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JDM Engine in a US Prius?

Discussion in 'Prius v Technical Discussion' started by RunningOnMT, Feb 13, 2020.

  1. RunningOnMT

    RunningOnMT New Member

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    Hi all,

    I picked up a 2012 Prius V with a blown head gasket. It has 195k on it and was reportedly using about 1qt of oil every 1k miles, so I've elected to replace the engine rather than R&R the head gasket alone.

    My question is: can anyone confirm whether a JDM engine is plug and play in a US market Prius? Or if there are modifications that must be done, any details on that? I've searched, but so far haven't found the positive confirmation I was hoping for.

    In other vehicles, JDM engines occasionally will require specific changes to work. For example: Use a JDM ECU, bolt on the intake from the US vehicle, etc. Just trying to find out if anyone has experience with this in the Prius.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Have you considered rebuilding the head and getting a "short block".
     
  3. RunningOnMT

    RunningOnMT New Member

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    I hadn't, thanks for the idea. Looks like a new short block is about $1900, and a complete JDM motor is about $1300. Given that if I go that route I'd need to also invest in head refurbishing (gaskets, head planing, etc.) that seems like a significant cost delta.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Not sure what you mean by JDM (aka Japan Domestic Market) engine. This is a rebuilt engine? New engines are around $7000.
     
  5. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    A JDM engine is typically 50-70k miles imported from Japan by US suppliers. One of several Houston suppliers:

    All JDM motors are sold with 6 months unlimited miles warranty and transmissions with 3 months warranty...All Japanese Engines are imported from our head office in Osaka, Japan. All engines are compression, leak down & oil pressure tested. Our JDM Motors are sold with 6 months unlimited miles warranty and JDM transmissions with 3 months unlimited miles warranty. ... Our Japanese engines offer better value for money compared to low quality, non-tested and high mileage Junk-yard engines sold in Houston with mere 30-day warranty. All customers are welcome to bring their technicians if they would like to see us test the engine before purchasing.”

    One of the Houston importers of JDM engines:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-2015-Toyota-Prius-1-8l-2ZR-XFE-Hybrid-engine-Motor/153790955765?
    fits=Model%3APrius&hash=item23cea7c0f5:g:scIAAOSwYPJeF7FS
     
    #5 rjparker, Feb 13, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2020
  6. Emyres

    Emyres Junior Member

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    I had a JDM installed in my 2013 recently. $1700 for engine and installation. Turnaround during Christmas holidays was 3 days. Could not be more satisfied.
    mine blew a head gasket at 160,000 miles and was prepared to get an engine from LKQ with 80 to 90,000 miles plus installation for $4,000.
    I expect to get at least another 100,000 miles.

    The mechanic told me the electric water pump wears down and doesn’t seem to pump enough water as it did new. So, I had him install a new one on the JDM motor. He said at one time when he ordered one from Toyota that they had 2300 on back order. Wonder why?
     
  7. RunningOnMT

    RunningOnMT New Member

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    That's good to hear, thanks!
     
  8. RunningOnMT

    RunningOnMT New Member

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    Update: Ordered a JDM engine. I'll circle back here in a couple weeks to update on the install.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Strange that vendor does not certify compatiblity for model year 2010, only 2011 onward. I think that's in error, fwiw.
     
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  10. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    So...

    Can one get the lithium ion battery that the 7-seater version uses in other markets, to use with the JDM engine?
     
  11. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    I wouldn’t recommend it.

    Someone might sell you the Li-ion battery (Toyota part numbers G9510-47100 or G9510-47110), but I imagine international dangerous goods shipping would be costly, and you’d definitely also have to replace the power management control ECU, perhaps the inverter with converter, and, of course, body and interior parts, since the HV battery is mounted in the center console on ZVW40 models to allow room for the third row of seats.

    Assuming you could get it to work, the resulting vehicle might not be lawful to register or operate: replacing or reprogramming the power management control ECU would be emissions tampering, since it would change the configuration that Toyota tested and certified to U.S. and California regulations.

    This isn’t a problem when installing an engine from Japan, by the way, as long as it’s “functionally identical to the original engine” and the U.S. versions of the engine control module, software, and other emissions-related parts are used; see “Japanese Replacement Engines” on CARB’s Replacement Parts Guidelines page.
     
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  12. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    And you get the EGR stuff..........
     
  13. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Read some pretty bad reviews about that place........ I guess you never know. I think I would go with the shortblock...... but I don't love my car..... and I don't want to drive it forever.... Sure are alot of nice Mustangs out there........ my Girlfriend laughs at my car......
     
  14. RunningOnMT

    RunningOnMT New Member

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    Pulled the motor today, much easier than expected. Hardest part was some electrical connectors that were a little stubborn, and of course the EGR. At least I've done that particular one before.

    Went out through the top, no problem. Plenty of room to slide it out of the transaxle with the water pump removed.

    EGR cooler is totally plugged, no surprise.

    New engine should be here tomorrow or Monday, ready to drop it in when it gets here. :cool:
     
  15. RunningOnMT

    RunningOnMT New Member

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    Motor finally arrived today. Came complete with the transaxle, which won't work for the v but hey it's a free transmission.

    Got it bolted in, now just hooking everything back up. Stay tuned...

    In other news, an ultrasonic cleaner does wonders on the EGR cooler. :)
     
  16. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Why won't the trani work? Not a synergy?
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I've wondered about that. Not enough to invest in one, found Oxi-Clean worked good. But good to know. (y)

    Good luck with your engine, waitin' and watchin'...

    Gear ratios, or the hybrid transaxle* version anyway, vary between the regular Prius and v.

    * I mispelled transaxle and you would never believe what Windows 10 (or whatever it is that does the spellcheck) came up with for a correction...
     
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  18. RunningOnMT

    RunningOnMT New Member

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    All buttoned up, and it runs! Haven't driven yet, but it started right up and did not throw any codes. So far so good.
     
  19. Dave Hanson

    Dave Hanson Member

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    Great, what did the egr cooler look like on the new engine? (Clean)?
     
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  20. RunningOnMT

    RunningOnMT New Member

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    Pretty tidy, actually. Little soot inside, I'd hazard to guess maybe 5-10% occluded, but still plenty of flow. Nothing at all alarming, and supports the claimed 40-60k miles I reckon. Cleaned up really nice with just 20 minutes in the ultrasonic bath.