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2010 engine swap, a few questions

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by TheLandYacht, Jan 20, 2022.

  1. TheLandYacht

    TheLandYacht Member

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    So...it looks like I may be staring down the barrel of an engine swap in the foreseeable future, so I've got a few questions.

    1. First and foremost, with about 160k at this point, is it worthwhile? I commute 80miles round-trip (highway miles) each day.
    2. Where can I find a reputable seller of a reliable engine replacement?
    3. Does a Prius engine replacement require anything esoteric, or is anyone who's familiar with doing standard engine swaps day-in/day-out going to be able to pull this off? I ask because I live far from anyone who'd be considered a "prius specialist".

    Here's what a quick check of google/ebay found for replacement engines...
    https://jdmenginezone.com/products/toyota-prius-2010-2017-1-8l-hybrid-jdm-engine-2zr-fxe?variant=29439756927018&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2020-01-22&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign

    10 15 TOYOTA PRIUS 1.8L HYBRID ENGINE JDM 2ZR-FXE | eBay

    Any other suggestions?
     
    #1 TheLandYacht, Jan 20, 2022
  2. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Looks like the newer 2016 engine that requires retrofitting
     
    #2 tankyuong, Jan 20, 2022
  3. TheLandYacht

    TheLandYacht Member

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    Add into the equation, on question#1...I still owe just over $4k on the car-note so I can't just abandon it (or it would hurt me financially to do so).
     
    #3 TheLandYacht, Jan 20, 2022
  4. TheLandYacht

    TheLandYacht Member

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    What do you mean? Can you explain a bit?
     
    #4 TheLandYacht, Jan 20, 2022
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Would you entertain 4th gen engine? @Ragingfit got his through LKQ IIRC. He played it conservative, retained 3rd gen intake, throttle body and EGR.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Jan 20, 2022
  6. TheLandYacht

    TheLandYacht Member

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    I've been told I'm a fairly entertaining guy.

    What are the relative pros & cons of 3rd/4th gen? Is that tankyuong was talking about, above? The link in my original post is to a 4th-gen engine?

    And what retrofits are required to make it work?
     
    #6 TheLandYacht, Jan 20, 2022
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    #7 Mendel Leisk, Jan 20, 2022
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I bought from JDM in Belleville New Jersey I think it is I bought an engine and the transmission the total bill delivered to my door and set on the ground at my shop was Christ $1,200 right around that The engine and transmission are unbelievably silly clean and I don't mean they were blasted off on the dock. Look under the valve cover everything looks silver and brand new like it's not running the oil which is hard to imagine giving these things are choked up on EGR and gurgling on their own puke most of their running lives I don't know if there's anything different about a JDM spec engine or not it is for the correct year car I have 13
     
    #8 Tombukt2, Jan 20, 2022
  9. TheLandYacht

    TheLandYacht Member

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    So we've gotten so busy with which engine, we've neglected the first & last questions.

    #1: Is it worthwhile, since it's got 160k-ish? (but I've still got a bit over $4k left on the note)?
    #3: Is this engine swap likely to require a "prius specialist", or is this something anyone who regularly does engine-replacements will be able to accomplish?
     
    #9 TheLandYacht, Jan 21, 2022
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Regarding #3, I'd be more optimistic working with a mechanic who's already done a few third gen engine swaps. With 3rd gen engine's regularly packing it in around 150~200K, they shouldn't be too difficult to find.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Jan 22, 2022
    TheLandYacht likes this.
  11. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    #1 Is it worth it?

    Depends on your financial situation, your car's condition and your vehicle needs. Is reliability essential or can you deal with a few downtime repairs every year? In the end its your decision.

    A. You are taking a risk putting in a used engine no matter how shiny it looks. Not only could it quickly have oil consumption and head gasket issues, it could have oil leaks or bad workmanship. These factors are why many pay the dealer $5k-$7.5k for a rebuilt engine.

    B. Depends on the rest of the car's condition. Does it already have a replacement hv battery and brake booster? Tires, brakes, wheel bearings? Catalytic converter especially if it was burning a lot of oil for a long time. You could get a replacement engine and still incur $5k of additional repairs in the next year.

    C. Depends on your desire to have high reliability for your wife and kids (if applicable) or work. Obviously a new or nearly new car will be the most reliable and may have a warranty.

    Getting rid of the car requires the higher level of financial strength, eg cash, excellent credit and a down payment along with a payoff. Buying any car right now means overpaying, perhaps as much as a rebuilt engine. You certainly don't want to be hosed at Joe's Used Car Lot with a high interest loan.

    Sometimes finances require taking risks associated with a used engine and a "low cost" mechanic. Personally I would go for a rebuilt engine because I have a newer battery and brake booster plus I would want at least two more years of use to allow the market to stabilize.
     
    #11 rjparker, Jan 22, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2022
    mikey_t and TheLandYacht like this.
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