My wife's 2014 Prius V has the cold start knock for a few seconds. My local mechanic is great for most things, but has never done a Prius head gasket. Looking for a non-dealer recommendation in Boston area. Help!
Maybe get some opinions and some things like that and you're in a cold area and barking up a tree that you may not want to attempt to climb maybe I don't know I certainly wouldn't. Or couldn't bring myself to do so knowing what I know now not an option we'll be costly You may not get the money back out of the vehicle at all.
What’s the miles on it? To avoid another blown head gasket, be sure to get the EGR system, including EGR passages in the intake manifold, thoroughly cleaned. See first two links in my signature (on a phone turn it landscape to see signature). With the EGR cleaning , there’s precious few professionals doing a decent job. Dealership service departments are clueless, will tell you it’s not needed, won’t “stoop” to cleaning, just replace parts (at least a grand for parts, before labour). DIY cleaning costs next to nothing, takes a day or two, or ask your regular mechanic to take it on; it’s not too involved.
It is no different than any other Internal Combustion Engine. Are you certain it's a head gasket? What is the mileage? Is the coolant tank low? Have you had a pressure test? Quick changes in temps could cause moisture to form in the intake manifold which will also cause some knocking. And shutting the engine off before it's warmed up on a cold start can cause it the next time it's started sometimes.
Yeah consider leak-down test, or boroscope inspection of combustion chambers, preferably with coolant system pressurized, to accelerate coolant leakage into cylinder (the usual failure mode).
Did you get it fixed? Where? How much? I have a 2012 PriusV with the same issue, Leo & Sons quoted $4500 over the phone, seems high.
4500 for what head gasket ? If all not sussed out it will fail again in pretty short order so beware. getting it all sorted properly is about a 5K endeavor usually . There have been some fly by night operators trying to condense these operations and streamline the process and hasn't been proved to be effective . Beware again
I told them new head gasket. The local mechanic saw coolant in the oil. It's had the cold start knock for a year, various fixes were tried (new intake manifold, egr, coils, plugs). Noticed the coolant was dropping down the last 6 months, have added 1 gal in 6 months. Also gurgling in the heater core during cold start. I need to email them for a formal estimate.
Replacing the head gasket in the engine will not last very long. You need to have the engine replaced because you waited too long to get it fixed.
Not sure I understand. If they replace the failing gasket and machine the heads, won't it be good? It runs well after the start. Doesn't overheat. Not rough start every time.
The block might be warped, or you could have a bent rod. If you can not DIY, it is not worth the risk to pay someone to just replace the head gasket. You will have a better solution if you replace the whole engine.
Don't let these guys scare you......you are correct a warped head can be machined or replaced. If all that other stuff that "might be" happening is there, they will let you know. And normally a head doesn't warp if the engine has not been overheating.....Normally when a G3 Prius head gasket is leaking the coolant goes into the combustion chamber, not the oil....this is what causes the rattling noise.
Depends on how much they have to shave off the head. They are not thick enough to shave munch off. They weren't designed to be machined.... Who knows, you might get lucky....
If you started to pound on those rods they start to bend the tops of Pistons don't ride tdc correctly anymore then bam usually lots faster than a year . It's a mess . Happened right here . Twice so yeah buck up. It's a lot of fun especially for folks with no understanding of internal combustion engines . And the like . But yes you can do anything ya like . .
Shops says about $8K for an engine replacement as used engines are hard to find and may have same issues. I see the JDM engines on ebay for $1500, are there restrictions in MA for install a non-US engine?
