Loud noise led to Holes in engine block

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Ohsheet, Jan 15, 2025.

  1. Ohsheet

    Ohsheet New Member

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    If anyone has any information on why this may have happened I would really appreciate it big big time..

    So recently I bought this 2013 Toyota Prius hybrid from my nephew who was moving out of state pretty quick with not much time so I got the car dirt cheap..it's in basically new condition except for the fact that his brother didn't know or didn't care about maintaining a vehicles fluids so it had a blown head gasket..so I do the head gasket job took my time about two weeks..so now it's up to par, no check engine lights everything good all fluids topped off, no leaks anywhere what so ever..rolling smooth (feelin like I just rolled off the showroom floor haha) for about I'd say like 3 months..no long trips, no side shows doing donuts or figure 8's or drifting..basically just cruise to the grocery store, Home Depot/auto part store etc..so yesterday my niece asked if we could go do a couple Door Dashes in the Prius, I said sure I'll go for the cruise..we pick up the order and head to the destination, we are on a long FM back road and I realize that it's in "Power mode" so I asked her to turn it back to normal mode..you do that just by pressing the power mode button again..and I don't know if it just happened to be a coincidence or that button had something to do with it but literally right when she pushed the power mode button you hear "BAMPSHHHBOOM KAPOWWWSCRAPESCRAPE!!!" felt like we had ran something over so we pull over I look under the car, Oil everywhereeeeee..and a long trail of it in the road starting where we heard the noise..had her towed home and no she's on a lift..I took a few photos to share with you guys..but anything you guys have would help a bunch any information or just leading me to the right direction on how I should go about fixing this...sighhh..thanks in advance everyone
     

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  2. MAX2

    MAX2 Active Member

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    I'm sorry, but you'll have to replace the engine.
    During its operation, it jammed internally and was damaged, parts pierced the engine housing. Now the engine is only for scrap metal.
     
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  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    For whatever reason, at least one of the pistons seized and threw a rod out of the block.

    When you replaced the head gasket, did you check for warpage or get the head machined?

    Did you use new head bolts, or did you use the old head bolts?

    The head gasket most likely failed again, this time, letting in a lot of engine coolant into one or more of the cylinders and since the liquid coolant is incompressible, blam... something had to give.

    SM-G781V ?
     
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  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    When the head gasket leaks and is left untreated for a while, repeated attempts to start the engine in a hydrolocked condition will slightly bend the connecting rod of the cylinder where the leak is worst.

    Once that rod is bent, it's going to behave badly with regards to the bearing on the bottom end. Once that bearing wears out, it's pretty normal for the rod to break and violently eject part of itself through the crankcase wall.

    Replace engine to continue using car.
     
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  5. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    Do you own a 2013 Prius c OR a 2013 Prius hatchback? Your profile lists a 2014 Prius 4. The reason I am asking is because this thread was created in the Prius c forum, and the engines between the two cars are completely different.
     
    #5 Brian1954, Jan 17, 2025
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2025
  6. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    There are actually two solutions:
    Replace the engine.
    Sell the car as-is, where is.
    I noticed that you did not mention mileage or money -
    If the car has more than 150,000 miles I would lean away from keeping it.
    Otherwise If the rest of the car is in good condition, I'd replace the engine, KNOWING that an eleven-year-old car has already been severely neglected - but knowing ALSO that YOU can replace the engine for less than $1500, if you DIY the repair.
    ....um.....correctly.
    Putting XXXX(XX) miles on the car would allow you to recoup your investments to date in time and money.

    SO.....
    You're mechanically capable of replacing a head gasket (perhaps) but you do not know very much about Priuses.
    Not bashing you - just pointing out the fact that the "PWR" mode does not affect the engine in the way that you might think that it does.
    PRESUMMING that the car is in great shape (except for the power plant) and that you need reliable transportation I would absolutely replace the engine!
    There are NOT very many other 11-year-old cars that I would say this about.
    The Priussy is, probably the one of the more reliable cars that Yota has put on the market.

    Otherwise?
    Without knowing how much money you have to put into this car or what your financial situation is it is VERY hard to say.

    If somebody offered me....say.....a $2000 2013 Priussy that was clean (meaning no smoking, no pets, and presenting as a 20,000 mile car) that just needed a new engine - the result would be about a $3500, 11-year-old car that can get 45-50 mpg.
    I'd be all over that like a bum on a bologna sandwich!!
    HOWEVER (comma!)
    $2000 for SOME Priussys would be throwing good money after bad - especially considering that it is two years out of being covered by a CARB warranty - something that does not play in your case since Texas is (for now) a more or less free soil state.
    If, for example, you're an ex-pat in Austin you may or may not be required to go to a VET.

