1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Gen 3 head gasket

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by gjkristi, Jan 18, 2022.

  1. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hello,
    I have a 2010 Prius and am getting the rattle on start up some mornings not all. I have cleaned the manifold, EGR, pipe. The car has 205,000. I know there is a replacement manifold that may fix this but have not replaced it. I have not had an issue until now with the old manifold. It maybe a head gasket going bad? The overflow in a years time has gone down only a half an inch. So I did a block test and turned from blue to green but not yellow like the instructions says. I should on a gas car turn to yellow and a diesel turns to green. I'm a little confused with the test results? Hate to put a head gasket in and not be the cause of the rattle. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Gregg
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,726
    38,254
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Try a leak down test.
     
  3. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Will do Thanks
     
  4. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    If the leak tests passes would you try a catch can?
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,726
    38,254
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    EGR/Intake cleaning and oil catch cans, are preventative measures; they won't reverse the course of a failing head gasket.

    Another thing to try is a boroscope inspection. Look for coolant in the cylinder, and/or a steam-cleaned look to one cylinder in particular. When the head gasket fails it's often cylinder one.

    BTW, when was the cleaning done, recently? How bad was was it?

    I wouldn't bother with replacement intake; cleaning's as good as anything. You got the EGR passages, one per port?
     
  6. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,927
    4,430
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Even easier than a leak down test is popping the lid on your coolant reservoir on the left side. If it sucks air in when you open it, that means coolant is leaking into combustion chamber due to blown head gasket.
     
  7. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,799
    48,996
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you cleaned the egr pipe, and the egr?
     
  9. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    It was cleaned about a month ago and passages were not blocked. Did not clean the
    Cleaned everything but the heater
     
  10. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Cleaned all 4 ports really good
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  11. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    To check using the reservoir trick, do you open it after running or when its cooled down?
     
  12. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2020
    1,673
    772
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
  13. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks for the clarification. When I did the block test I did not here any pressure when I opened it up. So maybe the head gasket for now is OK. I'll purchase a scope to see if I see anything in the cylinder. I do a lot of repairs and have a lot of specialty tools but not a scope. Thanks
     
  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,927
    4,430
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    For really minor blown head gaskets that don't yet show much for significant symptoms the cap needs to have been sealed for a long time to get that classic "whoosh" type sound. What I like about that approach when I help people with diagnosis is that they're standing there and its the first thing I do and once they hear that noise...
     
  15. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,927
    4,430
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Can you let us know what you decide to buy for a scope? As well as what options you considered? I'm particularly interested in the least expensive option and have you, rather than me, determine if its good enough or too cheap. ;-)
     
  16. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Looking at a scope on eBay for around 21.00 that plugs into my iPhone. I’ll let you know switch one after I test it out
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  17. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,411
    506
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Im not trying to sway you away from the HG, but what oil is in the engine??
    I just bought my newest-to-me Gen3, this one has 84k miles and it rattled on startup every time when starting cold. Last oil change was 1,500 miles ago in November 2020 :eek: according to the sticker on the window, and the service history on the Toyota owners site. It was rattling on startup for a brief second, when cold.

    Drained out the oil with 1,500 miles on it, looked fine although seemed thicker than 0w20 that Im used to, refilled with 0w20 Mobil 1, and a new oil filter and the engine no longer rattles and is smoother than ever. I do not know what was IN that engine, but it either wasn't 0w20 (dealer bulk oil of a different viscosity, maybe 5w30 or 10w30?) or the oil was diluted or somehow became marginal :coffee:
     
  18. gjkristi

    gjkristi Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    24
    7
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks for the input. I'm do for an oil change in 1000 miles. I have always done my own oil changes with 0w20. Oil still looks clean. Winter get a little cold in Minnesota but is mostly in the garage. What started this was a startup outside, sitting for 3-4 days at o degrees and threw a code failed to start but it did start and did not sound good. When I get my scope going to let it sit over night and see if there's moisture in the head. Also change the oil.
     
    PriusGuy32 likes this.
  19. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,411
    506
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Last year for a different project, I bought a digital boroscope ("inspection camera") on Amazon for like $70. Too bad you are in MN, I'd lend it to you, but it would be perfect for the job.
     
  20. freebird1

    freebird1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2021
    59
    10
    0
    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    is your oil milky or under engine cap has milky goo ,if you start when very cold outside ,the start knocking will be worse if its bad hasket ,personal experience of bad gasket 2010 prius