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Car knocking, changed spark plugs, problem persists

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Jacob Bonner, Feb 7, 2019.

  1. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    Jacob, I am battling with a head gasket failure in SWMBO's 2010 w/ almost 250K miles. Over the last 2 1/2- 3 months, I have gone thru over 2 gallons of coolant. There is no direct evidence of coolant in the oil, but I have found a slightly milky coating on the mid part of the dipshtick. There is no leak anywhere, but it does have the sickly sweet smell if you are behind it, and I followed her and saw what appeared to be steam from the exhaust about the time that the stumble would appear. The CEL has been on most of the time, sometimes going off of 3-4 days at a time. My solution will be a full transplant of a 2016 engine, so I guess we will then end up with a hybrid hybrid. I was planning to do it over the weekend, but SWMBO broke a bone in her ankle, so that one went out the window. Next launch window opens at midnite Tuesday, so we shall see.
     
  2. Absalom

    Absalom Junior Member

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    I'm $140 into my HG repair so far. It's a super low cost gamble before dropping $1,000+ for a newer motor.
     
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    ^ Easier too.

    Editorial: SWMBO = She Who Must Be Obeyed.
     
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  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Saved some from googling that;).
     
  5. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    Yeah, but $1600 for an engine that hasn't even made it to it's first oil change is hard to pass up...
     
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  6. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    How in the world are you doing this repair properly for only $140?

    I just ordered all of the parts for mine and I am at $470 before adding the cost of the machine shop work.

    My parts included:
    - Engine Overhaul Gasket Kit (04111-37313) from Toyota
    - 10 new head bolts from Toyota
    - 1 tube of fipg
    - Thermostat from Toyota
    - Spark Plugs (Denso))
    - 2 gal of Toyota SLL equivalent 50/50 coolant
    - 5 qt of 0W20 synthetic oil
    - Oil Filter and Drain Plug Gasket
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The full gasket kit goes way beyond head gasket, encompasses pretty much every gasket and seal on the engine. The valve guides are included, I think. Are you doing those? Probably you can use 50%, but still.

    The head bolts can be reused, if they still meet the measurement specs (outlined in Repair Manual, can post).

    Thermostat and spark plug replacement is good idea, but coincidental.

    Coolant and oil change supplies are needed in either case.
     
  8. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    It includes all of the o-rings inside the timing cover, water pump gasket, valve cover gasket, intake/exhaust manifold gasket, egr cooler gaskets, etc. All of which are items that should be replaced.

    Coolant usually fouls spark plugs. Thermostat is a must to prevent the likelihood of overheating due to a failure.
     
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  9. Jacob Bonner

    Jacob Bonner Member

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    So I ran the block test a neurotic number of three times; results have been fine every time. I'm assuming it's fairly conclusive that my head gasket is fine? However, my coolant has now turned a darker color. Oil? Rust? I've not lost any since the other day, best I can tell. Within the next week I hope to do a maintenance cleaning (egr cooler/valve/pipe, intake manifold, throttle body, etc.).. may even install an oil catch can -- not sure on that yet. Are there any other tests I should run to be positive that the head gasket has not blown or should I be satisfied with the block test results for now?
     
  10. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    The block tester is not always accurate. If your coolant has turned a darker color, it is most likely due to contamination from combustion gasses.

    If you want a conclusive answer, I recommend performing a leakdown test. But based on everything you posted, your problem is most likely a headgasket failure.
     
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  11. Jacob Bonner

    Jacob Bonner Member

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    I may do that soon, much to my irritation (I just replaced spark plugs a month ago, and have been told that you shouldn't put the same ones in if you take them out for a compression or leakdown test).

    So far, my knocking doesn't seem to be as severe as others I've read on this forum. So far I've not had it knock while driving or at a stop light. Even when I first start the car, as long as I immediately put it in gear and move a bit, it won't knock... it only knocks if I start the vehicle and leave it in park when the engine comes on.
     
    #31 Jacob Bonner, Feb 27, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2019
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I've had mine out and reinstalled a couple of times, no problems.
     
  13. Jacob Bonner

    Jacob Bonner Member

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    Do you have to apply anti-seize when reinstalling the plugs?
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I don't see why. I did put a little the first time, then started reading about it, wiped them off as well as I could leaving small remnant in thread grooves. I'm not going to touch them again until replacement time, and will probably just go dry threads this time; anti-seize does kind of mess up the torque spec, which is based on dry threads.
     
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  15. Jacob Bonner

    Jacob Bonner Member

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    So I just changed my oil (first time DIYing on this particular vehicle). No sign of coolant milkyness in the oil, so I'm taking that as a good sign. Still not sure where that coolant leakage went, but so far it's not leaked since. Strange.

    I'm researching as much as I can about routine maintenance. I've ordered engine and cabin filters, I plan on cleaning the intake manifold, MAF sensor, throttle body, egr cooler/valve/pipe and replacing the PCV valve very soon. As far as I am aware none of that has been done (unless any of that is included in the 10k, 15k, 20k, etc. dealership maintenance -- all of which was done long before I owned it) and the vehicle has nearly 174,000 miles on it. I'm excited and expecting great things from my mileage, and hopefully the knocking will subside. (y)

    In answering an earlier question, I'm from North Carolina. I'd update my location information but I've not figured out how to do that yet. I appreciate all the advice. Honestly, perusing this forum has been a monumental help.
     
    #35 Jacob Bonner, Mar 2, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2019
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  16. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    I have gone through well over 1 gallon if not up to 2 gallons of coolant so far, with zero evidence in the oil, and very few (if any) of the head gasket victims have had much if any evidence in the oil. It isn't a severe leakage as if it was there would be widespread hydrolocking along with coolant system over pressurization. it seems that it just losing enough to temporarily foul the plugs and then clear out and run fine. If this was a regular gasoline engine, it probably would not start but the hybrid drive spins the engine so fast and the low compression allows it to spin over enough to clear itself. When the head is pulled you will find one piston top that has been remarkably cleaned by the steam process inside the cylinder.

    What part of NC?
     
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  17. Jacob Bonner

    Jacob Bonner Member

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    Is your coolant leak a continuous slow leak or does it leak a certain amount at once and then stop periodically? Mine is the latter.

    I'm located in Washington, close to Greenville. I see you are from Pilot. That is a great area. I always love to visit western NC when I get the opportunity.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Mentioned early on by @Raytheeagle , then kinda shouldered to the back of the room: EGR clogging may be instrumental in these head gasket failures. It's a new-to-third-gen component, that invariably "goes off" over time, and it's imperative that it be flowing air well, or engine temps will climb dramatically. And that unduly stresses the engine block, cylinder head, bolts and head gasket.
     
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  19. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    Mine is sporadic. For some reason it was much worse while we were in Florida. I check it twice a week and some times I don't add any for 2-3 weeks, then other times I lose over a quart in 2 - 3 days.

    BTW, I think you are thinking about Pilot Mountain. Our Pilot is 3 miles north of US 64 just before Zebulon / Wake county line.
     
    #39 FnRedPrius, Mar 3, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2019
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  20. Swirjo

    Swirjo New Member

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    Any new updates my Prius also have the same issue need coolant every week and knocking when I try accelerate from stop to 15 miles/hour and also starting the engine and goes away after 2 -3 sec now the check engine light is on and I went to see the code is the cylinder miss fire. The service guy ask me to replace the sparkplug and the coil my car mileage is only 99k should I do it. Thanks for all your help