Head gasket needs to be replaced: $3k+ estimate

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by AJP, Jul 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM.

  1. AJP

    AJP Member

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    I've put SO much money into maintaining my 2007 Prius -- new hybrid battery, new 12v battery, new front bumper, brand new aux water pump, brand new tires, etc. within the past few years. My car had a bad shudder two weeks ago and my local dealer found coded engine stalls but wasn't able to diagnose the problem. Today it happened again while I'm living out of town (this time with the engine light on), and I had it towed to an out of town dealer. I told them to check the gasket for a leak and sure enough, yes, dripping into the spark plugs.

    They quoted $3-4k for a repair. I was also told to be careful because once they're in there, a lot of other problems can pop up and you can be stuck with a VERY expensive repair very quickly. I've put maybe $6k+ into the car over the past few years. Feeling absolutely sick. It just hit 200K and I thought for sure I'd get another 5-6 years with the care I've taken. Please advise. Located in central PA.
     
    #1 AJP, Jul 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2025 at 5:46 PM
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You can probably find a dedicated one NZ engine for about $500 on the open market even a low mileage take out from yaris send your Prius head out to be redone and put it stop the Yaris engine if that's what ya have to do . I believe that can work . Or you can look around and find somebody more private to do the head gasket job there's slot of folks out they're . If you're going to have your head off you'd be silly not to send it out and get it redone about 300 bucks that'sall the magic . Then if everything else was decent with your motor you could put the head right back on it and go. I would think the labor on a head gasket job should be about $800 plus 300 or so for the head . Gasket set frl pro is about 88 bux . The head bolts can be clean and retorued don't over torque.
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Jul 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be worth calling around some private mech's for pricing. you're driving an 18 year old car though, expensive repairs are bound to happen.
     
    #3 bisco, Jul 15, 2025 at 8:50 PM
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    You might try Pine Hollow Diagnostics in State College PA if he is close enough.
     
    #4 rjparker, Jul 15, 2025 at 9:19 PM
  5. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    PA car - how rusty is it? Need to consider "body likely to rot out in N years" in that environment.

    Other than maybe the bumper, those are all wear items with varying expected replacement intervals. Bumpers aren't exactly a wear item, but they definitely have a large probability of being damaged, often while the car isn't even moving.
     
    #5 pasadena_commut, Jul 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
  6. Hayslayer

    Hayslayer Member

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    Please explain this further. How does a head gasket leak drip into a sparkplug?

    If you mean the valve cover gasket seals are allowing oil to drip into the sparkplug wells, that's an entirely different story from a head gasket leak, and is a relatively common repair that can be performed or worked around.

    I'm pretty skeptical of it being a head gasket issue if they're saying oil is getting into the plug wells. Makes no sense.

    What codes were provided by the dealership diagnostic? Maybe you really just need new spark plugs ($8 each) and/or insulator boots ($5 each).
     
    #6 Hayslayer, Jul 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    I think he means the dealer ran a borescope through the spark plugs and saw dripping coolant into the cylinders.

    As I suggested above, he should get a second opinion from Pine Hollow Diagnostics in State College, PA.
     
    #7 rjparker, Jul 16, 2025 at 2:32 PM
  8. Hayslayer

    Hayslayer Member

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    Dang, you're much better than I am at sorting that out! That would make more sense, but I'd love to see a photo of the dealer write up/invoice.
     
    #8 Hayslayer, Jul 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
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