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Cracked Engine Gasket

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by IEPrius2023, Dec 10, 2023.

  1. IEPrius2023

    IEPrius2023 New Member

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    Newbie here, but have frequently visited this site. Seeking some information from fellow Prius owners.

    Briefly, I have a 2011 Prius, with 177,000 miles. I live in the Inland Empire in Southern California. I purchased the vehicle new in 2011. Routine maintenance, always at nearby dealer over the past 12 years. No major issues, and had hybrid battery replaced within warranty at dealer back in 2018. Recently, while driving on the freeway, the check engine and temperature lights came on. I pulled over and noticed the coolant reservoir was completely empty, and it looked like the coolant leaked all over the reservoir.

    I put some water in the reservoir, exited the freeway and drove the vehicle home on surface streets. I know, this was a bad idea....

    I had the vehicle towed to dealer few days later. Dealer advised I have a blown gasket, and quoted me $5,400 to repair, which does not include incidentals, such as oil and coolant exchange. I asked for price to put in rebuilt engine and was told two prices - $7,000 to find and put in engine they pull from a junkyard, or $8,000 to install new header and rebuild top half. I obviously declined all options and had vehicle towed back home.

    Is the going rate for a blown gasket? I expected it to be expensive, but not over $5k.

    Also, can anyone recommend a reputable independent shop in the Ontario, Diamond Bar, Pomona, or Chino area? Thanks.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You are in Toyota country where you are basically there are lots of places out there that should be able to hook you up but in today's market everything is 10 times what it was when I was in my forties so those are rates today You want to just change that whole engine out Don't rebuild squat by a JDM replacement engine from the Japan domestic market they're a suppliers in your area no problem that engine should cost you about $1,400 It should cost you about $800 to have it installed in your vehicle maybe five if you have oil coolant transmission fluid everything ready to go I think it would have been five just to replace my engine I did the transmission at the same time so they charged me like 250 more dollars which was reasonable to me so had I just had him change the engine only It would have been about 450 You should be able to do the same in places like Chino California You may have to meet some of the right people to get it done but that should be able to happen.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    gasket masters >/

    hybrid pit >/
     
    #3 bisco, Dec 10, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2023
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  4. IEPrius2023

    IEPrius2023 New Member

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    Thanks! I will look into JDM online. Been looking around on Yelp for local shops, but cant really differentiate one from the next.
     
  5. IEPrius2023

    IEPrius2023 New Member

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    Thanks. Is that the name of the shop?
     
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Those two options are in the 5000 range aren't they or they're rebuilding your business with a new center section which is around $1,800 plus labor to put it all in and then install it back to the car would seem to come up right around 5K just seems for a 2011 that's a lot of money for a car that's going to have door panels caving in on the armrest If not already any minute and just generally other things starting to well fall apart I mean I could see putting in $2,600 or just under that with a engine replacement from another market where things are done differently but starting to reuse parts and pieces from my original and all this and that I would have to say no thank you for that 5K I can turn around and go buy a used Yaris and have some money left over or go buy a used generation 2 for well anywhere from 700 to $2,500 here in my area
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    a headgasket is in the low $2,000.'s, but you must be sure the rest of the engine wasn't damaged.
    without diy, it's an expensive proposition
     
  8. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Hybrid Pit for a rebuilt engine running in your car for roughly the dealers head gasket price without extras.

    Dealer maintenance means little especially if you followed the recommended (and too long) 10k mile oil change interval.

    With a rebuilt engine you get revised pistons and rings, a key benefit.



    Rebuilt TOYOTA PRIUS 2010-2015 1.8L HYBRID ENGINE 2ZR-FXE MOTOR
     
    #8 rjparker, Dec 10, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2023
  9. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Some JDM engines have proven to be frauds and were sourced from local junkyards. They will not have updated rings unless they are 2015 or newer but real JDM engines have no vins to track.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Yes, and they have mobile service if they are too far. Manteca and Montclair.
    Gasketmasters.com
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    If you go ahead with repairs, make sure the EGR components and the EGR passages in the intake manifold are cleaned. With your miles they’ll likely be quite clogged. More info in my signature, top two links (on a phone turn it landscape to see signature).
     
  12. IEPrius2023

    IEPrius2023 New Member

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    Thanks, appreciate all of the response and advice.

    Not sure what to do, tbh.

    Seems like unless I diy (which is not me) or i have a trusted mechanic in the family, it's all a crapshoot, to some degree. And with over 177k miles on my Prius, it's just a matter of time before something else breaks or needs replacement tomorrow. Transmisson next?

    Maybe it's time to just move on, instead of sinking $2k - $3k now only to be faced with another major issue 6 months down the road.
     
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  13. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    No, not the transaxle. It is solid as is the body, electronics, suspension, ac, power steering and interior. Oil burning, head gaskets, hybrid batteries and brake boosters are weak and costly.
     
  14. IEPrius2023

    IEPrius2023 New Member

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    Good to know....the transmission was just a "for example". This thread is highlighting my ignorance of the various systems in my Prius, but again, I am not a DIYer. Thanks for your advice.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    has the cat been stolen yet?
     
  16. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Yes get out of the Gen 3 pretty much it all cost at this point or don't put any more money into it costing you more however you look at it it's just not a workable project It's something you'll be throwing money at and not putting very many miles It's just one of those things that didn't work out well that's all No worries generation 3 just doesn't make 4 to 600 K not on the regular or normally or whatever you want to look at it like the generation 2 or a Corolla will same engine so I tip my hat and I let my two go because there's just no return of any sort on these at all.
     
  17. IEPrius2023

    IEPrius2023 New Member

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    not yet…
     
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  18. IEPrius2023

    IEPrius2023 New Member

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    yeah, leaning in that direction…work remote so really don’t need a commuter car.
     
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  19. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Yeah once you get your real needs wants and desires calculated then you can pretty much get on with it Prius is a cool car all of that stuff the generation 3 unfortunately is not cool enough and people still buy it good on them I mean that's all I can do I got to test the waters with two of them and it's just not very consistent setup and we are used to Toyota consistency and I've had our cars almost every one of them for nearly 20 years I'm almost 70 I've had like four cars maybe five in my whole life where most people I know have had I don't even know 10 17 who knows a bunch but then again that's a lot of wants in there that's not really needs I have other vehicles that I drive for fun motorbikes powersports equipment that sort of thing so never really was a car bro like that.
     
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