1G Prius engine reseal

[ekpolk]

Gak! Someone wasn't changing their oil. . .

[galaxee]

updated to put pics back into text.

[Patrick Wong]

Hi Galaxee,

Thanks for reposting this string, I had not previously seen it when I was a PriusChat lurker. I understand that the root problem was an oil leak on the timing chain cover, and that it was necessary to remove the engine and transaxle to gain access to said cover. Considering the mileage and the interior condition of the engine, perhaps the owner would have been better off installing an engine from a salvage vehicle of lower miles, since it seems a salvage engine is relatively inexpensive.

[galaxee]

with higher mileage engines like that, it's not unusual to see carbon buildup and a little varnish. they keep running fine that way. besides, anything you want can be tossed in a parts washer. generally speaking, if it fits it goes in when it's disassembled like that.

considering the cost would be about the same for a replacement engine, plus the seals would not be new and replaced as such, and condition of the replacement is unknown vs the known engine you've been driving on... it's kind of a toss-up as to whether it would be worth it.

when DH swapped the engine from our smashed camry into our es250, we stuck with that one because [a] we were cheap and [b] we already knew what to expect from it. (toyota learned their lesson about bottom ends with the 2vz)