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Engine Shaking/White Smoke After Cleaning - 2011 Generation 3 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by An2TheTwan, Jul 6, 2022.

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  1. Half Vast

    Half Vast Junior Member

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    That's it, I'm convinced. Never going this route IF I find myself in need of a head gasket repair.

    The old saying is true, a picture is worth a thousand words. This "solution" may work for some but that sure looks like a mess to deal with.
     
    #21 Half Vast, Jul 10, 2022
    jerrymildred likes this.
  2. An2TheTwan

    An2TheTwan Junior Member

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    So as expected cleaning EGR valve did no solve the issue. Still getting pretty hard shaking. Hoping I did not bend a rod as well.

    Debating on doing the head gasket . Simultaneously looking forward and not looking forward to it lol. With 215k miles, I am not sure it is even worth it. Will probably start another thread if I decide to do so.

    Next step is to do a block test to confirm head gasket failure, but all signs are pointing to it.
     
    #22 An2TheTwan, Jul 14, 2022
  3. ToyXW

    ToyXW Active Member

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    Fixing a head gasket hurts your wallet. Replacing a hybrid battery hurts your wallet. Replacing a brake booster hurts your wallet. But even if you do all 3 in the next 100,000 miles, that's still only $0.06 or $0.07/mile in repairs. You have no payment, right? There isn't much left to depreciate. Even at $5/gal gas is like 10 or 11 cents per mile. 15" tires are about 1 cent per mile. Oil changes and misc maintenance costs around 2 or 3 cents per mile.

    All told with insurance and registration you're probably looking at around $0.25/mile to operate a prius with $5 gasoline. That is less than half of what the IRS lets you deduct for mileage expenses -- there simply is no cheaper car for uber and lyft! It is why Taxi fleets here all ran their gen3 prii to the 425,000 mile mandatory retirement - most on the original engines (few on the original head gaskets).
     
    #23 ToyXW, Jul 15, 2022
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Leak-down test and boroscope inspection are more conclusive; block test checks only for exhaust fumes in coolant, which may or may not be happening. Usual failure reports are of coolant leaks into cylinders, typically starting with cyl one or two.
     
    #24 Mendel Leisk, Jul 15, 2022
    Foxglove likes this.
  5. An2TheTwan

    An2TheTwan Junior Member

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    Yeah car is all paid off and you are right about operating costs. I'm actually done driving for Uber for the time being, so I won't be putting tons of miles on my car anymore.

    I'm leaning towards replacing the head gasket, it is such a big project and I'm still learning as DIY mechanic (my dad is pretty good with this stuff and has helped me a lot) but this is new territory for me.
     
    #25 An2TheTwan, Jul 15, 2022
  6. An2TheTwan

    An2TheTwan Junior Member

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    Okay, I was kind of thinking with the state of my Prius (not loosing coolant) , a block test may not be the best way to diagnose. I mean it has to be head gasket right? (rhetorical question) Never cleaned EGR circuit after 215k, misfire, engine shaking..

    I will have to research more about leak-down tests/boroscope inspections. I am the type of person who likes to confirm what the issue is, especially before tearing into the engine.
     
    #26 An2TheTwan, Jul 15, 2022
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah it IS pretty much a slam-dunk. A leak-down test is mostly belts-and-braces confirmation.

    Funny thing is, in the EGR related Warranty Enhancement Program notification we got from Toyota Canada in May, 2017 (SOSH-W11-1A) it says:

    "While the majority of vehicles will not experience this condition..."

    And they italacize/underline the statement.
     
    #27 Mendel Leisk, Jul 15, 2022
  8. An2TheTwan

    An2TheTwan Junior Member

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    I remember receiving something like this around the same time. Should say "the majority of vehicles WILL experience this condition."

    I guess I am out of luck with any type of coverage under the warranty enhancement.
     
    #28 An2TheTwan, Jul 15, 2022
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