Lexus Head Gasket Replacement Turns into a $6500 Engine Job. Was It Worth It?

[@abdullahipad7664]

I’ve been watching this channel for over a year. I’m so happy for you. Your shop looks terrific and the production quality on your videos is top tier.

[@slide7132]

Thank you AMD, I used to own a 2012 CT, so glad I sold it in 2016.

[@ThunderAppeal]

Youre an idiot.

[@mervwhitney7229]

The way you tackle these jobs, your level of knowledge and skill really is impressive. On time lapse, there is so much to be removed before you can take out the engine, let alone changing to the new short block. I admire your enthusiasm and the way you consider the customer. How on earth can you do all of that with only 20hours of labour? Your are a true professional.

[@terrysennhenn896]

Not only can he do it in 20 hours but he probably did it in way less time since he's very experienced.

[@j_freed]

Centre Honda in Toronto did a " half repair" when I had a valve failure, because they didn't tell me the oil ring was also completely shot. They handed the car back to me with a severe imbalance because of mismatched compression. Centre Honda it is gone, but other Toronto dealers are a scum. Be careful.

[@rickys6770]

When I work on cars I sometimes spend 20 hours looking for the right socket

[@hcox1111]

Amazing I would of guessed 50 to 60 hours.

[@mikeallmon1]

this is a very good video. I'm an ASE master tech of 30 plus years. I own a 2012 CT200h that I bought 5 years ago with 221,XXX miles on it from a personal friend. I specialize in Hybrid Toyotas and all Asian cars in my shop. It had a blown head gasket, consuming coolant, and a bad CVT from never having it serviced. EVER. Now, Toyota and Lexus say "lifetime fluid" in all of their cars. people, service you're transmissions. The Prius and CT only hold a gallon of fluid, its a drain and refill since there's no torque converter. I recommend 40,000 50,000 MAXIMUM on these. Trust me, im doing these all the time and the fluid is dirty at 40,000. especially down here in Texas. I installed a JDM engine and transmission that were never separated. it came with the harness, A/C compressor, water pump, it was literally plug and play. Been 5 years now, zero oil consumption and I run the daylights out of it. Even the 85-90 MPH 11 hour trip to my parents house it never complains or consume any oil. 10,000 mile oil changes are too long. 7,000 max and synthetic only.

[@mikeallmon1]

oh, at 256,XXX miles now and original hybrid battery is doing just fine.

[@MugatuJag]

Very nice, how much did you pick up the JDM engine and CVT for? They are great cars and every time I get in an Uber that is 2000 through a 2014 Prius or CT 200 H. I asked them how many miles, and then I tell them to clean their throttlebody, EGR, and change the oil every 6k. And then also I end up, pulling the rear seat, hybrid filter for them and telling them to clean it out LMAO.😊

[@CustomerPayment]

@@MugatuJag theres no hybrid air filter on anything 3rd gen Prius or any CT. Just gotta pull the plastic and blow out the fan squirrel cage with an air blower. this was 6.5 years ago now and it has 261,000 miles on it from 221,000 when I bought it. zero issues or problems. But they do burn oil when they get old and a short block is the only cure for it. Mine still uses no oil. My CVT was never serviced by the previous owner and was junk. still drove, but it was like a bicycle with a slipping chain. Ive never cleaned a throttle body on one of them or EGR. These blow head gaskets because they heat up and cool off so much expanding and contracting because of it. Supposedly theres an updated head gasket, but we will see in 200,000 miles. even cleaning the EGR cooler on one of these is a major time consuming labor intensive job. Almost everyone just replaces the expensive cooler... but as they get older and older, less and less of them will be done. My CT is a 2012 with the original hybrid battery with no issues. I think I paid around 2000 for the pair with tax and shipping. this was 6.5 years ago.

[@Rookieadvice]

Whereis your shop in tx ?

