Looking at a high mileage used 2017 - Things to watch out for?

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by beef jiggles, Jul 20, 2022.

  1. beef jiggles

    beef jiggles Member

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    $18k
    143k miles
    Allegedly one owner and never wrecked
    Was obviously an Uber car and they are not hiding it

    Tires, suspension, filters and fluids is obvious, I am a car guy...

    What I am not... is a Prius guy.... So what should I look for that is specific to this generation Prius?

    Thanks in advance....
     
    #1 beef jiggles, Jul 20, 2022
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2022
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the onlymajor issue i recall is the leaky exhaust coolant loop. and idkwhat percent of gen 4 have it
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 20, 2022
  3. PianoBench

    PianoBench Member

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    Look out for the headgasket. I think just replace it. And clean out the EGR. These are maintenence items.

    Here is more information. These guys just do headgasket replacements and or full engine swaps due to headgasket leaks causing a blown engine.


    I believe gen 3 and gen 4 prius have very similar engines. But Toyota may have improved the engines on gen 4.

    Edit: I saw your post in the plug in forum. And I own a plug in now. (Prior gen 4 totalled).

    I was just casually browsing the gen 4 prius forums below and have not seen many headgasket posts on gen 4. But in the gen 3 forums a recent topic has been posted by an Uber driver about the headgasket for his gen 3. Here is the thread. Considering Head gasket replacement - 2011 Prius - 215k miles - P0303 misfire | PriusChat

    Again maybe gen 4 has solved these issues. Not sure yet.
     
    #3 PianoBench, Jul 21, 2022
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2022
  4. PianoBench

    PianoBench Member

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    #4 PianoBench, Jul 21, 2022
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't think the egr or head gasket is a concern yet
     
    #5 bisco, Jul 21, 2022
  6. beef jiggles

    beef jiggles Member

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    I also don’t think either of those is a ‘maintenance’ item. HG and EGR should not fail for a long long time on a Toyota.
     
    #6 beef jiggles, Jul 21, 2022
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    unfortunately, they fail all too often on gen 3. fingers crossed for gen 4, so far, so good
     
    #7 bisco, Jul 21, 2022
  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    On Gen 3, the head gasket is a concern. Gen 4 improved the EGR system and I have yet to hear of a HG failure on a Gen 4, But there are increasing reports of the newly relocated Gen 4 heat exchanger leaking coolant into the exhaust making it appear like a blown HG. But even those are still pretty rare.

    Gen 4's are probably some of the most dependable cars on the road. The vast majority of complaints are things like peeling steering wheels and trim pieces.
     
    #8 jerrymildred, Aug 6, 2022
  9. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    How long?
    I'm getting back into a '10 Gen3 Level 5 w/ATP (again!) with 122k miles.
    I know the theory is to change the engine coolant and clean everything related to the EGR cooler and intake track.
    (but it's just theory, right?)
    How long does the head gasket last if you do coddle a Gen3 with all of this extra 'Helper' maintenance,
    which Toyota doesn't spec?

    Is anyone claiming to get over 200k miles on the original head gasket?
     
    #9 Bill Norton, Aug 7, 2022
  10. beef jiggles

    beef jiggles Member

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    Likes most things, there is no "X Y or Z" mileage at which something breaks. All depends who owned it, how they drove it, and how they took care of it. I have heard of cab drivers getting 600k on 3rd gen Prii.

    Generally speaking though, a Toyota should last 300, 400, 500k with no major issues. The v8s are known to last 1,000,000 miles. If there are that many Priuses having head gasket issues (doesn't seem that common, plenty on the road) then I would simply not buy one if it is a concern.

    I ended up with a 2017 model and the nicer features and driving feel alone are enough for me to never consider a 3rd gen again unless it's a good price to flip.
     
    #10 beef jiggles, Aug 7, 2022
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    lots of people go over 200k without an issue, but 120k is a critical point, and you may even be too late.
    you should take this to a gen 3 forum though. not a problem in gen 4 so far.
     
    #11 bisco, Aug 7, 2022
    Bill Norton likes this.
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