Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos

I did valve clearance checks on Hondas for decades. The first to last was our 91 accord. Always, step one was: remove the valve cover.

Then came our 06 civic hybrid. Now there's steeply canted windshield and cowl hanging over the engine. Ok, I found a pdf on Block Heater installed that explained the cowl removal, not quite as involved as the Prius, but getting there. Still thwarted: there's a great wiring harness running over the top of the valve cover, and it's not budging. Removed it's fasteners, at the cover and about a foot further in either direction, and the dipstick guide tube.

All of this was a solid hour and a lot of head scratching. The valve cover came off in about 2 minutes after that.

 

Patience is a virtue .

 

Here's another video.

 

^ Early on, when I was looking into grill blocking, someone mentioned pushing bits of pipe insulation tubing onto the seams along the engine bay sides. That's one area that doesn't have gaskets, allows a lot of air in and out. It might swirl up through the wheel wells and out through those gaps? Not sure.

Anyway, maybe due in part to leaving those zones with the pipe insulation year 'round, the engine bay on mine has stayed quite clean. I brush dust it once in a while, and then an air blast (leaf blower mostly, or a wet-dry vac, all I've got).

 

sorry for the brake fluid question again. i found these steps https://attachments.priuschat.com/attachment-files/2015/04/74070_Prius_Brake_Bleed_1.pdf

i have techstream and i feel pretty confident about doing this myself with techstream with the help of my dad who is a bit of a gear head. anyways, my only question remains about this bleeder screw. Is there a part I need to buy to hook up to drain the fluid out, or do i just need appropriately sized vinyl tubing to connect to the part that is already on the car to direct the fluid to a container?

 

You can hook up a tube to the bleeder screw to route it to a container. If you don't have one, you can use an open container and open the bleeder screw and let it drip into it. Then just brake clean the fluids from the bleeder screw. Either or is fine, I've done both before

 

cool so no special tool or adapter needed, just some tubing, necessary wrenches, and an empty container

 

Yup.

 

Techstream is not really needed either, if you follow the instruction to put it in "invalid" mode.

While a bleed screw adapter is not strictly necessary, it's readily available and makes the connection more secure. I happened to have some with a MightyVac.

OTOH, I've seen videos where they use a small zip tie, cinched just back of tube end, just tight enough that it stays on when you push it on.

 

One question regarding radiator coolant refill. On the video you didn't show how to put the car back from Maintenance mode to regular mode?
Please let me know.
Thanks

 

Just turn it off.

This might be a moot point, if you're considering coolant change just due to EGR cleaning, as I mentioned in the other thread. It's overkill, a liter or two drain of engine coolant is sufficient for that purpose, and pouring it back into the reservoir without any maintenance mode worked for me.

Having a 2010, I would suggest you open the coolant bleed bolt (white plastic cap, right above EGR), to let air escape when refilling. I have no idea why Toyota would opt to remove the bleed bolt, commencing in 2012, btw. With 2012 model year onward I suppose you could accomplish the same thing by just disconnecting the topmost hose, till coolant starts coming out as you fill.

 

Coolant bleeding bolt?
Is it something on the video?
Sorry for dumb questions but where is the EGR located?(right above EGR)

 

Because it is not needed.

I have bled our 2010 as well as several other Gen3 Prii coolant systems and even though that is the high point in the system, the flow through the system is great enough to overcome a potential air pocket from forming.

That’s one valve this glorified plumber won’t need to turn.

 

@NutzAboutBolts has a 2012, which nixes the coolant air bleed bolt, and according to @Raytheeagle it's maybe not strictly necessary. Still, I get a kick out adding coolant and feeling the air rush out of there at the same time, it certainly can't hurt, hastens getting the bubbles out. Again, when refilling, just disconnecting the topmost hose (it feeds into the top of the EGR cooler IIRC) till coolant starts coming out, would do the same thing, if you're 2012 or newer.

 

This is a very informatibe thread. Thanks for all the input

SM-N935S ?

 

I’m currently in limbo because I’m in the moving process, so I can’t film any Prius video until I get settled in.

 

Staying in the Bay Area at least?

 

Dublin considered Bay Area? Lol

 

East Bay and closer to a lot of us on here!

Maybe you’ll make one of our meet ups....

 

Lol wife said strictly online only