Looking for help doing the heat exchanger bypass

I too am interested in doing this but also have some mileage on mine and don't know if it's better to do it as the car ages, or to just leave it alone.

FWIW most of the Prius Carfax reports I read for 4th gens didn't have the heat exchanger fix done, so if it happens, it seems like it either happens early or doesn't happen at all.

 

This looks very easy to do, I’m a little ways away from you but go from KY to Rome GA a bit. I’d be glad to help if you still need it and I’m that way soon.

Because… I just bought a new to me 2019 and need the same thing unfortunately.

I’ll probably do mine this week- i’m a little bummed out, I’ve only had this car about five weeks – but coming from a third end where I did two head, gaskets, already knew the failure points of the this generation.

I’m looking for some discussion on any downside to doing the bypass if you are in a state without emissions.

 

While it is common for earlier years (prior to 2019 model year??) to start leaking coolant in the Exhaust Heat Recovery system, if you're not leaking coolant up till now, maybe you're ok? I would just monitor it closely, say check level in the reservoir once a week for a couple of months. If it's not budging, leave it be?

 

^ Yep; the coolant will keep the seams from getting too hot and melting. That's the reason you turn off and drain the water, when you solder copper pipes together. This can become a source of exhaust leaks and rattling, when it starts falling apart internally. Besides; it only takes a seconds to eye-ball the engine coolant jug when you check the oil level - SOMETHING, your suppose to be doing on occasions anyways.......

Just my 2-cents........

If it aint broke; why are you "fixing it"......