Hello, Wanted to ask for your help diagnosing potential head gasket on my 2013 Prius at 220K miles. *Please see attached view in cylinder 1 where I think I see coolant droplets? symptoms - slowly losing coolant from reservoir can’t find external leak - started with misfire (rattle) on cold starts then progressively moved to misfire shudder for 1-3 seconds every stoplight once engine heats up - otherwise drives normal avg 45-50 mgs - no codes (but did have p301 cyl 1 misfire months ago) - cyl 1 spark plug looked either lean or maybe a tiny bit washed tests - compression (cyl 1 - 120 with other 3 between that up to 130) - exhaust gas reservoir test (passed) -ignition coils passes What I’ve done - cleaned egr valve, cooler, pipe, and intake manifold - new spark plugs, air filter, oil change with filter, air filter - new injectors
If you're this skilled at diagnosis, I'm sure you'll find this particular head gasket job easy. There's been people on here with way less skill than you who have done the headgasket successfully.
I believe you've confirmed the leaking head gasket. It's not too difficult to do the head gasket job. Depends on your skill level. And the tools you have. It's extremely rare the exhaust test alerts to the leaking head gasket.
Hello, Wanted to ask for your help diagnosing potential head gasket on my 2013 Prius at 220K miles. *Please see attached view in cylinder 1 where I think I see coolant droplets? symptoms - slowly losing coolant from reservoir can’t find external leak - started with misfire (rattle) on cold starts then progressively moved to misfire shudder for 1-3 seconds every stoplight once engine heats up - otherwise drives normal avg 45-50 mgs - no codes (but did have p301 cyl 1 misfire months ago) - cyl 1 spark plug looked either lean or maybe a tiny bit washed tests - compression (cyl 1 - 120 with other 3 between that up to 130) - exhaust gas reservoir test (passed) -ignition coils passes What I’ve done - cleaned egr valve, cooler, pipe, and intake manifold - new spark plugs, air filter, oil change with filter, air filter - new injectors
Was that the first EGR cleaning? QUOTE="David Wallace, post: 3620940, member: 223720"]started with misfire (rattle) on cold starts then progressively moved to misfire shudder for 1-3 seconds every stoplight once engine heats up - otherwise drives normal avg 45-50 mgs[/QUOTE] Very likely coolant in combustion chambers.
Pretty sure I responded in another thread you started, same subject. Doesn't help that the site is currently half-broken, I can't see my postings, or postings of anyone else.
It was a head gasket on the first cold start rattle long before you could observe obvious coolant loss. Be sure to accurately check for head or block warpage before quickly changing the head gasket. Head gasket replacement is more successful much earlier. If you bought aftermarket injectors replace them with your oem injectors during your engine rebuild or replacement.
I raised this concern to moderator @Tideland Prius today in a private message about site currently being "half-broken" as in server down time is a daily problem right now and maybe I should be grateful for less than half the usual work load, but you'd think owner Danny is at least paying attention to his drop in ad revenue? I mean this website used to get a million views a month and I bet its getting less than a 1/3rd that right now because the server keeps crashing.
As stated above, once you complete the head gasket replacement you will be set. If you "need proof" that the HG is compromised.....other than the Prius death rattle then borrow a Cylinder Leakage Tester Kit from a parts house and perform a leak down test. Sometimes a bore-scope will reveal signs that coolant is getting into the bore - but since you have to yank the plugs to perform that test anyway, it costs you nothing but time to do the additional test. Please do not try to use a "stops leak" product unless you deeply etch the fact that you did this on the hood paint along with the date. This will warn any prospective future buyer of the car.....