    The Googles say that the street price for a pre-teen Priussy ranges from $3,500 to $9,000 - probably ranging from a well-used lot lizard with lunar mileage in Mississippi to a garage kept 'time-machine' in some well-heeled, not burned out coastal county.

    GIGO.
    More numbers are needed before an accurate assessment can be made.......
     
    #6 ETC(SS), Jan 17, 2025
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2025
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would guess the power button was a coincidence, but you never know...
     
  8. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    You are not the first to blow a hole in a gen3 block and will not be the last.

    It had a slightly bent rod from the hg fail and the height of the piston was not checked properly when it was apart. The piston and rod should have been changed then or the engine should have been replaced. It progressed to a broken rod and blew a hole in the block. Only one repair; a replacement engine.

    Shudder video
    “Hey Walt… they want to wait and see if it gets worse…”

     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What was the miles?
     
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  10. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    They may need to move this thread into the G3 forum.
    I thought the OP had a Priussy (Prius C)
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I’ve reported.
     
  12. Ohsheet

    Ohsheet New Member

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    Yes I definitely checked for warpage, with the gap gauger, and the straight edge bar that is a heavy chunk of steel, I guess they are made specifically for checking for warpage on the head.. and while using the size gap gauge it called for it wouldn't fit between the straight edge and the head
     
  13. Ohsheet

    Ohsheet New Member

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    Well it definitely is a hatchback, but the owners manual that's in the glove compartment just says "2013 Toyota Prius"

    Yes I definitely checked for warpage, with the gap gauger, and the straight edge bar that is a heavy chunk of steel, I guess they are made specifically for checking for warpage on the head.. and while using the size gap gauge it called for it wouldn't fit between the straight edge and the head..and as far as the head bolts (assuming the head bolts are the ones that take a XZN triple square 12 sided bit to take it off) I used the same ones

    Yeah it was definitely violent sounding and definitely ejected itself through the crankcase wall..

    The car is in amazing condition as far as looks..nice black pleather interior brand new rubber all the way around, still has the under carriage protection cover which is rare to see on cars that aren't brand new, no smoking, no pets, no kids..definitely presenting as a 20,000 mile vehicle..sorry I never did mention how much I paid or the mileage. I paid $2300 for her, and she has 170,000 miles..."Like a bum on a bologna sandwich" hahahaaha omg that's great..

    170,000 miles on her

    Yeah it was crazy because at the exact moment I pushed that button is when all the hell violently broke loose under the car..

    Yeah that's what I was thinking unfortunately, thank you for the reply I appreciate it

    Yeah unfortunately I need to start searching for a new engine..I appreciate the reply
     
    #13 Ohsheet, Jan 19, 2025
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 20, 2025
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  14. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Hybrid Pit sells engines, three levels, you can calculate how much shipping from CA To you on their website.

    Toyota Prius Performance Parts

    SM-G781V ?
     
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  15. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    A warped head or block just blows a hg again.

    Toyota does a good job on their bodies, paint and interiors.

    The real problem was "...It had a slightly bent rod from the hg fail and the height of the piston was not checked properly when it was apart ... It progressed to a broken rod and blew a hole in the block."

    Repaired engines will run a few months until the slightly bent connecting rod yields to metal fatigue and breaks. At that point it's over.

    IMG_7267.jpeg

    Watch this video again all the way through
     
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  16. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Seems our work here is done.
    Even with the $3000 buy-in a new engine and a cleaned-out EGR loop would look really good on this car!
     
  17. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Yeah....
    It gets complicated.

    Priuses are Priuses - kinda sorta.
    You have "wireless" Priuses, and the 'Vee' versus "V-or five" Priuses, and 'Prime' Priuses - not to be confused with a struggling football team out west somewhere.

    Its tough to keep them straight, because to a 'norm' Priuses are Priuses.

    If YOUR Prius presents as a 20,000 mile no smoke, no pet, hybrid then stick another engine in it, clean out the EGR loop and enjoy your well-earned 150,000 miles of care-free ownership.
    Read through the G3 (2010-2015) Prius forums for the deets.
    You WILL eventually have to replace the traction battery ($1500 easy DIY) fairly soon and maintain all of the usual stuff (brakes, HVAC, inverters, etc...)
    HOWEVER (comma!!!!!)
    You also NOW have a 1.5 - 2.0 kw home generator if you're smart all the way around the track!!!

    Good Luck!!!
     
    #17 ETC(SS), Jan 20, 2025
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2025
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    upload_2025-1-20_9-5-12.png
    upload_2025-1-20_9-6-48.png
    ^ This seems a misstep too.