Intake Manifold Gasket Leak ? Toyota Prius 2010

Dear Members,

I have a prius gen 3 (2010) with the mileage of 65,000 KM. Recently the car has started indicating the error code P0171 (System Too Lean Bank 1).

I did below mentioned tests as recommended by the mechanic, replaced the air filter, checked the spark plugs, throttle body cleaned, checked for vacuum pipes for any leaks (except the injector cleanup).

Unfortunately, still i am getting the error even when it is erased from the ICU.

After resetting the error, it is not showing until the engine gets wormed-up into some level. From the engine cold start, i can run the car about 15 - 30 mins with the engine power without the MIL indication.

Today, I did notice something in-between the intake manifold and engine head (Orange color rubber part), i think it should be the manifold gasket but I am not too sure whether this is normal and causing the error.

Appreciate the kind help in this and thank in advance for all the members.

 

Adding HD video for clear view

 

Thank you my dear members. I think it is worth trying both options. I'll give you update later.

 

I did clean all the stuff.... including EGR and piping which was clogged very badly. I took the entire intake manifold and its attached components out, such as sensors, throttle body, EGR piping and valve. of course the EGR valve was heavily blocked including the piping and tiny breathing halls in the intake manifold which mixes the cold air with exhaust air was also partially blocked. .....so i did clean them well and assembled them back and make sure any intake leaks not to happen. So far this is what i did.

1.) Cleaned the air Flow Sensor,
2.) Cleaned kind of a sensor mounted to the intake manifold (may be the heated air sensor, not sure)
3.) Replaced a new air filter.
4.) Checked and clean all the spark plugs with suitable sparking gaps.
5.) Cleaned the EGR valve.
6.) Cleaned EGR piping.

After fixing all these I ran the car in my usual daily routine and i feels there is a slight improvement in the performance.
However, appearing the MIL (p0171) was not resolved but the frequency of appearing it has reduced.

As i noticed, most of the occasions where the car is moving just above the ECO line with the slight engine power (just above the middle line of the EV to Engine Power display) this is happening.

Can someone tell me any area to check ?

 

Dear Friends,

I think i have found the problem which is really an unexpected situation at this level of millage of my Gen III prius (2010 - 62,000 Km).... i never thought that fuel injectors can be blocked this early.

 

Soon after cleaning the injectors, the engine started to perform like a new, no error codes anymore Got the best millage after longtime 22.6kml (53+ MPG) in regular driving...!!!