[@mikeallmon1]

@@Rookieadvice im in south west Austin

[@volks-jager]

i did one not long ago, i was able to get a low mile JDM engine for cheap, the engine was clean as a whistle looked almost brand new and ran great. in Japan inspections are super strict so they scrap out car with under 50k miles and sell the engines and trans to exporters

[@calmic75]

We had a mint condition 135,000 mile 2006 4Runner that blew a head gasket. Quoted about $8-9+k USD to put in a rebuilt engine. If you can do it yourself its well worth it. We sold it.

[@egx161]

What a wonderful world this would be if we had more technicians like AMD. It is so sad that so many shops are just gouging people Or don’t know what they’re doing or don’t care. I take great care of my vehicles so I don’t have to visit a shop. I DIY what I can and drive for longevity.

[@josepeixoto3384]

nO!! man is wasting the customer's money,ANY shop can do that for 6 or 7 grand; lean some more...

[@MattPark-vp2ud]

me too.

[@j_freed]

@@mke6489ot quite true, he's excellent but a few other mechanics can be like him. My long time shop Dublin Auto has done many excellent diagnoses, repairs and extremely sympathetic quotes, and they try their best not to mislead customers or throw away money. Some of the best people I've ever met.

[@stendecstretcher5678]

I agree like you, I try to do as much as I can for myself as I am a car care nut. I’m convinced here in Australia we have the worst mechanics in the world. Customer service here is a joke nobody cares anymore.

[@badhombre8383]

Same the only thing I don’t do myself is rotate my tires and what do ya know they stripped and broke 6 studs in my Tacoma. Literally the only thing I don’t do myself 🤦‍♂️

[@sashagof]

THANK YOU. My wife was telling me that changing the oil every 5000 miles in my Prius V is overkill but now I feel totally vindicated :)

[@StormsparkPegasus]

I had a 2014 Prius for 7 years (bought new)...changed the oil every 5000 miles. I sold it in 2021 when I got my Model 3. Got quite a bit more for it than I was expecting. But yes, the only vehicles that are truly "low maintenance" are EV's. For any other car, even hybrids, "low maintenance" means "the manufacturer says maintenance doesn't have to be done as often, so it will fail after the warranty is up so you have to buy a new car or at least have expensive repairs".

[@johnnyblue4799]

$6500 is actually a lot less than a new car. For me is like this: If the body is rust free and nobody messed up with the wiring, it's worth fixing. Engines and transmissions can be fixed and last for a long time.

[@alfredoibarra9825]

*replaced

[@zuten88]

Yepp.. in my country, Malaysia, even a used CT200 costs a lot more than than.

[@chicken29843]

But it's a lot more than a used engine. A used engine would be cheaper and frankly probably better. I question the decision to fix the engine in the car here

[@chicken29843]

I don't know man, there are literally hundreds of 2004 to 2006 Corollas for sale under $6,500

[@johnnyblue4799]

@@chicken29843 Maybe, but why take over someone else's problems? You buy one of those, with 200k miles on them, you have an engine that's likely to crap out. At least he got a new engine.

[@jahlov420]

I had this exact same problem in my 2010 Prius. I had to do a tear down and change the head gasket myself. All the parts was about $400 and 20 hours of my time. The knocking in the morning was very scary. Extremely violent.

[@ebadss1]

That morning machine gun death rattle, finally finished my cylinder head 11 Prius 1 1/2 months off and on work about all together 25 hours, finally done, drives better then ever

[@CollegeRecruitsNW]

$6500 for a reliable for many years and miles CT200H is a steal. You never cease to amaze me Ahmed with your knowledge, honesty, and expertise, I love watching your videos.

[@GLC-1979]

lol it's a rip off. He added a ton of extra labor to take the wiring harness and inverter out..and a new short block wasn't needed. That could have been rebuilt...this job should have cost about $2500 less.

[@armedpreacher]

@@GLC-1979how can you rebuild an engine with terribly worn cylinder walls?

