2010 Prius III (190K): replace head gasket for $3600?

A JDM engine is about 1200 bucks you might want to just start thinking about that That's way lower mileage than you have right now The only thing in the car will be your transmission and then inverter that's that old the same age as your car I bought an engine in transmission for less than 15 so both pieces are way lower mileage than my 260,000 mile car and I think I came out best doing this Good luck.

 

regarding #2, I would do that hard on the heels of the head gasket replacement. DIY is your best bet for doing it right, but if that’s not in the cards, verify how and what they propose to do. Have a look at first link in my signature.

I believe there is a direct correlation between neglected EGR cleaning and the head gasket failure FWIW. Should be done at least by 100k miles, or sooner.

 

does gasket masters cover your area?

 

I think you said 190K

 

1. Worth it but some shops might replace the engine with a rebuilt for about the same price. Having new pistons and rings is good since the original design was defective.

2. Cleaning the egr system won't fix the problem. Some priuschat speculators hoped it would but most of them never saw a hg failure. Yes the shop should clean or replace the egr cooler and pipes for that amount.

3. No sealer will fix a hg leak for more than a few weeks to months. Then you get to fix the radiator, heater core and or thermostat in addition to incurring more engine damage. Its a poor man's temporary solution when he has no funds. He will pay more later or give away the car to a flipper.

4. A hg job is done in the car in less than a day by experienced mechanics. A rebuilt engine is far better for a 190,000 car especially if the goal is to make 300,000.

Verify the head and block for warping is an essential step and ensuring no connecting rods are bent is important. Otherwise you will soon be back to do it again with a replacement engine.

 

1) Yes, $3600 is market price. Maybe even a bit below average.

2) Up to you, but there is no correlation between the two. While the engine is out, investing in a new EGR cooler may not be a bad idea. There is a guy on the ct200h forum who is at 700k but has gone thru two head gaskets; EGR has never been cleaned.

3) Absolutely not.

4) Decent likelihood if the engine has been operated for more than a few hundred miles since the failure occurred.

 

Mine has been driven for another 45,000 miles since the HG replacement. I have no reason to believe that it won’t last until 300K; I am at 230K now. The HV battery is a different story- and that should be part of one’s considerations as well.

 

Risky on Zzz engine you already committed to the 3600. I did engine and trans for about 1700 delivered . I paid a local 800 to put it in chassis bolted up . I told him I would get it running . He did not have to worry with. So I had bout 2600 engine sitting in car . Another day to get it running . I did swap a few parts around . Most can do similar if they think a lil differently about it . Most do not have this desire . Credit card does the work .

 

Some want it fixed once and right for the long haul; some want the lowest price. Here is a case where neither is being achieved.

 

Should make about 10 years with minimal fuss let somebody plows into the car

 

You wouldn't want those guys working on your car...

 

Those tests are rarely accurate, but any 2010 is likely to be on borrowed time at this point. Usually 12-13 years is the median for battery failures. Also, the longer you let the car sit, the higher the likelihood of a failure. Sometimes just a few weeks is too long for a battery of this age.

I would consider another car unless you can DIY the repairs.

 

You're in Kansas City car work is very similar pricing and what not to where I am here in North Carolina more or less here in North Carolina I bought a JDM engine and the matching transmission with similar mileage delivered to my door for about $1,470 that included the shipping I had that engine and transmission put in my 2013 Prius five-door hatchback for $800 plus the 50 bucks for CVT fluid oil a filter and something else I don't remember what but the fluids so that was you know I don't know $2,300 and some odd dollars with the engine sitting in the car I did not task the mechanic with getting the car running after he installed bolted up and connected everything I went to the car at his shop put it out in the driveway put my HV battery charger on the battery for about 3 hours and went back and got the car running and drove it home and when I got it back home I put on all the stuff I took off before I sent it to the mechanic the wiper tray the wiper motor electrically connected the air conditioning back up which was never disconnected the air compressor just hung in the car while the motor change went on so I didn't have to regass up my air conditioner or anything. So if you can't get that done for under $5,000 yeah you should probably quit because we're not clearly seeing things or something now in California this might be different for some folks that don't have connections in East LA and what have you but if you just want to open your checkbook yeah you're going to have a little more leaving your wallet

 

I would charge the same amount but I always clean the EGR and intake as part of the job. However, Tombukt2 is right about JDM. I bought a 1.8L from them with less than 60k on it and already put 30K on it. It's still going strong. It doesn't even use any oil. That JDM engine cost me $1600 delivered to my shop door. If you can find someone in your area that will install it for less than $2000 then your not paying any more than the head gasket price. I only charge $1500 to swap them out and I'm Master certified but prices have just as much to do with where you are as they do with experience and certifications, so what I charge here doesn't really mean much there. But I hope this kinda gives you an idea of what your options are.