Inside Look: Bad Head Gasket! 2010-15 Prius Morning Death Knock (Head Gasket) Cause/Solution

Videos mentioned:
Head gasket vs. EGR Test: 2010-2015 Prius Morning Death Rattle Test! Head gasket or not? 3rd Gen
• 2010-2015 Prius Mornin...
All Possible Causes: 2004-2009 Prius Morning Death Rattle! Causes, SOLUTIONS, and how I fixed mine for $50! 2nd Gen
• 2004-2009 Prius Mornin...
Should You/Would I Still Buy One: Third Generation Prius PROBLEMS! Should YOU Still Buy One? A Prius Dealer/Technician Recommendation
• Third Generation Prius...
In this video, I take you deep inside the engine of a third generation Prius that has the infamous morning death knock. I provide substantial evidence that this is indeed a common problem despite what some Prius enthusiast might say, and show video evidence that simply replacing the head gasket itself will not always solve this problem . In many cases, just like in the video, there is physical damage to the internal engine components

[@papacoyotyl]

Currently doing a head gasket repair on my 2014 Prius V, after buying it from a dealer “as-is” without knowing what the “death rattle” meant. I have very little auto-mechanic experience. Guys like you on KZbin are helping me and my family!

[@DrewGarage]

That sucks. Here where I live, we don’t have as is. Even if we did, goodness I could never sell someone a car and leave them hanging shortly after. I mean after time it is what it is but never right away :( HANG IN THERE! It’s just nuts and bolts. NEW head bolts and use a torque wrench. Harbor freight’s mid grade tools are more than good enough. Triple check timing chain and be careful with the FIPG (rtv) reassembling

[@papacoyotyl]

@@DrewGarage yes sir, I called them back shortly after discovering the issue and they pretty much said “sorry ‘bout ya.” I’m getting my head machined right now, got all my parts, just waiting to reassemble. The RTV stuff is what makes me the most nervous, I don’t want to mess that up.

[@DrewGarage]

@@papacoyotyl there is a decent amount of room there to put the timing cover back on. Personally I like Toyota genuine fipig because the first stuff lasts like 1,000,000 miles. There is also one from permatex called “right stuff” that is fantastic. You literally can put oil in the car and drive it as soon as it’s back together… It has like one hour till “in-service“ and many jobs take longer than that to finish anyway The big thing is just to be careful,sometimes it makes sense to take very long bolts, in this case, 6 mm, and cut the heads off to act as temporary studs to slide the timing cover into its home position without any side side wiggling… Just take your time and put on enough but not too much and you’ll be fine

[@papacoyotyl]

@@DrewGarage thanks, brother. I got the permetex stuff because that’s what the guys at gasket masters suggested using. I just got the call from the machine shop that the head was ready to get picked up. I’ll let you know how reassembly goes!

[@DrewGarage]

@@papacoyotyl I really hope it goes smoothly! In my opinion, the nerve to tear that far into it is 90% of the battle, I’m sure you were going to be fine :-) be sure to post back. Feel free to take some videos, put them on your own channel, and post links in here to your own videos :-) would be cool for other people watching this video to see your work

[@primitivethicket]

Ugh, ok, I changed my spark plugs and will be changing the ignition coils but I’m worried my head gasket is next. I am losing coolant, but don’t have milky oil or white smoke but perhaps it’s just starting? Would you recommend the head gasket sealer till I can afford the fix?

[@leifhietala8074]

That open deck design is the same thing that contributed so hugely to the head gasket failures in the first-gen Subaru EJ25. _Ask Me How I Know_ Installing the turbo head gaskets on the NA engines would go a long way to solving the issue. Is it worth the trouble to pre-emptively replace the HG on a 2ZR-FXE? Whoops, I see you answered that question already.

[@DrewGarage]

Hello! Depends on the person. Someone with the time and the know-how, why not?!? For me, it would be at first misfire

[@JonBoehm]

Do I understand correctly ..... the design structure of the head gasket, itself, is the cause? Is there a more robust replacement option on the market?

[@timjbd]

If you buy one of these and it's NOT yet rattling, should you replace the head gasket pre-emptively?

[@DrewGarage]

That’s a tricky question. Yes it would be of benefit, but it’s decidedly cost prohibitive to do that preventively. If I owned one, the MOMENT I got the death rattle and verified head gasket, I’d do it. I wouldn’t even drive it that first day. But I wouldn’t do it preventatively I don’t think. It’s not a small job and there is a chance with good maintenance, it won’t happen until long after you’ve moved on from The car