[@Len10293]

The car is 12 yrs old with 200k+ miles are you sure that a few months from that big repair the hybrid battery, inverter or transmission want go ? The truth of the matter is you are not ! My take if you’re facing this magnitude of the repair at this age and millage it’s time to let it go. It’s pretty much over for this car.

[@alb12345672]

@@Len10293 Sunk cost fallacy. I agree. 200k, it lived its life. But on the flip side cars cost a freking fortune now. If he found a used one for 15K, what problems would it have?

[@Len10293]

@@alb12345672 I guess it comes down to your personal situation I would rather go for car payments rather spending this kind of money at this age and millage

[@sammyelliott5554]

I have also watched your channel for some time and amazed at your knowledge and abilities. I have owned Toyotas since 1967 and have never had these issues. If I did have these issues, I would want someone like you who is honest, forthright and an outright, outstanding mechanic to do the work. I would be happy to pay for your services on my Toyota if it ever came to those circumstances.Thank you for your videos.

[@williamanderson9085]

What was it like to own an early Toyota? My aunt had a 76 Corona wagon that she had for 23 years and many hundreds of thousands of miles

[@cenccenc946]

I have learned the hard way, from several cars, first sign of a suspected head gasket problem, stop driving the car. Just stop, untill you can confirm that it is not a head gasket. Cars I kept on driving cost an engine. Cars I stopped driving, was relatively cheap head gasket replacement, some coolant, etc.

[@MrAfdasdfa]

I have said it before and I'll say it again: Your level of ethics in dealing with customer expectations is truly commendable. I wish every shop had your mindset. It can't be easy keeping that high standard but clearly it works because you seem to be booked solid and I keep coming back for more repair videos. Bravo.

[@kevinsnell1622]

You’ve gotten props for the voiceover technique and they are still well deserved. I appreciate your time with that.

[@jeffwilliams8277]

I believe part of the head gasket problem stems from the EGR isuues. Usually cylinders 1&2 clog up first in the intake manifold. Then those cylinder's run lean during EGR operation causing pre-ignition. Those pressure spikes cause weakening of the gasket. Similar to running low on coolant causes pinging and subsequent gasket failure.

[@jeffwilliams8277]

Love your channel btw. I'm a MDT at Toyota and even I use your channel for reference. You can't have to much information.

[@jgalmodovar]

Thank you AMD. I own a 2011 CT and just experience a head gasket issue at 178,000 miles. None of the local shops wanted to touch it for less than $7.5k to $8k so I opted for a JDM engine swap, but I do not know what year the engine was...only that it had 58k miles on it. I'm definitely going to have them flash the EGR valve. Thank you for this wonderful public service that you provide.

[@jonathanwebb8307]

Don't forget a new water pump

[@jeffreygoss8109]

Absolutely the right call. The car is worth more than the repair. What could you get for $6500? Probably a car that needs the same.

[@marcoirizarry]

I had this exact issue on my 2013 CT. At 180,000 first the oil leak issue in the timing chain area, then 6 months later it was the had gasket issue. I took it to my Toyota dealer who usually worked on the car. First he said it was the spark plugs and the oil leak. Wanted $3500 for the oil leak and about $350 for the plugs. I did the plugs and lasted for about 2 weeks when the rattling started again. Took it back and now says it is the head gasket. I debated and decided to fix for about $4500, note I still had the oil leak issue. Car was fixed and I filled about 1.5 quarts every 2 weeks to be safe. 2 months later my son totaled the car which did me a big favor because the insurance said the car was dealer ready in condition and gave me $14k for the car. Now I have 2019 NX F Sport which I love. The CT was an amazing car and lasted from 13k miles to 180k with no issues until the oil leak and head gasket. I hear this engine is known for these issues but it lasted until 180k so I guess it did its job. I have heard from other forums that these issues happens at much lower mileage which would suck. I thought I would keep it for 300k miles but I don't think I would do such a large repair in any future cars.

