New Owner of 2010 Prius IV

None of those items you mentioned are absolutely urgent to do. I would drive the car with regular oil changes for 10k, miles, see if the car burns much oil (it probably does burn oil and you want to monitor how much it burns every 1000 miles). Make sure the car doesn't have any expensive surprises before you spend money on general maintenance.

The EGR circuit cleaning is probably a priority cleaning item. But I would suggest you drive it at least 3k miles before you do anything at all. My experience is that these cars are so nice, owners usually only get rid of them when there is a major problem that they know about.

 

You should be able to get a snake camera to check the EGR, I wish I had done that before removing it to clean it. It didn't need it, looked nothing like some of the pictures on here. I still wonder if gas choice is why these get clogged, I only ever buy Tier 1 gas.

Get the Dr Prius app and run the battery test, see what kinda life you have left in it. Beyond that I wouldn't do any of the above. Put a bottle of fuel system cleaner in the next tank and save $159.

 

Are you able to DIY some stuff, say an oil change?

The spark plug replacement is a "little" overpriced. They are pricey plugs though, see a set cost me $66 CDN, in 2022. Through dealership. It's maybe an hour labour, due to the difficultly getting to them: the wipers and underlying metal cowl both need to come off. Spark plug change was due at 120K miles or 12 years, whichever comes first. Unless you're in a CARB State (California and...?), when it's 150K miles or 15 years, whichever comes first.

Transaxle drain-and-fill is very straightforward: 4 quarts Toyota ATF WS fluid is around $50~ USD retail. A fair price these days would be $100~120 USD. Toyota says nothing about, but at least a single drain-and-fill is a good idea.

Your description of coolant change is a little confusing; if it's for both the engine and inverter coolant circuits it a very good price. If just for the engine (more likely) it's ok still. Engine coolant change was due at 100K miles, or 10 years, whichever comes first. Inverter coolant change (in the States) is 150K miles or 15 years, whichever comes first.

Skip the fuel induction service. Toyota says nothing about it; but dealerships like it.

I would do the EGR cleaning ASAP. Optimum is every 50K miles (my opnion only). Your's has been running with carbon clogging for a protracted time, so no matter what you do know, head gasket may be on it's way out. See first two links in my signature (on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures).

I wouldn't bother talking to dealership about this; they'll only replace parts, perfectly functional parts. If you can DIY this it's very inexpesnive, likely onlly could use replacement gaskets on the intake manifold. There are other gaskets, but they're durable metal, lkely fine. If DIY is out of the question, an independent in your area may be able to do it. Going price is around $600~800 USD.

I agree. It's a good car, if you know about and deal with shortcomings. The majority for sale are being ditched due to problems. If the head gasket is failing for example, owners will add a stop-leak product and put it up for sale.

 

I don't think that'd work.

 

That's like holding off on changing the oil, till bearings seize or whatever.

 

This is a rough workflow I put together recently, EGR for everything but the intake manifold cleaning (which is relatively straightforward):

Professional EGR Cleaning Resources | Page 9 | PriusChat

 

Do you have the service record? Ask the previous owner if he did any of the item.
Spark plugs, yes, you can do it yourself.
There is no flush for the transmission or coolant.
They are a drain and fill. You can also do these.
Unless you are NOT mechanically inclined.
Don't waste your time or money on the fuel cleaning.

Go get a quart size of marvel mystery oil and pour it in the fuel tank then put fill the tank
with fuel.

YES, Clean the egr system. The cooler and intake manifold are the most important parts.
99% of the dealers and independent shop won't clean the parts. Only replace them.
It is not cost effective for them, or you.

Sooner or later the head gasket will fail. Changing the oil every 5000 miles will help.
Cleaning the egr system will help. Changing the coolant is also important. It's due, and then
every 50,000 miles.

 

You change the oil and filter BEFORE they fail, not after.... Do NOT wait unti a "light" or code pops up.
It will cost you more to repair. And you should run fast away from carspec. They do not know
anything about the 3rd generation Prius.

Cleaning the egr pipe is a waste of time. It likely never clogged up. The cooler has small passages
and that is what gets clogged.

 

Coolant drain and fill. Yes and do it again in 50k miles.

Oil change. Do it now and again in 5k miles.

Spark plugs should be changed by now but you could wait until 150k miles.

Fuel system clean - waste of money.

Finally you have discovered dealers and Toyota Master Mechanics think $1000 for them to “clean” the egr system in a waste of money with no codes. I agree. IF you are willing to tear it down and clean intake and egr cooler over a period of days, go for it.

Its smarter to find out if your engine is burning oil because many do and find out if your engine already has a blown head gasket because many have blown and a can of sealer usually hides it for 2-3 months.

If it’s burning oil the egr system will be clogged. Clean or replace it. If you do this, then get the revised egr valve kit and updated ecm software. The intake has been revised as well.

If it has a head gasket problem, the egr system and everything else will be removed to fix the hg.

 

Yes I would get the latest 2010 ecm software (calibration id) update which is also called out for the revised egr valve.

The dealer will almost certainly charge a hour's labor.