How to prevent the 3rd Gen Prius Headgaskets failure!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Kaptainkid1, May 14, 2022.

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  1. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    It's seems every 4th story on the thread page for 3rd Gen Prius is a blown headgasket problem.
    Has anyone here got to 200k without any problems with the 3rd Gen Prius?
    What preventative maintenance did you do?

    I read to avoid blowing headgasket in the 3rd Gen Prius. Owners need to do the following maintenance regularly:
    1. Clean the EGR valve and EGR cooler every 60-80k.
    2. Change radiator fluid according to toyota maintenance schedule. Every 30k or 3 years.
    3. Keep up with oil changes every 7k or less.
    4. Never let your Prius run low on oil. Check every 1000 miles after 50-100k. I've read Prius start oil consumption after 100k-150k and heard it can happen sooner depending on good maintenance to very bad maintenance obviously! Top off engine oil to top dimple. Never let oil drop below the bottom dimple.
    5. Add a regular engine oil cleaning treatment to your schedule. Every 30k run an oil additives to flush engine block of tarnish and sludge build up.

    Can anyone add to this list?
    Can anyone confirm or deny these tips for preventing the curse 3rd Gen Headgasket problem?

    Let's help a fellow 3rd Gen owner keep his or her baby on the road for very long time.

    20220514_141432.jpg 20220514_141411.jpg 20220514_141336.jpg 20220514_141319.jpg Screenshot_20220514-140752_Dolphin.jpg Screenshot_20220514-140859_Dolphin.jpg Screenshot_20220514-141132_Dolphin.jpg

    SM-A526U ?
     
    #1 Kaptainkid1, May 14, 2022
    Last edited: May 14, 2022
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Typo??
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, May 14, 2022
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  3. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    #3 Kaptainkid1, May 14, 2022
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I didn't know there was and egr filter. Where is it?

    [QUOTE="Kaptainkid1, post: 3251430, member: 173101"1. Clean the EGR valve and EGR filter every 60-80k.[/QUOTE]
     
    #4 ASRDogman, May 14, 2022
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    #5 Grit, May 14, 2022
  6. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    Please add or correct any information you find misinformed but pointing out inconsistencies and replying with no solutions is pointless and unproductive. Be kind and respectful is my motto.

    SM-A526U ?
     
    #6 Kaptainkid1, May 14, 2022
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Change your piston and rings unless you are a higher vin than the 2014 production change. Reduce thermal cycling. Don't allow the vehicle to sit in Ready without driving for extended periods as a method to reduce thermal cycling. Do not drive for another mile if the temperature warning comes on. Do not drive if the car pings under low battery conditions. Consider a quality oil catch can with a sintered bronze filter if you will not forget to empty it. Fix oil leaks, typical around the timing chain cover.

    Rebuild engine rather than just change a head gasket to get another 150,000 miles. Know what you are doing if you diy to avoid repeating three times.
     
    #7 rjparker, May 14, 2022
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would remove the coolant recommendation. i don't think there is any relationship between coolant and the head gasket.
    and the maintenance manual does not recommend changing the cooland every 30,000 miles or 3 years.
     
    #8 bisco, May 14, 2022
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #9 bisco, May 14, 2022
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i can't think of anything to add to the list, but i've always wondered if driving style is part of the causation.
     
    #10 bisco, May 14, 2022
  11. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    they could have just written Lorem ipsum.... ;)
     
    #11 StarCaller, May 14, 2022
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  12. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    Here is another major reason why 3rd Gen Prius headgasket fails outside of poor maintenance issues.
    Basically it's a design flaw of the 1.8L and the engine stress experiences of a typical hybrid engine cycle of a stop and go daily commute. Apparently thermal expansion of aluminum blocks and increased intervals of on and off cycling stresses headgasket more in Prius than a typical same year Corolla application with the same engine design 2ZRFXE.
    So in summary because the same engine in 2011 Corolla drive 10 miles starts up once and stays on the whole cycles the block only heats up once opposed to a Prius driving the same commute would cycles many more times which heats and contracts the headgasket in the engine block.

    I guess it's better to drive the 3rd Gen Prius on long drives with less stops then a typical city stop and go traffic commute.




    SM-A526U ?
     
    #12 Kaptainkid1, May 14, 2022
  13. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    When you set rules on commenting you have to follow them...
     
    #13 rjparker, May 14, 2022
  14. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Pointless and unproductive also!!!
     
    #14 Grit, May 14, 2022
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    has anyone mentioned the oil catch can?
     
    #15 bisco, May 14, 2022
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That’s gasket masters opinion; doesn’t make it gold.

    read the comments below the video?
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, May 14, 2022
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  17. Kaptainkid1

    Kaptainkid1 Active Member

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    I'm trying to establish factors and not 1 cause for every problem for a blown headgasket.

    SM-A526U ?



     
    #17 Kaptainkid1, May 14, 2022
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  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Not yet, it’s not on the 2007 Prius page so it would pointless and unproductive if I post occ.
     
    #18 Grit, May 14, 2022
  19. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Sounds like the government.
     
    #19 Grit, May 14, 2022
  20. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Actually thermal cycling is a solid factor in a multifaceted problem led by the piston rings and high amounts of blowby. The fact the Corolla does not have excessive hg issues is better evidence than I have seen on the egr. The egr hypothesis does not exist outside of Priuschat. Not saying the egr design is not flawed but most experts, including Toyota, do not see it as the root cause.

    Root cause:
    the fundamental reason for the occurrence of a problem
    and
    treating the symptoms and not the root cause
     
    #20 rjparker, May 14, 2022
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