[@18_rabbit]

no, it's a toyota and 180K failures (and a dealer system that would do that unwise 4500$ partial measure fix) is not 'it did its job'. This is a sad time for Toyota, and some other makers i suppose, over the past decade. Add that many american men do not appear to know the basics of cars/engines, that even non car-ppl of around maybe late 40y.o's o n up often do know, and it's a bad recipe for bad financial decisions at 180K on a seemingly solid-brand car like u had.

[@psychosonny666]

​@@18_rabbitI know someone who has done 1 million miles in his CT however he gets it serviced meticulously every 3-4 months

[@210pitmasterjoey]

I definitely would trust this guy to work on my Toyota hands-down. I would wait a month to make an appointment if I had to. I live down here in San Antonio, Texas, and all Toyota dealerships. Do not have a qualified technicians like this guy in the video props to you man.

[@ronnymb67]

When you did the video on the black Camry consuming oil and recommending oil changes every 5,000 versus 10,000, I agreed with you and your video also created a stink across the internet. For emissions we know that engines today are running much hotter than they did 30 years ago, even 20 years ago. The majority of engines are operating right around 215° - which if anybody remembers first grade science, water boils at 212°. Coolant and the pressure generated by the cap are the only things keeping you from boiling over every day. Yet somehow your temperature gauge stays rock solid in the middle. Why? Because it's become the equivalent of the idiot light from 50 years ago. The needle won't move until the engine is over 220°. If you don't pull it right over, your engine is done. Then you throw in the marketing departments that just want to send cars out the door quickly and easily with leasing, no one owns their vehicles anymore so they don't care. Whether it's a Chevy or a Benz: "It's a lease. I'm turning it in before the end of the year. I don't even open the hood between services" is the pervasive attitude. Add low tension rings, oil viscosity no greater than baby oil, and: "It's lifetime fluid!!! Change the oil when Haley's Comet passes the Earth!!" - we see blown engines by 100K. I can't tell you how many transmissions with lifetime fluid I've seen failed by 100-120K.If you own it, take care of it. Not a single fluid in there is meant to be lifetime or last for half a decade. If you're renting it for 36 months, then do what they tell you under the hood and let it be the next guy's problem.

[@6lemans10]

"Oil viscosity no grearter than baby oil"! I'm dead!😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@craignehring]

Great outcome. I am quite sure this vehicle has received the best care and judgment during this repair

[@queenspleen353]

I have a 2010 Prius that has treated me very well, especially because of what I learned from this channel. Thankfully, I do not have any coolant or head gasket issues so far even though the original owner changed the original coolant after 9 years and 124k miles. I changed it myself 4 years and 50k miles after that. Against AMD's advice, I did clean the EGR system and intake manifold myself, but mine was not too clogged yet. My 2zr-fxe does burn a bit of oil: about 1 qt per 1500 miles when I bought it at 147k, and about 1 qt per 3300~ miles now at 187k because of a few BG EPR flushes and 3-4k mile oil changes during my ownership. Hoping this car will last me a long time still. It is also good to know that the engine will be much more solid with the updated pistons, head gasket, and EGR programming if it ever needs to be rebuilt! When I replace my spark plugs, I am looking forward to inspecting the cylinders for any head gasket or cylinder wall damage. Thank you AMD for your hard work and sharing your expertise! Does anyone know if there is a way I can tell if my EGR programming has been updated?

[@yslee1401]

It is so easy to change the engine and inverter coolant. I do that every 50,000kms

[@queenspleen353]

@@yslee1401 Indeed! Simply drain and fill. Easy to do both engine and inverter for $50 in parts and 1-2hrs of your time.

[@EricGriffith-h5e]

I'm on a road trip with my wife and dog through the Southwest. We had a head gasket go out on our 2011 prius. We were able to limp into flagstaff and the toyota dealership is charging us $4500 to replace the head gasket. We are in a tight spot so don't really have other options, other than abandoning the vehicle. Really sad to hear you charge $1800 for the same job. I've done a bit of research and it seems that it makes sense to replace the head gasket, just wish we landed at a more affordable mechanic. The motor didn't burn oil and our hybrid battery was in good shape. We bought the car about 3 months ago, so I don't really know the car that well yet, so I'm pretty nervous about putting this much money into it. Wish us luck.

