Changing an engine in a 2011. Too much for amateurs?

Anything is possible!

Just require lots of time, patience, beer, bloody knuckles, swear jar/change, lots of thinking and documenting and more beer.

Think about all the steps of the process beforehand, plan it out well and make sure to be ready with what can happen.

I never dived that deep, however I would not hesitate too long to start it with help and a mechanic on stand by.

 

I would assume you would need some tools.
Special tools to consider:
Jacks
Jack Stands
Engine Cherry picker
Decent torque wrench

 

More than one torque wrench may be needed: 1/4, 3/8, and perhaps 1/2. Your expert can put you in the picture there. Depending on the strength of the the garage rafters, you can rig a chain hoist from the ceiling (you can even reinforce the ceiling with doubled 2x4s resting on the floor--ie, vertical) if you don't have access to a dedicated engine hoist. You can rent engine hoists (or even buy one at Harbor Freight).
The tools are metric, and some of them will be fiddly (ie, specific purpose tools) but most will be regular metric sockets, box end and open end wrenches.
Lots and lots of reading and thinking 'o)

 

absolutely you can do it. read up and watch a lot of videos. get a subscription to the service manual, and techstream
most of it is just tediously taking things apart and tracking them for reassembly. take tons of pictures, your bro's friend is your ace in the hole

 

Watch these videos by @Ragingfit ; he transplants a 4th gen engine into a Prius v. If the donor was 3rd gen, the process would be simpler.

Swapping in a Gen 4 Prius' 2ZR Engine into the Prius v | PriusChat

 

One thing: @Ragingfit slathers most bolts with never-seize (Nuclear Grade!) before reassembly and torquing. I'm not sure that's for the best: my Pocket Ref (by Thomas J. Glover) recommends reducing torque value to 0.45 when using that lube.

 

It's not too bad but a garage lift makes it easier. But I agree with what is stated above you going to need beer and your knuckles will be busted. The engines are easy to remove and install it's all the electrical harness connectors that's going to take the longest time disconnecting them and moving them out of the way. I always let the car down over a heavy duty work station on wheels then remove the two top mount bolts and lift the car off the work station then use a cherry picker to change out the engine from the transmission. Then just roll the engine back into place and lower the body back over the engine while lining everything back up carefully. Me by myself takes 16-18 hrs.
Be warned the easiest and most costly mistake is nicking the windshield with the wiper tray when removing or installing it back in. The windshield will crack.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I did mine in my parents driveway. Common hand tools, an engine hoist, a hydraulic jack and a pair of jack stands. I pulled the engine by itself, without the transaxle. It can be out in a few hours. The EGR cooler is going to occupy most of your time. Hook the hoist as close to the engine as possible. Most hoists have 4 weight extensions on the boom, keep the boom as short as possible for maximum elevation. Watch the exhaust manifold at the base of the windshield.

IIRC, 7 bolts on the bellhousing, three bolts and two nuts on the passenger motor mount, two exhaust bolts at the manifold to pipe, There is not a lot to take loose to get it out, but it can be labor intensive.

 

The EGR cooler/valve could come off with the engine? Maybe even with exhaust manifold as well? Just go REAL slow while clearing the windshield...

 

As long as you have a plan b in place.
You may have to clean things or replace a specific part or have unexpected downtime for some odd or specific reasons.
Dont stand behind the 8 ball and get worried sick the whole time if you are relying on driving the vehicle
perhaps after 60 hours....like starting Friday after work and needing to drive to work the following Monday.

Not that it cant happen, but there is Murphy there too to help out.

The only thing you have to fear is fear itself lol.

Your ambition and dedication is what is gonna get it done.

I just looked at your location....if you were closer to me I would be helping ya out!

 

Should be good to go then.
Keep it simple but thorough and no rush should yield the best results.

Good luck with the swap, should be fun and a great learning xp!
I will prob be in that spot sooner or later with some type of car.

 

2015 would be the least amount of work.
Also they have updated the pistons and rings on the 2015MY
Although I suppose with finding a low mileage 2010-13 and doing an
overhaul and changing them out could result in lower cost if that is what is found.

However, there is a few folks that have put some Gen 4 engine in.
This thread here discusses it
I think some self fabrication and the like to get it done.

Again, anything is possible. But the headaches will be mighty.

 

Yes.