220K miles intermittent rough ice start.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Igor Ulyashkin, Aug 5, 2025 at 10:44 AM.

  1. Igor Ulyashkin

    Igor Ulyashkin New Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Usa
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So my 2012 Prius started to do the rattle upon ice start and got a code for a misfire in cylinder 1. I changed the plugs (cylinder 1 plug was fouled up the other 3 were good) changed the ignition coils. Car runs much better and typically on a normal day ice starts great and runs great until the car gets warm and it goes into ev mode then I accelerate at the ice kicks in and starts rattling untill it equalizes. I have also noticed it's drinking up coolant like crazy I noticed it was low filled it up to full and it's down past low after like 80 miles of driving. I also did a combustion gas test and it came back negative and a compression test just getting it to crank over without the fuel injectors connected. I will attach the compression test results. I checked the oil via the dipstick and didn't see a milkshake but maybe I need to drain it to see if the coolant is getting in it? I am 99% sure it's a head gasket leak but would like to know if there is anything anyone can recommend to check that could cause coolant to disappear without any visual leak and the engine to run rough either when it's warm or when the weather is hot and coolant becomes pressurized. The fuel injectors intake manifold and EGR were not cleaned yet and I am unsure of when they were last cleaned. I plan to clean everything if I am to replace the head gasket but I don't see how they would affect the coolant disappearance.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    112,665
    51,281
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Leak down test is often recommended


     
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    7,300
    3,817
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Head gasket. Save time and money and just replace the head gasket.
    Check the valve for leakage while the head is off.

    The longer you wait, the risk of bending a rod, and/or it going through the block...

     
    NutzAboutBolts and Grit like this.
  4. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2018
    494
    207
    0
    Location:
    MI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I’ve yet to see actual leak down test results for a Prius with a bad head gasket and I’m skeptical that it would be useful. I’m not saying it’s not, I’m just skeptical.

    Best way to confirm in my opinion is borescope in cylinder 1, but in this case it’s almost not even necessary, it’s the head gasket.
     
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,488
    4,204
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    If egr circuit was never cleaned then get head gasket redone and clean egr if you want to keep car for many more years. And if hv bat haven’t been replaced either, expect to save a few grand for a new battery.

    Maybe wise to ditch the car itself with that many miles and years.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    59,149
    40,725
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Other factors to weigh:

    Oil consumption rate?

    Rust progression. Where in the USA are you, are the roads salted through winter?
     
  7. Igor Ulyashkin

    Igor Ulyashkin New Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Usa
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The HV battery was replaced I believe at 160-180k as far as I was told when purchasing at 197k. The car was regularly serviced at a service but unfortunately they wouldn't help me get any service history since their records were done by plate or so they said. Since I got new plates it was kind of a dud lead. I would love to keep the car as long as possible this is my first car and honestly apart from this it ran fantastic I change the oil regularly and have done my own brakes and plan to do any work myself unless it's something out of my ability or requires special tooling that's not worth investing in. There is some minor rust but the previous owner had it kept in a garage and so rockers and everything is mostly rust free. Since it seems like this is most definitely a head gasket I plan to change it myself have the the cover machined if I can. I would get the intake manifold, fuel injectors and egr cleaned out while everything is off. I don't have an air compressor yet so would it be worth taking it to a shop to get a leak down test before doing the head gasket? Or what order should I do things in?
     
  8. Igor Ulyashkin

    Igor Ulyashkin New Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Usa
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Actually I believe the HV battery wasn't replaced but reconditioned now that I remember. But I have looked into battery repair or replacement and don't see it as a major issue unless it dies on me unexpectedly.
     
  9. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,488
    4,204
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Save another few grand for a new hv battery, it will be major in the near future.
     
  10. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,658
    1,724
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Replace the headgasket! You got the same symptoms as me. Stop wasting time.

    Follow this and do it right
     
    ASRDogman likes this.
  11. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    7,300
    3,817
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Do you mean license plate? That cannot be correct. They always use the VIN number.
    You can go to Toyota's web site and search your VIN number and find out if any service
    was done by them.

    You could get the Prolong charger/discharger to make the HV battery last as long as possible.
    It is doubtful anything was done to the HV battery other than cleaning the fan.

    You would certainly want to have the head checked to see if it is warped. But if you catch it early,
    like now, and change it soon, the head will be fine.

    You don't need a compressor, nice to have, but not needed.