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Save A Failing Toyota Prius Head Gasket Doing This One Simple Thing (No Sealer Required!)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by rjparker, Oct 21, 2021.

  1. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This is a bandaid
     
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    He is going to try an 800 mile 12 hour trip that way.
     
    #3 rjparker, Oct 21, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2021
  4. Nor'easter

    Nor'easter Member

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    Dumb a&& title (probably the work of a dumb a&& editor).
     
  5. OptimusPriustus

    OptimusPriustus Active Member

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    I think the tip is excellent. May save from hydrolock. Of course it’s just a way to survive while waiting to get HG issue properly repaired
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, instead of the click-bait title, maybe something long the lines of "stop-gap measure to get Prius with failing head gasket to the shop without blowing a rod".

    Also, some mention of cleaning the EGR and intake (so you're not right back to the original condition in short order) would help.
     
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Somebody gets the point. The author states in another article he is going to pull the engine and rebuild. The real debate should be - is this better than using sealer or leaving the cap on while shutdown like most do when they continue to drive the car? He is implying no real damage occurs after it starts because no misfires or hydrolock "should" occur in the shortterm.
     
    #7 rjparker, Oct 21, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2021
  8. Nor'easter

    Nor'easter Member

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    The article was fine. The author's logic is fine. The title is silly. He isn't saving a failing head gasket, he isn't trying to save a failing head gasket. He's trying to limp home. It's risky, but a calculated risk that I would probably take in those circumstances too.

    Sealers should be avoided. This video shows why:

     
  9. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    That's why the author advocates a rebuild versus a head gasket. Same thing I would do if I did not want to junk the car.

    Lets look at some of the quotes in the article:

    1. If your 3rd Generation Toyota Prius has a failing head gasket and you cannot afford to repair it right now, I have a solution for you.

    2. Gen 3 Prius uses a coolant expansion tank that allows you to remove the cap even when hot (as long as the system is not over full). While this initially went against the safety mechanism in my brain, I have repeatedly tested the method to ensure consistent results. Every time I have driven the car long enough to get it good and hot when I park it, I open the hood and release the pressure from the cooling system.

    3
    . Periodically taking the cap off after driving the car will do everything you need it to do without compromising the vehicle while driving. I have driven the car now for several days doing this. The check engine light was on for a misfire but has gone out and not returned because the car is not misfiring on startup.

    4. The idea behind doing this trick is not to fix the car but limp it along until I can get it home and repair it properly.

    Now for the rest of the story:
    How Long Can I Drive A Gen 3 Toyota Prius With A Failing Head Gasket? | Torque News
    Once I get it back to the hybrid lab, the engine is coming out, and it is getting a complete rebuild top to bottom.

     
    #9 rjparker, Oct 21, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2021
  10. 2010five2015five

    2010five2015five New Member

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  11. 2010five2015five

    2010five2015five New Member

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    Thanks for this tip RJ! I think it will be a good test as well to determine if the head gasket is leaking, it shouldn’t keep having the CEL and rattle at start ups , while trying this method!
     
  12. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    In the second article he cautions he might not try an 800 mile trip if the head gasket had progressed to a rattle every start. Even then he is testing his 15 years of expertise the hard way. How Long Can I Drive A Gen 3 Toyota Prius With A Failing Head Gasket? | Torque News
     
    #12 rjparker, Oct 21, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2021
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It'd be nice to see some specific mention of the two bolt-on items: EGR and Intake.
     
  14. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    In my part of Texas a complete rebuild cleans or replaces everything on the engine. It certainly does the pistons, bearings, head, egr, intake, pcv, plugs and other maintenance items. The guy I recommend has a full box of egr coolers ready to go.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I’d like to hear the magic words lol.
     
  16. burrito

    burrito Active Member

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    Please?


    Could you please clean the EGR system?
     
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