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

How to know if new piston rings

Discussion in 'Prius v Technical Discussion' started by Pike1, Mar 9, 2024.

  1. Pike1

    Pike1 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2024
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi all, my first post here and I'm from Finland, northern europe.

    Here the prius v is called prius+ but I think they are mostly the same. I am just able to stretch my budget to get a facelift model, currently looking at a 2015 model which has its first registration in january.

    So what I'm looking for is if I can safely buy a facelift model and be sure that it has the revised piston rings, or are there some early facelifts with the old rings. Does anyone know better when the change exactly took place?
     
    #1 Pike1, Mar 9, 2024
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,407
    38,643
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    @rjparker
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Mar 9, 2024
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,917
    4,678
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    The change occurred in the pre-facelift 2014 models.

    Being in Europe, the American vin decode method may not apply.

    [​IMG]

    With that said, it is not clear that European or especially Japanese 2012-14 models actually came with the problematic low tension rings and corresponding pistons. For one thing the legitimate used in Japan “JDM” engines imported to the US generally have a good reputation when it comes to oil consumption. Second, we don’t hear about a lot of European equivalents burning oil or blowing head gaskets.
     

    Attached Files:

    #3 rjparker, Mar 9, 2024
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2024
    Pike1 and Mendel Leisk like this.
  4. Pike1

    Pike1 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2024
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thank you very much for your thorough reply. I ended up buying a 2015 facelift model so I hope all the piston ring and also head gasket issues are fixed already when this one has rolled from factory.
     
    #4 Pike1, Mar 15, 2024
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,407
    38,643
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    It'll have the revised piston and rings. But head gasket is still prone to failure.

    What's the miles on it?

    To prevent head gasket failure, I'd recommend to periodically clean the carbon out of the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system, including the EGR passages in intake manifold. Every 50K miles or 80K kms would be optimum. Delaying the first cleaning to no later than 100K miles or 160K kms. Any later than that, get on it right away, and keep your fingers crossed.

    For more info see top two links in my signature. (on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures)
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Mar 15, 2024
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)