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

Prius Diesel Engine Swap

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Lachlan17, Nov 4, 2019.

  1. Lachlan17

    Lachlan17 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    2
    1
    0
    Location:
    New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Im looking to engine swap a prius to a diesel engine. Does anyone know the external dimensions of the prius engine so I can see if this is viable?
     
  2. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    The overall dimensions of the 2ZR-FXE engine aren’t given in Toyota’s service publications (more info), but changing a Prius car to use an engine of a different design is unlikely to be practicable, even if it fits in the available space and can connect mechanically to the transaxle.

    For the hybrid system to work, the engine must have an engine control module that can communicate with the power management control ECU, the computer that controls the hybrid system, and that can operate—and just as importantly, can make the engine operate—as the latter expects. As far as I know, only the ECM for the 2ZR-FXE meets these requirements.

    See also the advice in a previous thread.
     
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,113
    4,040
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Is it true that diesel puts out more pollution than regular gasoline when ignited?
     
  4. Ed Beaty

    Ed Beaty Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2018
    334
    309
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    "Im looking to engine swap a prius to a diesel engine. Does anyone know the external dimensions of the prius engine so I can see if this is viable?"

    ONLY in New Zealand, home of the jet boat and Burt Munro! ;)
     
  5. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,911
    4,423
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Prius are refined so much in order to get maximum MPG that any engine mod that throws off the sensor parameters the tiniest bit will throw error codes and shut the vehicle down or put it in limp mode. 90% of the hundreds of hours it would take to do this will be based on trying to make all the sensors tell the ECU that everything is normal.

    If you want to modify a Hybrid car, buy a Gen 1 Honda Insight, which is an all aluminum and plastic car that only weighs 1,800 pounds and will let you do all kinds of great mods in ways that don't throw error codes, and if they do throw codes, it won't disable or put you into limp mode like a Prius does.
     
  6. Lachlan17

    Lachlan17 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2019
    2
    1
    0
    Location:
    New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    This would be an engine and transaxle as there would be no way a prius transaxle would be able to handle a high amount of torque. and there is No need for the hybrid. Just wanting to know how big the space in the engine bay is to see what engine i could fit.

    If the engine swap was viable a standalone ecu would be the most likely solution as the hybrid system at that stage would be 99% impossible to fit.

    and is it true that there is no real way to recycle car batteries at the rate that we are manufacturing in this day.
     
    #6 Lachlan17, Nov 4, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 4, 2019
    PriusCamper likes this.
  7. testriderchuck

    testriderchuck New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2020
    10
    3
    0
    Location:
    E washington
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A

    Who told you that? Car batteries are recycled all the time, that's why they charge you a core charge when you buy a new one. Imagine the apoplectic fits the environmentalists would have with all that lead going into landfills?