Bought a 2012 For $700

Don't mean to hijack the thread. Brace yourself, next week to 2 it'll be blowing snow in the northwest. A lot of coffee and burning candles.
and a good snow tires too for a test run!

 

Excellent pictures! I would stick with external oil catch can: much easier to access, proven track record, gets rid of the gunk, keeps the oil cleaner.

Amazing internal casting btw.

 

Now I’m out of ideas. Leak down test or compression test to verify head gasket seal??

 

if you can insert a fiberscope inside the cylinder passing through the spark plug housing and see if one of the cylinder is cleaner than other one. or any signs of coolant liquid. (it maybe difficult to see the difference since you clean those pistons before you put it back together).
Im not too familiar with this engine and how the hoses are routed on the cooling ports. Is there anyway you can pressure test the cooling system while the manifold is out . Lets say on intake and maybe exhaust too in this way you can see it on the port channels if there's a leak. if there are passages that you need to block to do this test.
pumping up 9 to 12 psi. Ive done it on old engines and several times I was able to spot the leak on a mirror.. If its that small I use a illuminant dye.
Since that head is bolted to the short block.
Atleast these are all the passage that can be derived from that leak and knowing the integrity of the head is solid.
Try not to forget to always install a new thermostat and gasket especially if the history of the car is unknown. These thermostats are notorious when they fail its always a surprise attack with a rapid temperature change.

 

Where is the thermostat?

 

My 2007 is on the left side next to the water pump, plastic housing. Should be in the same area with that later engine. I'm stoke to see the housing was plastic or black polycarbonate but it works.

 

Beautiful Baby!

 

You've got the post-op cloud of steam pegged as an anomaly, maybe some trapped coolant or water vapour. It hasn't happened again?

It's gut-wrenching by the way, to do all that work and then have that sinking feeling, when something bad happens.

Any tips on doing a Prius compression test btw? You've got all the plugs out? I've got a tester buried in the garage somewhere...

 

Does this mean the garage queen gets more testing.

I'm surprised she hasn't revolted yet against being poked and prodded so frequently when she hasn't gotten a workout.

 

We went to a movie last night, partly as a test drive, after having the intake off once again. My wife wisely pointed out: she did not want to be the first one using the car after it's "surgery".

 

I think TechStream can put the engine in a mode for compression test

 

Did you get the canister back together and installed? Is it working now? After clearing the codes?

 

This thread is awesome!
@Cosmo Tigato is a PriusChat hero!

 

YIPPI KIYAY!