2010 Head Gasket and seals replaced

Did you clean the intake manifold and EGR system? That's pretty much mandatory, or you'll be blowing another head gasket soon enough. More info in my signature.

 

This is a moderately difficult DIY, but quite doable. Easy first step, to see where you're at, is by checking the condition of the pipe between the EGR valve and intake manifold. @NutzAboutBolts video on that:

I wouldn't put it off: if the EGR hasn't been cleaned, considering your miles, it'll be SOLIDLY blocked with carbon, and another head gasket failure won't take long.

(Torque values for that pipe in first link in my signature.)

 

If you do tear into the EGR system, or might be thinking of doing so, it would be great if you could contribute your before and after flow test results on this thread over here. Data points at your mileage would be a good addition to what we have got.

Getting the flow test results requires only any kind of OBD-II reader or phone app that can pull up "mode 6" test results, without getting your hands dirty or disassembling anything.

We may not yet really have the kind of certainty evinced in Mendel's posts, but by continuing to collect data, we slowly but surely do learn stuff.

Another thing to consider, more work than pulling up flow test results but a much easier job than the full EGR cleanout, is to get the intake manifold off (maybe a 20 minute job) and inspect and clean out its four small EGR passages.

That is valuable because the flow test you can pull up is only an overall score, and it can't tell you about different clogging levels in those four passages, and as it happens, different clogging levels there may be the most plausible of the head gasket risk factors that have been proposed so far.

 

It drives me crazy that Toyota Stealership will fix early Gen3 blown head gaskets till the cow's come home but they won't lift a finger, or seemingly aren't even aware that a dirty EGR valve is causing the failure. And if someone is paying many of thousands of dollars in over-priced repairs it doesn't make sense they don't address it? Has anyone ever known a dealership that makes EGR cleaning a priority?

 

And come up with a method that DOESN'T involve just replacing about a grand's worth of parts.

 

Yea because actually cleaning something is too hard to do and it's more profitable to just throw away and put in a new one... Is it any wonder the used car market is so insanely competitive and no one wants to buy a new car until the electric ones come out?

Of course it's not people no longer wanting to invest long term in fossil-fools based vehicles, right? It's just a computer chip shortage, right? Lol...

 

I'm aware that some people think that's the case.

 

Did they replace the "piston rings"?
I can see the head gasket, and the valve guide seals. But to do the rings, they would have had to
pull the engine.

If they put new piston rings on the pistons, then the oil burning should be greatly reduced.
Also, replacing the head gasket would effect fuel mileage. You'll have to go through your normal drives
and check your mileage again.
And if they did replace the rings, and hopefully hone the cylinder walls, they would also effect your fuel mileage.
I turned 257,000 miles yesterday....

 

??????

 

Have you had experiences to the contrary?

I entirely base my claim on everyone I've talked to who has had a gen 3 head gasket done by a Toyota Stealership. In every conversation I asked them if the the dealership cleaned or replaced the EGR system when the head gasket work was done and I've yet to meet someone who said yes. Most all of them say "How come they never told me about that?"

 

Its pretty simple, Toyota does not buy the Egr clogged/hg theory. If it throws a code they replace it. If you ask for a price to clean it they quote new parts.

 

Publicly. Maybe behind the scenes more so? When the 4th Gen Prius was just coming out, in some sort of "white paper" Toyota noted a new-and-improved EGR system. Pretty esoteric stuff for a sales pitch.

 

Wow, I didn't think the had the ring for the 2010 any longer because the changed them,
along with the pistons. Because a few people on here found out when they tried to fit
the newer rings on the older pistons, and they wouldn't fit.

If they didn't pull the engine, the didn't change the pistons/rings. You should look at the receipt and
see just what they charged your for.

If they did pull the engine and install new pistons and rings, and the head gasket, you got a good deal!

 

I would suspect if they replaced the rings it was the revised rings, and new pistons as well (since new rings don't fit the old pistons).

The funny thing is: just cleaning up the old pistons and putting in new rings of the older style, you'd probably be just fine, good for at least another 100K. Doubly so if you put in a decent OCC and stuck to 5K max oil changes.

Attached TSB has the part no's, for old and new pistons/rings.

 

It seems to me I remember reading one of the post said that Toyota doesn't have the older rings
any longer. I might have missread the post, it was a year or more ago.

I would be happy with just putting in new rings and honing the cylinders, with a new head gasket
and valve guide seals.

These engines seem to go easy on the bearings and valve seats.