Update on Head gasket repair

I posted on another thread about my HG repair among other repairs and I said I would post an update.

I completed the job using the fel-pro head gasket including lapping the valves, cleaning egr valve, cooler and pipes, installed new spark plugs and coil packs and also installed an oil catch can on the PCV valve side (I'm thinking of installing a catch can on the valve cover side also but I'm not sure if it is needed). I also did a piston soak as the engine had started to consume oil at a rate of 1 qt. per 1k miles. It was evident that oil was being consumed on the #1 piston as that spark plug was oil fouled(that is also where the HG had failed)

The engine started right up with no codes and runs smoother and stronger than before. Ive put over 1k miles on it and it has not consumed any oil.

I noticed that the car was running longer on the ICE than on battery and was getting lower MPG's. A battery life expectancy test determined it's at 59.39% with a #7 weak block.

Next project is to replace failing battery pack modules to lengthen life as much as I can.

It's just one repair after another with this car and I regret having purchased it and should have stuck with Honda civics as my work commute cars. I feel taken by jumping on the hybrid, gas saving bandwagon. Any fuel savings have been negated even though I have done all the repairs myself. If I would have had toyota complete this repair including the failed ABS/Booster module, I would have spent about 10k by now not including the failing battery. I have no choice at this point to continue repairing it as I have too much invested into it and refuse taking even more of a loss.

I also have a 2012 Prius plug-in that will benefit me all I have learned when I have to start repairing that one. Which has already had a HG replacement by the previous owner BTW. Lets just hope the work was done properly. It has similar miles on it.

I just want to thank you all for your continued contribution to this forum by sharing all your knowledge and experiences. I would not have taken on such huge repairs without all that help.

Sorry for not taking better pictures. I was overwhelmed at the time and I did not think about it.

 

I forgot to mention that I also cleaned the throttle body, intake manifold and MAF sensor

 

Here she is all put back together with the oil catch can installed.

 

I've had 2 8th gen civics. My first had 220k miles when I sold it. Got it with 80k. I only replaced the starter when I got rid of it. The second had 26k mi when I bought it. Only replaced the fuel pump for less than $50 and wrecked it at 345k mi. Now my daughter has one and I do the maintenance on it. All she does is gas it. No problems for 2 yrs.

 

I used Berrymans B-12 and soaked it 5 times until all solvent had either drained down or evaporated during the course of about a week and a half that it was down for repairs. I also used about half a bottle of seafoam I had left over. Turned the crank by hand several times in between soaks. The last 2 soaks were done while the head was removed. Just leveled pistons and filled the cylinders. I noticed a shiny spot in cylinder #1 and sanded as lightly and evenly as I could with 600 grit sandpaper until shiny spot was gone to replicate a honing. I can't be any happier with the results.

 

This is my first time disassembling a car engine like this. After watching many videos and being able to get my hands on the shop manual online, it gave me the confidence to tackle this job. I work with my hands and have been repairing many things including vehicles all my life. It also helped that I took 2 weeks vacation from work so I could take my time with the repair. It was a not a walk in the park though.

 

I did not have any issues starting the car. It stumbled a bit and was a little noisy for like a second before it built oil pressure and smoothed out. It also smoked like crazy for about 5 minutes haha. I was a little hesitant starting it dry but I decided to in the end and didn't seem to affect anything.

 

Even Toyota realized that sending all those crankcase fumes directly in through the fresh air side of the engine isn't the best design. Glad to see it.

 

Yeah that is way too early of a time frame. It was just a way of them showing "good will" when they knew the issue would pop up further down the road.

 

Wow that is way to early to be going in for a job like that. What were the qualifying factors for Toyota to approve a repair like this?

 

Yeah that is a laughable attempt at taking responsibility for a factory defect as most complaints online that I've read and watched videos about oil consumption are it happening around the 150k mile mark. That seems to also be the mile count were most HG failures seem to hover around.