My 2012 Prius V with 172,000 miles started having the oil light comes on even when the oil is full?

That is new information. One thing to know is Service Advisors at dealerships are usually commissioned salesmen often with no mechanic experience. They try to translate a mechanic's notes to something a typical customer might understand and often lose context in the process.

Shaky starts could be a sign of a problem. The engines have two common shaky start issues; one is a head gasket leak and a second is a sticking open egr valve. Both can be intermittent, eg not every time or even every day.

As a result a dealer mechanic might not experience it.

While unusual, clogged fuel injectors can also cause a shaky start but would normally continue and code as misfires.

The shakes could be bad enough to reduce oil pressure if the oil pump or oil passages were already partially clogged.

However the oil light staying on longer than 5 seconds really is not good. It could fail completely at any time.

 

For a heady moment I thought “huh, $7k (USD) for a new engine, not bad”. Then reality set in.

 

Tina,

You need to start seeing other mechanics.
Immediately.
Like......before you drive it again.
As stated before, 99.44% of the time when you see a red oil pressure light then your engine is the process of destroying itself.

Also, as stated before the "shaky startup" is something else entirely.
It's like chest pain in a human.
It could be gas pains.....or......you might be having a heart attack.

and.....$7,000 for a new, 110,000 mile engine?
Did they say that with a straight face - or is 110,000 miles the warranty period for the new engine??

 

Toyota does not sell new engines. You can buy a new short block and separately get a new head as an assembly but that's about it.

 

That's NOT the issue and basically BS. Injectors can leak gas into the combustion chamber and a very bad injector leak would throw a bunch of error codes, so your CEL should be lit also. You would smell gasoline on your engine oil dip stick. The gasoline would thin-out the oil and cause a low oil pressure issue. Your mpg would also take a good wrack. ANY decent mechanic would recommend an oil change and replacement of the leaky injector(s) - NOT tell you to dump injection cleaner into your gas tank an call it a day; because your causing long term damage to your engine.

You need to have someone else that's competent look at your car.
You may want to talk to these guys: TCCN Automotive

Sorry...

 

So you have a blown head gasket and now have sealer in it. It might last 1-6 months until the sealer wears off.

Putting in sealer has downsides as well and is usually not recommended for a car because of its potential to clog up heaters and radiators.

If you afford a much newer car, now is the time to do it.

 

The coolant sealer will clog your cooling system and most likely overheat your engine during the summer months. You'll need to pull over and shut-down when the temp lamp lights up or you can just keep driving it and "blow it up".

Good Luck......

 

oh dear…

I once asked a dealership service writer if it was normal to hear a whistling sound from gas cap, after a long drive on a hot day (it was). Anyway, the next little while I was always smelling gas in the garage: the jokers had run with that question: drilled a “vent hole” through the gas cap.

regardless of the shops familiarity and longevity, they just messed up your car even more. That stuff should be illegal. It’s basically a sealant, that’ll gum up everything it’s in contact with: radiator, cabin heater core, water pump, thermostat, all the coolant passages in the engine.

the “shaking on start up” is due to coolant pooling in the cylinders, having leaked past the failing head gasket.

A proper course of action would be replace the head gasket, and all the other gaskets encountered, AND thoroughly clean the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system, including intake manifold’s EGR passages.

 

Depends what low budget means in your case. Obviously mpg is a factor but I would not buy another Prius v 2012-17 or a standard 2010-15 Prius. They all are getting old and can have three or more multi thousand dollar failures.

Plus everybody and their dog are buying Prii now with high gas prices which is artificially driving up prices. Anyone with a good one is not selling.

My used car upgrade from a 2012 Prius v would be a Venza Hybrid or a 2020 or newer Rav4 or Camry hybrid. Again those prices are likely to be jacked up. You get more power, a better ride and advanced safety features in each of these. Worth a financial stretch assuming you need a safe and reliable car.

A new car lease can be a low cost way to upgrade especially with a Toyota that has high residual value.

If you trade your car when its running right you may do ok. I would not private sale it to anyone and especially to anyone you know.

If you really need low cost, just about any conventional engine Camry, Avalon, Corolla, Rav4 or some CRVs, Accords and most Civics would be possibilities.

Unless you buy or lease new, ABSOLUTELY get a pre-purchase inspection. Pre meaning before signing a deal or handing over money.

About 33 minutes away you have access to TCCN Automotive, youtubes Car Care Nut, a highly qualified Master Toyota Technician that has a thriving shop. The real issue might be getting in.

Care Care Nut Shop

 

don't forget about an old Pontiac Vibe; a Toyota Matrix in disguise. Just make sure there's no rust. They are good and reliable, as long as basic maintenance has been performed. The best thing is that any competent mechanic can repair them and I don't mean dumping coolant sealer into them.

 

Depending on the gen, the Vibe (or Matrix) is a veritable cargo van: when you flip down the back seat you've got a dead-flat plastic floor, with longitudinal runners to facilitate sliding cargo. Engine's sim to gen 3 prius, Corolla, IIRC. Wheels the same too, at least some years..