Blown Head gasket rebuild....@297k

Long story short, best to replace pistons and rings?

Interesting, on Amayama, a third gen short block is around $2300 (CDN), and fourth gen is around $2900. I've a hunch the third gen blocks would be old style pistons/rings, but who knows.

All said, I'd bet the $2300 block, even if it turned out to have the old piston/rings would outlast the vehicle, lol. Especially if you're on top of EGR cleaning and so on.

Buy short block assembly for Toyota Prius XW30 (12.2011 - 11.2015) - Amayama

Buy short block assembly for Toyota Prius XW50 (09.2015 - 11.2018) - Amayama

^ Amayama seems to detect your IP address, automatically tailor it's currency display of prices to suit. I never had to spec CDN dollars. I'd be curious what sort of prices someone in the States sees with the above links, say in US dollars.

Also, for the short block, they don't indicate shipping cost per usual, ask you to initiate the order and they'll communicate the shipping cost. I'm sure you can back out if it's prohibitive to ship. So far they've been very good, smallish items I've got. And: no sales tax or import duty so far.

The exact text:

Your cart contains item(s) that need(s) to be checked by us before your payment.
Click "Submit order" to start this process.

 

exactly my thoughts, water causes the bent rod, (hydrolock) - i replaced my motor, because almost no one needs a motor in a prius, motors out of wrecks are plentiful and ebcause they dont move they are reasonable ...

 

2010 prius with 231k miles. recently started stuttering extremely rough at start almost every single time regardless cold start or warm start. then it started throwing cylinder 2 and 4 knock, i swapped coils for 2 with 1 and 3 with 4 but misfire is still on cylinders 2 and 4. the misfire is really bad at every start but if i press gas pedal all the way as soon as i start car then misfire doesnt happen and after few seconds i can let go of gas pedal and it runs fine.
now when i am reading this thread i am suspecting there might be head gasket issue. it does burn about a quart of oil in abt 4 to 5k miles. there isnt any oil leaks anywhere visible. i also cleaned air intake manifold and egr pipe there wasnt too much carbon buildup since i had cleaned it abt 20k miles ago already.
any other ideas i should do before doing any major work like head gasket?

 

Sounds like head gasket, sure hope not mine has 250,000. Have you looked closely at the oil on the dipstick? Down on antifreeze any? The pedal all the way down seems odd unless it let in enough gas to get past a very minor head gasket leak..... this could happen to me at anytime.

 

Take a closer look at the engine coolant refill tank. If it’s running low then it might be a coolant leak / headgasket leak

I seen it before and unfortunately will see it again.


iPhone ?

 

When you say "cleaned EGR pipe", do you mean just the stainless steel connector pipe between intake manifold and EGR valve? You need to do the rest then.

That said, with your miles it's likely head gasket failure, and my money's on EGR clogging as primary contributor. Compression and leakdown tests can confirm.

Coolant level in reservoir dropping is another sign of head gasket failure.

 

Surprised you made it that many miles with the EGR cooler never being cleaned. That’s actually a good run.

 

so i looked at coolant and it is lower than the low level mark, almost down to where the feed pipe comes out of box. i checked dipstick and the oil doesnt look too foamy or contaminated with coolant. i will post pics here of oil dip stick i looked at. i dont have expertise or the tools to do compression test, dont know how hard it is and what do i need to do that. is there a diy video of just head gasket change? any idea how long is the process and do i need to take out motor or it can be accomplished from just reaching through engine bay.
thanks in advance

 

i did only EGR pipe, not EGR cooler. it was clogged up pretty bad with carbon. at this point does cleaning EGR would help or its already too late?

 

Probably head gasket failure.

I've added the bold text; is that what you meant, ie P0302 and P0304 are codes showing?

A leak-down test, and/or boroscope inspection would be definitive. Either's a lot cheaper than just diving in with head gasket replacement. A leak-down test pressurizes an individual cylinder, usiing special gauges to monitor how well the cylinder holds pressure. It's also used just to hear where the air is escaping, ie: out the tail pipe, into the intake manifold, the dipstick tube, coolant reservoir. I suspect in your case it'll be the latter.

For sure the EGR (and intake manifold) should be completely cleaned when the head gasket is addressed, but I suspect it's too late now to save the current head gasket, you better deal with that first.

 

yes i saw this video in another thread earlier and he does explain whats happening with mine, you are right about p0302 and p0304, also p0300 i believe. i think i would have to look up how to do compression test if its something i can handle i would do it. if changing head gasket isnt too hard of a job i would rather change head gasket anyways instead of doing compression first since engine already has 231k miles and i would call it maintenance

 

Have you watched their main Prius head gasket replacement videos? I've linked them here:

New head gasket replacement video from Gasket Masters | PriusChat

 

wow very detailed video for the process and definitely not a one or two day job for me. i do need couple of special tools which i dont have, needs to plan it out pretty good if i wanna knock it out in shortest time possible without worrying about any roadblocks.
i am also thinking about buying some other car and try to trade it in for abt $2k if i can get i will be happy

 

Your to late...... head gasket....... is the engine running fine after the water blows out? Could have connecting rod damage.... and people worship these cars........poor design...... I've never had a blown head gasket in almost fifty years of driving.

 

you are absolutely right, toyota did disappoint me on prius big time. im diehard fan of toyota reliability and have always owned toyota/lexus without any issues. but head gaskit leak and battery throwing off big time on this one. i wuld never own a hybrid again, will keep it simple gasoline. i pampered this car and tried to stay on top of all maintenance but i guess the EGR cooler cleaning slipped thorugh my maintenance.

 

I have two older toyotas (430,000 and 310,000) and they have been awesome.... but the 2013 scares me with numerous big time repairs.... engine still running ok though but head gasket could go at anytime. replaced...water pump, inverter, traction battery, brake pump and booster bad and trani has loud whine.... and you have to use v parts as most regular prius parts are different.

 

wow those are alot of parts replaced for 2013. im glad i didnt have to replace anything on my 2010.

 

there will be more.... expect the inverter to blow....... have you had the inverter software updates?
And I think there is a problem with the brake pump and booster on yours..... just hasn't went out yet....

 

i have had i believe all the recalls done on mine including inverter one but i think inverter is covered for 15 years unlimited miles after the recall if im not mistaken. brake pump has been ok so far, i havent noticed any issue with that yet fingers crossed

 

Inverter is covered but mine went out 1100 miles from home.... was a pretty big hassle.