Prius total lifespan in years of Car, not including battery - your experience

Don't assume records are complete or accurate. Car maintenance histories are still a long, long way away from good data practices. Don't count on anybody's paperwork to save you from head gaskets. Check coolant levels.

Partway through 2014 Toyota started using better piston rings. This helped with some of the other problems, but didn't do much for head gaskets. This made the last of the 3rd gen cars somewhat better than the 2010-2014.

Toyota's European division recently coughed up some technical documentation saying that the variable speed electric coolant pumps should have been running a little faster to prevent head gasket failures. Oops. We haven't seen a hack to increase that pump speed, or more importantly, a timewarp mode to do it on everyone's car 10 years ago when it mattered.

Although the 1.8L engine is largely the same into the 4th generation, Toyota did make several important changes that bode well for head gasket health.

A more general comment- Honestly if the car is to be kept in Toronto I'd expect 15 years to be a meaningful lifespan limit on any car given the salty winters there.

 

Only fixed oil burning. 2016 gen4 hatchback is much better with a redesigned engine and hybrid system that was largely used until recently until the gen5s.

2016 -17 Prius v is still gen3.

 

Gen 4 fixed the EGR issues. Main Gen 4 mechanical issue was Exhaust Gas Recirculation component (in one unit together with Catalytic Converter) has been prone to leak (engine) coolant.

Maybe a bad batch; not sure how prevalent. It still can lead to head gasket failure (if coolant runs dry), if neglected too long. There’s a service bulletin (or sim) for it, but dealerships are misdiagnosing, and replacement parts are in short supply.

again, with cars for resale, probability it’s being ditched is there.

 

Maybe a corrolla would be better for you. Or a camry.

 

Exhaust Heat Recirculation (Recovery) System to warm up the car faster.

Gen3 has one as well but some Gen4 versions leak coolant into the exhaust which is sometimes mistaken as a head gasket leak since coolant is not leaking on the ground.

The repair can be less than ten dollars with a hose bypass.



Detailed from Gen3

 

Bypassing will effect the emissions... which makes it illegal to do that.
FIXING the problem is the way to do.
Do it right the first time. Don't "patch" it.

 

The whole purpose of the Exhaust Heat Recirculation System is to warm up the car faster. Maybe one minute to noticeable cabin heat rather than five.

In that time period the car may run slightly richer and lower fuel efficiency slightly, but it’s an emissions issue in very few locations, primarily California.

 

Are you saying some dealerships will do the bypass? I appreciate bypass is the pragmatic fix, but last I heard dealerships won't do it, for aforementioned reasons.

Toyota's dug themselves a hole, combining the expensive (and defective) exhaust heat recovery system in a single unit with super-pricey catalytic converter. Now who would benefit immensely from "short supply" of replacement components?

 

Thus post number #26.

 

I wonder if they could authorize a mod, to add a flanged/bolted connection between the (perfectly good) catalytic converter and the defective Exhaust Recovery System? Doubt it though; not their style.

 

An independent could do it using a clamped coupling or by welding. Cheaper and more effective to bypass it.

 

There is a warranty recall for that exhaust/coolant leak. So it won't coast anything to fix for
the car owner. Just time.

 

But there's the rub, Can be months, a year?

 

Bypass. Ten dollars and an hour diy.

 

Fix correctly and legally, Free!

 

I’ve put roughly $15,000 into maintenance and repair of my car over the 7+ years I’ve had it. At the time I bought it, it was 7 years old and had less than $3000 in maintenance and repair costs up to that point. So the costs can rise dramatically as the car gets older. I’ve needed to fix or replace tires, TPMS sensors, brakes, the radiator, a control valve, the 12v battery, the multifunction display screen, and the catalytic converter (twice, both times due to theft).

So currently my 2nd gen Prius is 15 years old, with 182,000 miles, and is still going strong. I can’t predict exactly how long it will last before it’s no longer worth fixing, but I’d be surprised if it doesn’t get beyond 200,000 miles

 

I saw a second gen roll by (on our morning dog walk); always nice to see, affirming; these cars can give lots of service: if you learn the foibles and stay on top of them.

 

i wouldn't figure costs due to accident or theft into the equation.