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Gen 4 Engine Mystery blown head gasket.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by johnnychimpo, Dec 7, 2022.

  1. Paladain55

    Paladain55 Active Member

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    I like these too. They are easy to use on most used cars i go look at as well. If you pass this too, more than likely you may just be getting oil dilution from blowby. Blowby contains water, unburnt fuel, carbon, etc... So thats how you can get milky and frothy catch cans.
    If thats the case maybe its just a quirk of your new engine install. Clean out your froth and go for a nice loaded interstate drive and see if you can burn off the rest in the oil and if your froth comes back. But it doesn't sound like oil dilution. You could also change the oil as it wouldn't hurt.
     
  2. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

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    Yes I recall these. now is it burn fuel or oil this detects. I only ask because I recaptured my coolant when I change my oil pump last and there may have been a drop or two of oil nothing major but would this detect it? dont want a false positive. Furthermore I dont think the gasket if it is even leaking
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I believe that tester detects carbon monoxide in coolant system?
     
  4. Paladain55

    Paladain55 Active Member

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    yeah it sniffs for exhaust in the cooling system
     
  5. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

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    OK Update, the head gasket was not blown although It looked like it the mayo looked like classic head gasket issue.
    I thought I had bad gasket or micro crack on the block due to overheat a while back (bad Pump) I thought I simply caught it super early.
    Long story short it was the oil catch can brass filter that got clogged not allowing condensation to pass into the intake.
    making it look like a blown head gasket. put it all back together runs great. IMG_20221206_191552.jpg Attach19153_20221206_100856.jpg
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Not sure what those are. These are what comes to mind, but don't think you mean them:


    upload_2023-1-26_14-6-8.png

    Do you mean the main cylinder head bolts:

    upload_2023-1-26_14-7-41.png
    Just realized I'm responding to your way-back-when initial post. Maybe disregard.
     
  7. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Yep, that's what happens when an engine operates with no fresh air flushing blowby gases (notably including water vapor) from the engine. Your blowby was forced to exit via the hose that normally supplies fresh air. Do you see more "mayo" around the throttle plate?
     
  8. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

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    no, it only went in about 4 inches