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2011 driven to no coolant - blown head gasket?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Thomas1632, May 24, 2021.

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  1. Thomas1632

    Thomas1632 New Member

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    Hello,

    I have my 2011 Prius that a friend drove with the check engine light and temperature warning light on until it stopped. Turns out the hose to the overflow/ reservoir tank had been disconnected and the system blew all the coolant out.
    They put right at 2 gallons of coolant back into it (7.6 or 6.9 qt capacity! and the overflow tank is still low)
    The car gives a "check hybrid system" on the display and will not start.
    A code reader gives a P3191 code.
    Erasing the code allows the system to reset and the engine will start, but it only runs for 15 seconds then shuts down and throws the P3191 code again.
    I also have pink coolant that drips from the tail pipe....like a fairly significant quantity by now.
    Is this a likely blown head gasket? Any suggestions on how to start diagnostics for this or other things to check first?

    Thank you,
    Thomas
     
    #1 Thomas1632, May 24, 2021
  2. GustoGuy

    GustoGuy Member

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    I would get a low mileage JDM engine. My engine hydro-locked last fall on my 2010 Prius and I bought a JDM engine off of Ebay. Check with a garage for a quote on how much it will cost to replace the engine and if you can bring your own engine in.
     
    #2 GustoGuy, Jun 21, 2021
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Unfortunately nobody (until just now) noticed OP's question, and he only posted the once, likely gone. But just in case:

    Leak-down test is best for head gasket diagnosis.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Jun 21, 2021
  4. Samuel Williams Jr

    Samuel Williams Jr Member

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    Most likely the engine is toast? If it overheated enough to stop? Then it could having bearing and or cylinder wall damage? Not to mention a cracked block or a warped head? It's a very expense gamble if you plan on paying someone to do the job? Likely it would not be much more for a used motor to replace this one?

    But if you can do the HG, job yourself? WTH, give it shot. But paying labor rates to have a shop do the job with this motor is a very high risk gamble.
     
    #4 Samuel Williams Jr, Jun 21, 2021
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Leak-down test is probably superfluous if you have visibly pink coolant dripping in "fairly significant quantity" from the tailpipe.

    The test can be more useful if applied somewhere before the sweet-white-clouds-from-tailpipe stage.
     
    #5 ChapmanF, Jun 21, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2021
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  6. GustoGuy

    GustoGuy Member

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    I agree. Like Dr Mccoy on Star Trek would say "She's dead Jim" The engine was ran without coolant there will be major damage. I would look for a reasonably price low mileage engine to replace the damaged engine.
     
    #6 GustoGuy, Jun 21, 2021
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