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No heater/overheating

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Olscratch, Mar 21, 2021.

  1. Olscratch

    Olscratch Junior Member

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    So my head gasked started getting a little dodgy last week so I used some bar's leaks head gasket repair. I previously used it 40,000 miles ago. I replaced the water pump recently.

    I went in to flush the heater core today and it had no coolant in the 2 hoses that go into the core. I flushed it but I'm guessing my clog is something leading up to the heater core.

    What might be plugged up?
     
    #1 Olscratch, Mar 21, 2021
  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I believe white vinegar will desolve that stuff.
    You could put hoses on the two fittings and try back flushing it, but you can also
    pour the vinegar in the ends and let it soak for a while. It will probably take several times to flush it out.
     
    #2 ASRDogman, Mar 21, 2021
  3. Olscratch

    Olscratch Junior Member

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    I did that, soaked it for a half hour. Running water hose on it, it flows right through.

    I think the problem is the flow in to the heater core. I expected the hose to be full of coolant but it was not.
     
    #3 Olscratch, Mar 21, 2021
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Maybe it takes a longer soak to clear it out?
    Maybe a pressure washer? More power? But not too much, or you could blow a
    hole in it.
    Contact the manufacturer and ask them what to use to disolve it.

     
    #4 ASRDogman, Mar 22, 2021
  5. ozmatt

    ozmatt Active Member

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    I'm going through this at the moment with partners gen2, seems like it's clogged but actually for us the problem is cylinder pressure builds air locks in the heater core

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #5 ozmatt, Mar 22, 2021
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  6. Olscratch

    Olscratch Junior Member

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    So whats the remedy there? Should I just bite the bullet and drop a new engine in her?
     
    #6 Olscratch, Mar 22, 2021
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  7. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    o_O
     
    #7 Grit, Mar 22, 2021
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  8. ozmatt

    ozmatt Active Member

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    not sure what you should do with the gen3 but our old gen2 will be used until the day the engine falls over then it will be scrapped..

    sounds to me like your chemical seal was not effective, i hear horror stories of it blocking up engines but its never happened to me
     
    #8 ozmatt, Mar 23, 2021
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You might be able to dissolve/flush the cr@p out with 50/50 white vinegar and water, then do a proper head gasket replacement. If it’s not too far gone.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Mar 23, 2021
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  10. Olscratch

    Olscratch Junior Member

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    So I think head gasket repair is a little bit beyond my capabilities. From what I've seen on videos of people doing it, I'd be likely to never get the old girl back together. Little too scary.

    If I was going to drop a used engine into my 2010 what should I shoot for? What's the best year/mileage/price to aim at?
     
    #10 Olscratch, Mar 24, 2021
  11. ozmatt

    ozmatt Active Member

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    If you think the head gasket repair is too much work for you, how would you go with complete engine swap? Or would you pay a shop to do it?

    if I was replacing an engine I would actually put a new head gasket on it anyway while its out of the car!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #11 ozmatt, Mar 25, 2021
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