Prius HG replacement

[WhyMe]

i have been looking at so many vehicles to replace my CRV. Been interested in Prius's for the gas mileage. i found a 2010 prius 4 with 140k on it for a good price in good condition. one thing i have read often is the head gasket issue with them and engine replacement .

i found this vid from a place in San Fran. looks like a straight forward job. i have done sudaru and honda head gaskets in the past and this looks simple. supposedly they can knock out the job in 2-3 hours.

So what do you guys think of the work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E_lZPw5zMM

 

[The Critic]

He doesn't torque any bolts (except for the head bolts), reuses most of the gaskets and does a pi$$ poor job cleaning the surfaces.

But he also charges under $1k; most shops are in the $3-$4K range.

Here is mine:
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/foru...sket-failure-at-185k-summary#Post5037987

 

[WhyMe]

i think he does it to a certain price point and audience. if i did it myself i would clean it up , but at the price he charges he probably can't do it. i think most people , if they got 50k more out of this repair would be happy.

 

[CR94]

Do those $1k head-gasket jobs come with any warranty? Are mobile Prius head-gasket specialists a California-only phenomenon?

I hope I never need to know the answers to those questions! I managed to replace the head on my Mazda myself, but that was a much simpler engine which did not require removing the timing-chain cover.

 

[Job]

Most people aren't having any problems with them. The Prius is one of the most reliable cars made. Get one with a clean title. Salvaged vehicles no.

 

[eljefino]

I am suddenly intrigued by the apparent ease of doing these. 2nd gen prii are starting to get long in the tooth.

 

[WhyMe]

Originally Posted by CR94
Do those $1k head-gasket jobs come with any warranty? Are mobile Prius head-gasket specialists a California-only phenomenon?

I hope I never need to know the answers to those questions! I managed to replace the head on my Mazda myself, but that was a much simpler engine which did not require removing the timing-chain cover.


its SF so like Seattle i bet there are tons of prius's running around due to the demographic. watching the vid it looks pretty easy job compared to pulling a subaru engine and doing 2 heads. i just can't wrap my head around how much a dealer would charge .

if those guys can do it in 2 hours , i bet a fist timer could do it in 6 . looking online at parts , they seem to be only a couple of hundred for a kit and $50 for just the gasket

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by WhyMe
if those guys can do it in 2 hours , i bet a fist timer could do it in 6 . looking online at parts , they seem to be only a couple of hundred for a kit and $50 for just the gasket

You'll have to read my thread, but it was closer to $1k for parts and machine shop labor.

Dealer techs can do them in 6 hours, but for a first timer it took me around 10 hr iirc.

 

[WhyMe]

Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by WhyMe
if those guys can do it in 2 hours , i bet a fist timer could do it in 6 . looking online at parts , they seem to be only a couple of hundred for a kit and $50 for just the gasket

You'll have to read my thread, but it was closer to $1k for parts and machine shop labor.

Dealer techs can do them in 6 hours, but for a first timer it took me around 10 hr iirc.


oh i was speaking of the SF guys in the video. we would be more detailed then they are, but we would charge more for that time. i saw on one of the vid they have done over 1150 of them

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted by WhyMe
Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by WhyMe
if those guys can do it in 2 hours , i bet a fist timer could do it in 6 . looking online at parts , they seem to be only a couple of hundred for a kit and $50 for just the gasket

You'll have to read my thread, but it was closer to $1k for parts and machine shop labor.

Dealer techs can do them in 6 hours, but for a first timer it took me around 10 hr iirc.


oh i was speaking of the SF guys in the video. we would be more detailed then they are, but we would charge more for that time. i saw on one of the vid they have done over 1150 of them

Luscious Garage in SF and Art's Automotive in Berkeley see a lot of Prii - LG got a lot of business from the cabbies until Lyft(and UberX) disrupted the cab business for better or worse. There was one point in time that LG was open 24/5 for cabbies. Uber and Lyft drivers are shying away from the Prius - the Sonata and Altima are the cars of choice with them.

 

[WhyMe]

Originally Posted by nthach
Originally Posted by WhyMe
Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by WhyMe
if those guys can do it in 2 hours , i bet a fist timer could do it in 6 . looking online at parts , they seem to be only a couple of hundred for a kit and $50 for just the gasket

You'll have to read my thread, but it was closer to $1k for parts and machine shop labor.

Dealer techs can do them in 6 hours, but for a first timer it took me around 10 hr iirc.


oh i was speaking of the SF guys in the video. we would be more detailed then they are, but we would charge more for that time. i saw on one of the vid they have done over 1150 of them

Luscious Garage in SF and Art's Automotive in Berkeley see a lot of Prii - LG got a lot of business from the cabbies until Lyft(and UberX) disrupted the cab business for better or worse. There was one point in time that LG was open 24/5 for cabbies. Uber and Lyft drivers are shying away from the Prius - the Sonata and Altima are the cars of choice with them.


any reason why they are moving to non hybrid vehicles?

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted by WhyMe


any reason why they are moving to non hybrid vehicles?

Uber and Lyft drivers have bad or no credit - Toyota Financial favors high FICO scores and while a credit union can finance the more risky, some aren't eligible. Also, many rideshare drivers see a Prius as cramped(for airport trips, around here a run to SFO/OAK/SJC is profitable) and a timebomb due to batteries.

Not to mention Uber and Lyft have turnkey leasing in place - once approved for the platform you can lease a car all-inclusive via Fair for Uber and Lyft Express Drive for $200/week. And those cars tend to be Altimas, Sonatas but I've seen Foci and Fusions as well. Hertz and Enterprise have TNC programs too.