Help me refurb a 2017 Prius V with 150,000 miles

Clean the egr circuit and install an oil catch can.

The battery should be fine with the jokes and frequency you use the Prius.

I had our 2010 make it to 200k miles and those would be the things I'd do to make it there.

 

I agree with the eagle, egr for sure and the oil catch can especially if its burning oil. Does it burn oil? Be sure you have the brake fluid properly flushed using Techstream's flushing procedure. I would not worry about the battery other than possibly checking the battery cooling fan for dirt and clogs.

The battery will probably last because it is only three years old regardless of being used for 150k miles so far. I wonder about the long idling periods based on recent checks on my 2012. I find the engine cools to 150F with long idles and then cycles back to 200F when driven while the idling hv battery hoovers around the low mark. It may be possible to cause preignition especially when the pistons have been carboned up. Combine that with the oil slugging via the pcv into the intake manifold (eg the purpose of the catch can addition) and the lack of proper egr function due to clogging of the egr cooler and you may have a recipe for a blown head gasket and in some cases a bent rod after hydro locking.

So spend the money on the egr ($800 at my dealer) and the oil catch can. Hopefully the 2017 is not burning oil. The likely replacement may be the 2021 Venza hybrid, scheduled this year, with the same mpg in a larger, more powerful wagon.

By the way, taking an old Prius or any high mileage car to a dealer means its going to an auction where they may clear $500 while a used car dealer cleans it up and sells it for $4k-$6k. So next time you have one that is refurbed as your 2013, sell it yourself.

 

I doubt your employer will go for the installation of an oil catch can since it's illegal. Altering the emmisions system (even in a positive way) will result in the vehicle failing emissions inspection -- and you're in California, so that's required. Even if your employer would go for it, your dealer won't install it.

You've found a dealer that acknowledges the EGR system clogging is an issue, and will completely clean it?

 

What a world, when professional, by-the-book and legal maintenance is pretty much a death-sentence for an engine.

 

In Texas a consumer is unlikely to prevail on any legal issue against a corporation. As a result, the dealers are not all that worried about telling you the truth especially when you come in knowing as much or more than the service advisor. In my case the $800 quote included a new stainless egr cooler and the rest cleaned. One thing to remember is that independent shops will often not realize what the scope of the problem is until they tear it down and your engine is in a hundred pieces. Then its egr cooler replacement because they can't clear the thing.

 

Best to show up with at least your own (clean) cooler. Savvy independents doing this often would likely keep an extra pre-cleaned cooler on hand, a la @Raytheeagle.

 

I am quite sure the catch can does not technically cause more pollution but can be a problem when someone does not routinely empty the catch can. Given most people can't be bothered to check the oil at fillups (when is the last time you saw anyone doing it at a gas station) then the catch can will fill and clog up the pcv system.

The battery will "seem" to operate normally until it fails. But in reality it will charge/discharge very fast, sometimes within a few minutes, it may discharge (by gauge) at a stop light, it may cause lugging and pre-ignition on acceleration with no battery power added whatsoever. Again, most people don't notice these things until the triangle of death appears. As stated, I am convinced long idle periods with the ac running in hot climates just accelerates the problem.

The engine failure was probably exactly that except on a normal car it would have been called a blown head gasket. On a gen3 Prius that rattling sound is likely to be water and or oil in the cylinder but its burned off when the engine keeps running and you are seemingly good. A cleaned egr cooler and a new head gasket at first recognition might do it except the oil burning would remain. So dealers and some independents don't recommend a head gasket / egr job because a) it could happen again within 50k because of the underlying oil consumption and b) their book says a head gasket job is engine out because of poor access to the timing chain which must be removed. So they would rather put in a "new" engine (99% it was a low mile used engine) to "fix" the oil burning as well.

The better solution is to trade it (by private sale if the old one still runs) for a 2016 or 2017. Or wait a few months and buy the new hybrid Venza which is larger and gets the same mpg as the v. With much improved hybrid technology.

 

Remember the smog stations vary.

I had mine installed the last time it went through and the shop didn't check.

But he is also a member here and has a catch can installed on his ride.

Just an example from the great state of California.

 

I used to have a clean one at the ready, but with a pressure washer, it's not required.

We cleaned three of them at one meetup in 20 minutes once.

But having one on hand isn't a bad idea.