Not a lot of miles, but believe the engine's days are numbered

does it burn any oil?

 

dreaded gen3 EGR Head Gasket issue?
If it is and you caught it in time, count your blessings!

 

it's worth a lot more whole, with a new head gasket than parts

 

did you searched priuschat for - gen 3 prius EGR
yet
I got almost 200 hits 10 pages of post links

edit: sorry forgot to mention the order - EGR clogs than head gasket gets blown later.
EGR cooler
EGR passages
Intake manifold EGR passages

 

Since the cold start "knock" is usually the damper assembly being tossed around the engine will tolerate things for quite a while.

Sounds a little penny wise, pound foolish to not repair a low mile car and scrap it instead though. Certainly much cheaper then replacing it in any case. People are free to throw money away as they see fit though.

 

In reverse the car’s motivation is purely by the electric motor.

 

Yea
I put it in D

 

Rev up your engine and change oil&filter more often

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The cold start rattle certainly sounds horrific but it's not the pistons, rods, or rings... it's simply the damper rattling. It's almost certainly caused by a misfire. The question is: what's causing your misfire? It appears you've addressed the usual suspects. Is the Check Engine light on? You mention the EGR pipe & cooler have been cleaned along with the intake manifold. Did you do these yourself?

 

in other words: you don’t have oil burning issue. It’s as good as new

 

You 90% have an occasionally leaking head gasket that seals quickly when started. Its a strange behavior but these cars do it. As suggested above, going into reverse [usually] forces the engine off [or disconnects from the load]. Entrained gas can temporarily make up for the small coolant loss. A borescope inspection of the cylinder is often definitive.

Rust is the wild card here. But even the Browns have a chance; so maybe your gen3 can live to retire gracefully at 250k.

Since you are ready to part out the car, there are drastic short term measures for low dollars. While not recommended, a head gasket sealer will quickly eliminate the rattle for the winter, absolutely define the problem, but you risk taking out the heater, radiator and or thermostat. There are old school sealers that require extensive flushing but have advantages. They require multiple initial flushes before using, distilled water when the sealer is added and multiple flushes before adding new antifreeze. However they can be run for 500 miles assuming freezing is not an issue or removed quickly. Three to six months of rattle free engine often result.

As is, it will get worse with obvious white steam out of the exhaust (using an observer in the rear), coolant loss becomes obvious, rattling at every engine engagement begins, eg clear end stage head gasket symptoms. You could simply wait for that since the subsequent options remain the same except for an annoying potential for stranding and a no choice emergency repair or disposal.

Like most things gen3, a head gasket job is several thousand done professionally and is full of speed bumps for a diy attempt. Which is why most pros will recommend a rebuilt engine, usually $3500 or higher depending on market and choice of shop. Your engine at 127k may be a good candidate. Think of it, new rings, rebuilt head, new seals, a like new engine.

When you realize desirable new cars are often $10k over msrp (if available at all), late model used cars are going for new prices or what $5k-$10k will buy used, then a rebuilt engine looks pretty good especially if your brake booster has been replaced. The car may then get you to 250k miles assuming the rust inspection guy does not stop you first.

 

Going into reverse when cold, the engine will continue to run, but will be disconnected, not turning the wheels.

 

Unless you have something that you haul to a car show on a trailer, or only drive on the weekend when the weather is nice, CARS are not especially “valuable.”
They’re a transportation EXPENSE, and you seem to be managing yours rather well.

Keep changing your filters, fluids, and performing maintenance and run it until gas prices drop, car prices moderate, or your G3 becomes too unreliable to use for transportation.

Good Luck!
Let us know if the CEL comes on and what codes it starts spitting.

 

@rj still only 3k on all prime trims locally, but like everywhere I've heard of here, pickens is thin.

 

Around here the dealer's lots are empty except for overpriced used cars. I did see a transport carrying new design 2022 Tundras heading from the factory to Houston last week.

 

I've yet to see one of those carvana flat beds too. Still wondering if they get enough business to use multi car flat beds. I've seen a couple of them around over the years. Thinking back to the days I used to dream of gettin a union job drivin for one of the grocery chains and transports were everywhere, I haven't seen many of them, maybe 5, since than.