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Head Gasket?

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by MollyGee, Dec 20, 2022.

  1. MollyGee

    MollyGee New Member

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    I took my 2015 Prius C in to the dealership for oil change/tire rotation today, 78K miles. And they just called and said my head gasket is blown? I have not noticed any issues with its driving. I drove it 200 mile round trip over the weekend and it seemed fine. I have not had any issues with the car, only ever routine maintenance. I bought it new and have done all the routine maintenance etc at this dealership.
     
    #1 MollyGee, Dec 20, 2022
  2. MollyGee

    MollyGee New Member

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    I am reading on head gaskets, and it seems unusual that there was nothing noticable happening with the car. It wasnt starting rough, no warning lights. Most of the posts/articles the cars with this are much older or have much higher miles than mine. the dealership said $4,400 to fix it. I dont know what to think.
     
    #2 MollyGee, Dec 20, 2022
  3. PriusII&C

    PriusII&C Active Member

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    Most of the head gasket problem occurs on Gen 3 prii with high mileage. I rarely hear this happen on a Prius-C.

    Go to the dealer and check how they know it is a head gasket problem.

    Please keep us updated of your progress.
     
    #3 PriusII&C, Dec 20, 2022
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. MollyGee

    MollyGee New Member

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    Thanks. I am taking into my regular car guy tomorrow. They dont do head gaskets, but he wants to see it first and if it is a head gasket will send me on to the shop they send those to. He said it didn't sound right to him, no warning lights, not rough starting, etc.
     
    #4 MollyGee, Dec 20, 2022
  5. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Bad luck? If you get your C back with the estimate, will you ever take it to the dealer again?
     
    #5 vvillovv, Dec 21, 2022
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i hope they didn't swap your good engine for one with a blown head gasket. i know dealers are desperate these days, but that would be despicable
     
    #6 bisco, Dec 21, 2022
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You've noticed nothing unusual? Is coolant level in the reservoir stable? No shaking on cold starts?

    I'd definitely ask them for more details, how they determined that. And get a second opinion?

    There's a couple of tests that can be run:

    1. Leak-down test. The cylinders are pressurized with air one at a time, with the piston at Top Dead Center of the compression stroke, using a special gauge set. How the gauges act, and just by listening and checking various places for air leakage, they can get a good idea if the head gasket's failing, and how/where.

    2. Boroscope inspection of cylinders, with coolant system pressurized. This looks for telltale coolant leakage into the cylinder, getting past the head gasket.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Dec 21, 2022
  8. MollyGee

    MollyGee New Member

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    Took the car into my mechanic. He doesn't see any sign of a big head gasket problem. The dealership finally called me back this morning and sent me a picture of the leak. it is a 1/4" pink crusty spot that my mechanic said could be a small slow head gasket leak. or could be from the hose. I have driven the car 100 miles, in 4 different trips around town since the oil change, and havent noticed anything in its driving. No shaking when starting. no cloud of white smoke. my mpg might be slightly lower, but its really cold and hard to tell. Im still getting from 40-50mpg depending on if the car is starting cold or the length of the trip. The coolant level hasn't changed.

    My mechanic was to do a fuel induction cleaning and overall tune up/check up first week in january, and said they could do a head gasket sealant at that time, just to be safe. Good idea?
     
    #8 MollyGee, Dec 22, 2022
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no, don't do head gasket sealant. don't do fuel induction, and there's no such thing as a prius 'tune up.

    just follw your maintenance schedule, and keep an eye on your oil and coolant until you're comfortable that nothing is wrong.
     
    #9 bisco, Dec 22, 2022
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  10. MollyGee

    MollyGee New Member

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    is the fuel induction thing something Toyota dealerships push now? They wanted to do it at my summer oil change and I put it off, and they said it again for this maintenance. I googled it and see it mentioned as recommended by several toyota dealerships.
     
    #10 MollyGee, Dec 22, 2022
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, they are pushing anything they can think of to try and increase profits in these dark times, at the expense of their customers
     
    #11 bisco, Dec 23, 2022
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