Gen 2 Blown Head Gasket; Seal it with Blue Devil?

Interesting thought, Skibob. In my case, two mechanics - one master mechanic and one Prius-certified master mechanic - found water in Cylinder #1 & #2. So, it's definitely a head gasket. However, the Prius specialist didn't see water in the cylinders until AFTER doing a compression test.

The above being said, I agree that it would be a good idea to replace the EGR anyway just to be safe.

How much should the EGR cost to replace?

 

You can clean what you have, pretty much for free. Done much earlier, it might prevent a blown gasket, now's kinda closing the barn door after the horses have bolted, but doesn't hurt.

DIY is the way to go; I don't think anyone here has had a dealership (succesfully) clean the full EGR circuit, including the intake manifold. Toyota has pretty much completely got their head in the sand on this. If you really insist, they will do a lackluster, VERY expensive job. You don't want to go there.

The connection between clogged EGR and head gasket failure is a little nebulous still, but there's an argument to be made that properly flowing EGR helps the engine to run cooler, and when EGR clogs and the engine runs hotter, the head gasket is more prone to failure.

The simplest way to see where you're at, is to check the degree of carbon build up in the EGR pipe, a stainless steel connecting pipe between the EGR valve and intake manifold. Watch @NutzAboutBolts video #16 here:

Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

Two or three other videos linked there too, for the full cleaning of the intake manifold, full EGR clean, and Oil Catch Can install.

Good thread:

EGR & Intake Manifold Clean Results | PriusChat

Another:

Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | PriusChat

Some tools worth having:

E8 Torx socket (mandatory)
E6 Torx socket (optional, but good to have, to remove the throttle body studs from intake manifold)
3/8" ratchet wrench, regular and long handle, flex head, you can never have enough
1/4" ratchet wrench, or 3/8" to 1/4" reducer
Ratchet extensions: you can never have enough
Long needle nose piers, straight and bent tip
Ratcheting 12mm box wrench (optional, but makes disconnection of the EGR cooler from exhaust easier)
Torque wrench (3/8" and 1/4" both good to have)
Floor jack and safety stands (or ramps): basically some method to raise front, if you need to take underpanel off, which you may need to, both for access and to recover dropped items.

For further assessment of the head gasket condition, consider getting a lead-down test done. They bring one piston at a time to Top Dead Center on the compression stroke, then pressurize that cylinder through the spark plug. There's a special gauge set used, and this in conjunction with just listening/looking, will help the diagnose how/where the head gasket is leaking. This is something the dealership or third party mechanics can readily do.

 

@Joele3 used a similar product to Blue Devil and is just getting his situation sorted.

Not sure he’d do that again, but he’ll be along to share his thoughts as I believe he had to replace the engine, radiator and other components .

Something to consider for your decision .

 

As I have never owned a gen 3 I would have to say it’s above my pay grade to give you an educated answer. I have heard of this problem here on priuschat and have no reason to dispute it. If you search the Gen 3 forums an EGR blockage seems to be number one reason for head gasket failure and I have no reason to dispute it. As far as repair advice goes this is one of the best sites I have ever seen. If you spend some time here you will figure out who is worthy of listening to, and who is not.

 

This is good advice

 

I got these pamphlets with pump I purchased from Carquest.

 

My 2012 Prius V needs the head gasket replaced or a new engine. I figure I might as well give blue devil a try but I'm not mechanically inclined. Is this something I should ask my mechanic to do or do you think I can figure it out myself?

I searched for tutorials on this specific to a Prius but could not find one.

Thanks in advance!

 

I used Blue Devil in my 2011 Prius. It worked for a while. Then the same problem came back. Used it at 203k miles. That was in March. Since then it was at a Toyota dealer several times. Nothing seemed to fix the rattle noise. I bought a used engine with 37k miles on it. My Prius is now getting the new engine installed as we speak. I finally said enough is enough. I got 221k miles out of the old engine. (It has 18,500 when I bought it in 2015). So, it’s paid for itself as I’m a courier. Can’t wait to get it back..as I’m driving my new 2019 Honda Insight hybrid that I bought new in April and it just turned 33k miles. I just prefer my Prius..and winter is on us and it handles GREAT in snow.

 

You will delay total engine failure, play russian roullette with hydrolock, for maybe for a few more months. And as added benefit, the "blue devil" will gunk up everything else the engine coolant flows through, a few I can think of: radiator, water pump, cabin heater core, exhaust heat recovery.

 

I would think the main reason for using a product like this is nefarious: pour it in, and sell the car. I really think they should be banned.

 

Can only assume that no news is "bad news", as it would be great to have an update on your chosen remedy

 

See I've always rooted for a more innocent version:

Pour it in, escape certain death in remote desert, throw car away.

Sadly I can't say that your version isn't popular.

 

Update: so I spoke with another mechanic who is a friend of a friend and he actually had some experience with similar products and said that he has seen these products work with good success before. He recommended I use a different product (Bars Stop Leak) and also gave me an alternative method to apply that was slightly different than what the product packaging recommended.

Long story short it's only been a couple of days but nearly all of the previous problems have gone away. No more white smoke coming from the tail pipe and my car only occasionally shakes lightly when going up hill from a complete stop. Previously it would shake violently every time the car started moving until it got up to 25 mph or so.

 

Looking at assortment of videos on youtube of the engine teardowns after blue devil and other sealant has been used, it's obvious it not only stops head gasket leak, but also blocks many other passages in the engine, heater core, radiator etc. It might be a short term solution, but long term it will only increase like hood of even more engine damage and cost of repair. In addition, using a sealant might mask some serous problem which need to be fixed immedietly - such as bent piston rod. When the engine blows up it will be too late.

 

Hi Charles how many ounces of blue devil did you put on the Prius ? And also how long due I have to I keep the car running, so the blue devil circulates ? Also, do I have to remove the thermostat in order to do this, so we can work ?

 

Charles Yoon also, can you provide any other pointers or tips or instructions on how you did it

 

Jean Faudree can you provide the steps on how to use blue devil on a Prius ? How many ounces of Blue Devil gasket sealer do I pour on the Prius ? Also where did you pour your bottle into was it the coolant reservoir ? Or the radiator cap ? Also, how long did you let the car run after pouring the bottle ? Also, is it true you have to take remove the thermostat before doing this ?