1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Self proclaimed expert explains why Prius Headgasket Failures are normal, early, and inevitable

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Sal43, Oct 21, 2020.

  1. Rocky Mountain Priusman

    Rocky Mountain Priusman Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2021
    212
    109
    0
    Location:
    Canmore, Alberta, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    This thread makes me want to put KIRKLAND brand extra virgin olive oil mixed with canola oil in my engine the next time I change it. How can it be much different than Toyota 0w-20?
     
    gboss likes this.
  2. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,679
    547
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    It will be better.
     
  3. OptimusPriustus

    OptimusPriustus Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2021
    308
    130
    1
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It could clean the rings, one never know:D

    i actually had one of those wonders happen once. Had 20years old Corolla which had been running on mineral oils all her life. For some reason i put fully synthetic Mobil in and it started consuming oil. With mineral oil hardly any consumption. I just kept on driving and after second oil change the oil consumption stopped. I was really confused until a friend of mine told me ”your rings are now clean. you’re free now”:D:ROFLMAO: True story
     
    djasonw likes this.
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,883
    3,155
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I got some prime waterfront property in south Florida to sell you. For a really great price....
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,629
    38,194
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah, my money's on Toyota 0W20. :)
     
  6. mjoo

    mjoo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2016
    1,106
    1,311
    12
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Diesels routinely run lean and not incur real mechanical problems. I've not heard of a diesel with an aluminum cylinder head. They also don't have throttles.

    Gasoline engines are more sensitive to lean conditions IMHO.

    moto g power ?
     
  7. Mdv55

    Mdv55 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2018
    246
    180
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    GMs Duramax has had aluminum heads since it was introduced in 2001. The new 3.0l diesel for 2020 also has an aluminum block.
     
    V Sport Wagon likes this.
  8. Rocky Mountain Priusman

    Rocky Mountain Priusman Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2021
    212
    109
    0
    Location:
    Canmore, Alberta, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    If you dislike your prius so much and doubt its reliability, why dont you sell it for another vehicle you like more, and why are you spending time on a Prius chat forum? Or is it a love/hate relationship?
     
    V Sport Wagon likes this.
  9. OptimusPriustus

    OptimusPriustus Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2021
    308
    130
    1
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    i think aluminum diesels are quite common nowadays. I’ve had at least two with such. One had went through head job at around 100kkm:) Bad lifters
     
  10. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,679
    547
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Because I can......and I have 5 vehicles.
    I'm on here because of misinformed people like you.
    Why even reply to or post something from me.
    I know more about the 3rd Gen than you ever will.
     
  11. Mdv55

    Mdv55 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2018
    246
    180
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Ecodiesel?
     
  12. DieselHammer

    DieselHammer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2021
    22
    2
    0
    Location:
    Kansas and Texas
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Wow! Why the bitterness?
     
  13. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,525
    1,241
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    One Gasket Masters video wouldn't tell the full prius head gasket story.
    Here's an older GM video showing what happens after driving long enough after the head gasket starts leaking
    youtu.be/8U1rs3bI-HA
    Finding the GM video where they replace a prius head gasket in the taxi yard somewhere around the bay area will give a few more clues as to what some of the possible causes of the Gen 3 head gasket issue is really about.
     
  14. V Sport Wagon

    V Sport Wagon Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2023
    227
    83
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    :rolleyes:
     
  15. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2008
    1,755
    616
    0
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I've never had glitter in any of the eCVTs that I have changed fluid from. Wonder why you get glitter?
     
  16. V Sport Wagon

    V Sport Wagon Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2023
    227
    83
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Because he's just such a ray of sunshine and positivity in all his posts, it's natural even his car would glimmer.
     
  17. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,642
    1,134
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No, as has become more clear relatively recently, it's more because the engineer who set up the water pump control programming forgot part of what he should've learned in Heat Transfer class.
     
    mikey_t likes this.
  18. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,550
    4,425
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Thermal cycling contributes which is demonstrable (40-50f after initial warmup) and is what GM said in the video. However carbon buildup from oil consumption and a bad pcv and egr design are also factors.

    Any engine can blow a head gasket if frequently overheated.

    Thermal cycling is not a factor in similar Corolla engines but the other factors remain. Corollas don’t have anything close to the problem.
     
    mikey_t likes this.
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,629
    38,194
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Strike out that bit and I'll go along with you.

     
    Mr. F and CR94 like this.
  20. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    1,205
    326
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    would my logic be wrong that a non v with the V cooling which has been enlarged to hold more coolant effectively keep the motor cooler by having additional fluid circulating?