Blown head gasket? Need new engine?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by crispyphage, May 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM.

  1. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    Hi everyone, my car started making this noise when starting up. It is a 2014 Toyota Prius Two with 165k miles. My research says it has a blown head gasket, and I’ll need a new engine. Is this right? Does anyone have an idea of how much this will cost? Was this preventable? I would love advice.

    I have a video but I can't upload it. It's a quick rattling sound that goes on for 30 seconds and then stops.
     
  2. MAX2

    MAX2 Senior Member

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    Until you have five messages, you will not be able to post links to other resources.
    What do you have besides the video? Diagnostic data, codes with error designations?

    How, besides the sound, did you determine the blown engine head gasket?
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Assuming it is head gasket failure, you’ll need something. Most expedient is to acquire the Toyota gasket kit (includes replacement head gasket) and new head bolts (not mandatory if old ones are still within specs, but prudent). Doing the job yourself can be just the cost of those items, say around $300~400 USD. If you employ a machine shop, say to refurbish the head, maybeanother $500~1000?

    regarding “new” engine, it’d more accurately be salvage or refurbished engine. Hybrid Pit Stop is one source (for the latter), worth checking out.
    Turnkey quotes vary widely, say $2500~$6000.
    My 2 cents: a full EGR system clean at least every 50k miles, this wouldn’t be happening.

    attached has parts nos for aforementioned gasket kit and head bolts. Also have a look at links in my signature. Last one is full engine section from repair manual. (On a phone turn it landscape to see signatures).
     

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    #3 Mendel Leisk, May 10, 2025 at 9:06 AM
    Last edited: May 10, 2025 at 11:03 AM
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  4. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Welcome;
    If you catch this problem early enough; you may only need a head gasket replacement. Try these guys.

    Prius Head Gasket Repair San Francisco, CA | Gasket Masters, Inc.
     
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Minimum 4 grand I can almost guarantee you unless you are well experienced and have a good game this car is generally not worth your trouble but that's in the eye of the beholder we've been through two wouldn't touch another one my friends love them we drive generation too they can last forever they have a chance the three does not
     
  6. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    Hi y'all, thanks for the responses. I appreciate it lots. I’m at a mechanic and will hear soon about what’s wrong and the costs.

    I did lurk on here previously and like your recommendations, I asked for full EGR clean but the mechanics were hesitant since they said my car didn’t need it. I should’ve pushed a bit more…I’ll keep everyone updated and post more so I can include a video for future folks who might have the same issues as me.
     
  7. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    Hi y’all, just came back from the mechanic and they need to keep it over the weekend and check on it again on Monday. Only this came up.
     

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  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You're getting engine . Or a bunch of work to that 1. And that may be risky.
     
  9. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    I'm sorry, could you elaborate? Is it because you know that it's a head gasket and engine issue?
     
  10. MAX2

    MAX2 Senior Member

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    It is necessary to understand the reasons for misfiring in cylinders 2 and 4. There are many reasons and a thorough diagnostics is necessary, which is done in the same way as on a non-hybrid gasoline car (inspection of the inside of the cylinder, checking spark plugs, ignition coils, fuel pressure, air leaks, injectors, etc.)
     
  11. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    I see. I'm hoping I'll have more answers next week. The unknown is stressing me out since I can't afford a new car (or even a new-to-me car). I was thinking this car would last me up to 300k miles. :/
     
  12. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    That's really kind of pushing it for a generation 3 with all original equipment for the other model the one that no one seems to tend to like the uglier one the generation 2 that's the car that could have carried you to 500k pretty easily why you didn't see that or figure that out I'm not truly sure but water under the bridge now generally speaking at this point you're going to be looking for an engine or if you can pretty much guarantee the rattling hasn't happened a whole lot you can attempt to rebuild the nonsense that's in your car but you may be blindsided when you start to do this finding things that are irreparable slightly bent rod things like that this is very common with this particular engine that's why I say you'll be getting an engine generally speaking that's generally the cheaper way to go with this trying to rebuild this one use designed type of engine is very pound foolish or whatever you want to say I will tell you don't do it do whatever you like it's your.
     
  13. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    Hi y'all, basically I was told that they can fix the head gasket but that's a relatively bandaid fix (~4.5k) or put in a new engine (~>9k). I was hoping to keep the car longer. Is this not likely anymore?
     
  14. Melthias

    Melthias Member

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    Well, I would say if you do not get the problem fixed, then you will not keep the car for long. If you do take one of those options then you will have it for longer. That price seems really steep for a "new" (aka used) engine. Maybe source one yourself and ship it to the shop? The ones I have bought from Orlando JDM are about $1234 with shipping to me in Maine. When I asked locally for labor cost to swap an engine I got numbers like $3000-$3500 about a year ago. Heck, I would do it for $2000 in labor, but unfortunately we are on other sides of the country :p
     
  15. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    Did you check with Gasket Masters? See post #4.
     
  16. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    Here's the video for all curious and future lurkers: - YouTube
     
  17. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    I’ll check with gasket masters now or tomorrow. Hopefully they give me a more affordable quote.
     
  18. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    Head gasket is $1950 and engine is $3250. Should I just replace the engine or just get the head gasket replacement? If I'm thinking about longevity of the car.
     
  19. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

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    That’s a loooong rattling misfire session. My head gasket gave out before it got to that point.

    The advice others gave you about gen 3s is solid. There’s so many expensive parts that will give out next that the car is not worth keeping. Particularly parts that contribute or result from overheating.
    For example, my catalytic converter got fried by all the overheating and misfires. That’s easily 2k
    + new in a carb state like California.
     
  20. crispyphage

    crispyphage New Member

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    In your opinion, is replacing the head gasket worthwhile then? I'd still save up for a new car regardless but would like to have another car since my partner's job relies on having a car. So if one goes out, there's a backup. Also, for me to use if I needed to.
     
    #20 crispyphage, May 13, 2025 at 11:44 PM
    Last edited: May 13, 2025 at 11:49 PM