, the previous owners name was "Beverly". I'm betting Priuses to donuts, she was over 70, rarely drove the car, and panicked every spring (which, according to the service history is when she brought it in every year for an oil change and tire rotation), because she gathered 2-3,000 miles on the trip odometer. The last service entry was in October for a "customer concern" - turns out the 12v battery died - big surprise - so the dealer replaced it, and she traded it in. Her loss!

Anyways, I digress. Not threadjacking, but just highlighting the OP that there are actually some really good deals out there on Pri, you just have to dig and wait a little.

 

Come look at the gas prices here in California and Prius, the 5 seconds rule need to not apply.

 

We be getting hit hard with high gas prices. Still haven't been given a valid reason for $1.50 per gallon price hike.

 

Californians voted, as a majority, to continue the former governor's decision to enact the gas tax increase to bring in 54 billion dollars to fix roads in the big cities first and then left over pennies goes to patch the small city potholes. The bill will continue to increase the gas tax hike for the next couple of years, Californians had the chance to vote no to end the bill but turned down the opportunity at the polls. On a side note, I see the former governor on a monthly basis. I'm a government employee so I won't discuss my opinion of him on the internet.

 

Thank you! I now get the reason. And, this cements even more my desire to stay with fuel efficient cars from now on.

 

From others are saying...or vote in the other political party and not worry about fuel efficient cars.