Pay for compression test when buying a gen3?

After a test drive, If you open up the coolant reservoir and hear a sucking sound a compression test would be wise...

 

It's a gen3 w 140K so anytimes a good point. Moving forward. I mean you could have the car scanned with tech and see what the flow rate is and the EGR system whatever it is that they're looking for in tech and then give a number and see what that is and where you stand with that that'd be about the only way other than the other things mentioned here about the coolant jug and whatnot but then that's the problem already started which would be great if somebody saw that then you wouldn't ever have to do anything but that's generally not how it works out beware

 

Be sure the inside of the tailpipe isn't wet or sooty.

I'm skeptical of the "sucking sound" test.

 

You’re going to get a local to the car mechanic to test? Tell the owner you want him/her to do a cold start? And make sure the mechanic understands/verifies, it’s a cold-soak, first thing in the morning start up.

 

It could need an engine because of a blown head gasket but the owner used a temporary sealer that will last a few weeks. Add oil burning, a cheap reconditioned hv battery and an all too frequent brake booster fail and you could be out $10k in repairs.

 

I would be highly skeptical of the wet tailpipe.

The suction noise from opening the coolant cap is accurate.

I had a blown HG and the suction sound was there.

I have a rebuilt now and there is no suction

 

And then you wouldn’t hear the sucking sound (post #2 by @PriusCamper)? Because effectively you don’t have a leaking head gasket, “cured” by sealant treatment?

Maybe this stuff should be outlawed. I know, draconian. But it’s akin to an odo-rolling tool. Not sure if that’s a thing lol, but makes a good analogy, lol.

 

Just want to make the buyer aware of the potential expenses and tricks flippers can employ. A nine to ten year old 140k mile v could provide a year or two of low cost motoring or it may not.

I would want an excellent price and still be in love with its interior, exterior, driving dynamics and mpg, which is limited to 40-42mpg on the heavier v wagon. If I had to buy it sight unseen or had to rely on an unknown mobile mechanic's cursory inspection, I would absolutely decline.

Even with a personal test drive and an experienced hybrid mechanic's review, I would still want $5k off private party value considering the car market is starting to normalize and gas prices are around $2.50 a gallon in Texas right now, which always weakens Prius demand. I certainly would not finance it for three or more years at current interest rates.

 

These questions maybe came across as rhetorical? Didn’t mean thus; genuinely wondering, will a sealer mask the warning signs?

 

Not the kind of car you want to travel to buy.

Not very many Prius v of that age are in truly good shape, and at least some of the ones you'd see in any given search are being sold because somebody found a problem. People love these cars! Why sell it unless there's a problem?

Knowing that, simple logic says you'll need to walk away from a few before you see the right one. Can you really afford traveling to reject a few cars?

The very best defense against a hidden defect is to negotiate the price down low enough that you can afford to roll with the punches.

 

Yes. A sealant will make it run fine, no start up rattles or coolant loss. For a while.

 

So then the compression tests, leak down tests or removing coolant cap to check for pressure would come up negative. The symptoms masked, temporarily.

 

If that's true, then my Prius has had a failed head gasket for the past 95,000 miles with no adverse effects yet.