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Head gasket went last month, DAMN !!!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by LARRYG36, Aug 12, 2022.

  1. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    Coming home from a doctors appointment last month the engine started rattling at a stop until I gave it a lot of gas and then it stopped and about a block later the check engine light came on, lucky I was by an AutoZone so I went in and had them put it on the code reader, got the code misfire in cylinder 2 .so of course I change the spark plugs and the coils which was overdue, while I was at it I also changed the Intake Manifold and EGR valve and the PCV valve. And no I didn’t clean them, Ordered new Toyota parts. Watched about 3 days' worth of YouTube’s about head gasket problems and diagnosis. Kept coming back to a company called “Gasket Masters”, so I gave them a call and asked if they can recommend any shops in the Vegas area. He told me we also do on site work and that he’ll be in the So. Nevada/ Utah area next week, I told him please pencil me in!!! I was his first stop before heading to Vegas. And at 8am on the dot a Mercedes-Benz van pulled into my driveway. He had every thing you could think of in their van, parts, complete engines, hoist. He said they seem to be doing more Prius GEN 3 and 4 gaskets than anything else. From the time he pulled in, to the time he pulled out it was 4 hours. an he's a absolutely great guy (Larry) to talk to, he has five shops in California the northern shops handle Northern California and Reno Nevada and the southern shops handle southern Nevada and Southern Utah. I told him that I love watching their videos, so much info. He’s the shaved head guy you can tell he was in the military at one time because all the instruction is kept pretty simple and to the point. After the engine was put back together, I was surprised about how much time it took to get the coolant bubbles out of the system and flashing the computer/ doing the diagnostic on all the sensors. So, if you live in California, Northern/ Southern Nevada or Southern Utah, I highly recommended him/them for Prius engine work. I kid-you-not theses' guys can do it with their eyes closed..... OK let’s go to the most important part ""the cost"". The Stealership where we bought our Prius from originally quoted us $4700 just for the gasket job nothing else. "Gasket Masters" does the gasket with a used but clean EGR, then all the diagnostic afterwards for $1950. And that is the fixed price for doing a Gen 3 or 4 gasket. Same engine. I hope you’re reading this Larry because you guys are a lifesaver.
     

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    #1 LARRYG36, Aug 12, 2022
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2022
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    How many miles on it?
     
  3. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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  4. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    180k some thing.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Is the pink arrow between cylinders 3 and 4, head gasket upside down?

    Talk about a fail:

    upload_2022-8-12_12-56-43.png
     
  6. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    He also highly suggested that I takeoff my cold air intake ( Not good for the gasket) and put the factory intake back on. luckily I kept it on the top shelf for these 11 years,
     

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    #6 LARRYG36, Aug 12, 2022
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  7. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    Yeah, It was clogged but not to the extent where it through a code “yet”
     

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  8. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    No idea.

    Yea, One smart thing he did was removing the lower EGR stud from the block, makes it a snap to take the EGR off to clean it. As some of you know, that lower EGR nut is a BITCH TO GET OFF !!!! Dont stress it, delete it, lol
     
    #8 LARRYG36, Aug 12, 2022
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  9. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I've cleaned my egr 3 times, and never had a problem with that nut and stud.
    I guess you just need the correct tool. (y):whistle:
     
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  10. mikey_t

    mikey_t Active Member

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    He said that they've been doing a lot of Gen 4 gaskets? Interesting.
     
  11. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    Same engine
     
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  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Not the same engine. The block is redesigned, and the head is different.
     
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    And the EGR. There’s been no 4th gen head gasket failures reported/confirmed here. Some reports, that turn out to be coolant leaks in the exhaust heat recovery system.
     
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  14. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    call them then, or respond to one of their y-tubes

    You're right, I miss spoke, But they still bow Gaskets, look at one of their y-tubes doing gen 4 gaskets at taxi companies.

    But they still bow Gaskets, look at one of their y-tubes doing gen 4 gaskets at taxi companies.
     
    #14 LARRYG36, Aug 13, 2022
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 14, 2022
  15. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    I have always heard good things about Gasketmasters. Did theyuse your same head?

    Probably means the 2016 and 17 Prius v wagons, still gen3, often used as taxis.
     
    #15 rjparker, Aug 13, 2022
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  16. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    I just realize it’s been years since I posted on Prius chat, I looked on my archives and the vast majority of the stuff was when we first bought it ,the cold air intake, larger rims and putting XM into it. talking about memories. And my wife and I just realize that we’ve had three other vehicles since we bought the Prius. we both didn’t like the GEN 4’s, we thought they were pretty damn ugly looking, but the renderings of the GEN 5’s thats coming out in 2023 look incredibly like the GEN 3’s. We can’t wait to see them and test drive one. If we do pick up a new one next year, I'm definitely have some ideas that I want to try with this thing other than cosmetics and electronics.
     
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  17. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    YEP, If its not warped. Larry said you wouldn't believe how many people still drive their Prius when the engine is doing the death rattle, warped heads, blowed engines. That 2nd time at the intersection, I PARKED HER !!!, So he didn't half to do any resurfacing of the head on ours. I will admit it was great to use our good old Land Cruiser for last weeks trip to AZ. Oh if i could only put the LC seats in the Prius, I WOULD BURN THOSE DAMN PRIUS SEATS OF TORTURE.
     
  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Did you feel any type of loss in performance going back to stock intake?
     
  19. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    How is that "cold" air intake system supposed to work? I look at it and the air filter is open in the engine compartment- pulling air that's been heated by the radiator and engine.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  20. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

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    Not really, But when we go on long trips, I put back the factory rims and tires back on, That makes a Huge Difference in gas milage.

    More air to combust. Look it up, I bought it from the PRIUSCHAT STORE, about 10 yrs ago. We did like the sound the car made................ they still sell them, it's listed in the performance section.
     
    #20 LARRYG36, Aug 13, 2022
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 14, 2022
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