Head Gasket- what am I looking at?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by C Clay, Mar 2, 2026 at 4:18 PM.

  1. C Clay

    C Clay Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2012
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    Location:
    Lexington, KY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    This is my first head gasket job. This looks horrible- not really like the pictures you see with a breach between cylinder 1 and 2. This has been on for 100k miles.
    Symptoms:
    Used about 10 oz of coolant a week for about the last 2-3 weeks.
    Just last week I started getting P300, 301, 302, and I think 304, but not until then. Of course I've had some hard starts- but minor. No over heating (I have a scanner app I use every time)
    What is this? Normally I thought you would see a "steam-cleaned" piston and cylinder- they all look like this. (The green in coolant was that dye I used hoping to find a leak and not have to to this)
     

    Attached Files:

  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
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    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My guess is because you caught it early and are ahead of the game... As in the coolant will clean out some of the carbon if you wait long enough.
     
    C Clay likes this.