[@antoniocomas6074]

I was charged $4600 by my Lexus dealership in my area, to replace the head gasket on my 14’ ct200h, at 180k miles. They found on one out 9 measurements the short block was warped in the center, but that added another $3700 to the repair, and I turned it down. I think it was .0029” instead of the max .002” tolerance, in just that one area. I told them to just do the gasket. It has been working well since and I’ve put another 20k miles on it. I also wish I could have gotten a smaller bill for the same 20h labor that they charged me

[@henrymorgan3982]

That customer is a lucky customer. Mended with caring hands. Great video!

[@godzilla12325]

Not that lucky, hes just spent 6500 fixing his car 😂

[@JimSampson-y6v]

Ha ! Next will be the catalytic converter fail.....next... inverter fail.... on and on...

[@6lemans10]

​@@JimSampson-y6v100% true.😅

[@Lagargola153]

You are a true honest mechanic

[@swron_rules]

I can’t wait for this channel to hit 1 million subs. I’ve enjoyed so many videos.

[@onepac7563]

Hello from Ga, I watch your videos religiously. I am a big Toyota guy, I always consult your past videos when I’m having trouble with my vehicles.

[@EddieLeal]

From my understanding of this issue idle time also contributes to this problem. Sitting in traffic, or sitting/idling with the A/C running to stay cool. Guilty as charged. 🤷🏻‍♂🤣 It gets pretty hot down here in Florida. Humidity is terrible too. A/C is not luxury down here in sunny Florida. It is a necessity.

[@iwillnoteatzebugs]

Ye this is why 80% i run with A/C OFF even if i live in southern europe

[@EddieLeal]

@@iwillnoteatzebugs You're a brave soul.

[@chinuablair231]

I wish every mechanic were so thoughtful and morally sound as a tradesman. Bless uu brother

[@thechamberofchillz9705]

The country is in dire need of more tech/mechanics like you...

[@awolryan]

Great job AMD! Love the convo thru the decision making process and your Toyota/Lexus long-term outlook if the customer does or doesn’t do the repair. And Happy Fathers Day too!!❤

[@one_mega_ohm9139]

I get why a professional shop would replace the EGR cooler and intake, but they can be pretty easily cleaned. The customer could probably get a few hundred bucks for the used ones. These cars are best for DIYers as you'll save thousands over the years if you can do some basic work. If this guys HV battery or brake actuator goes out soon, then this whole job was probably not worth it.

[@ShssaelPerez]

What a treat on father's day to watch your repair video. The production quality is top notch, the voice over on point, short, straight to the point and full of information. Thank you and happy father's day.

[@gmannakovschessacademy9714]

Thank you for great video. My Land Cruiser 2014 head gasket was blown on 127k miles. Had replacement at Toyota service department in Plano, TX 3 weeks ago . repair costs $7200 , glad I had extended warranty, so i paid zero. Hope to drive my LC for many years and miles.

[@solarscreen]

Well done! Your video filming and editing has come a long way over the years! The live versus time lapse was well balanced and all the conversation was necessary and easily understood. May the Lord bless and keep you, AMD!

[@sdfiske64]

Because of advice from the car care not I do early services on my vehicle. I have a 2020 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E with 85000. Every 3 to 6 months. I do my own inspection, brake pads, i check for oil leaks, transmission leaks or any type of fluid leaks. nothing dry as a bone. Thanks to car care nut videos. Please Please Keep going with the videos

[@perspicator5779]

Artistry at it's finest! Love the efficiency of movement and minimal waste of time and sequencing! Touche'.

[@mak6371]

You are such an inspiration. I watch you and a couple of other KZbinrs. I rebuild a salvage Lexus for the first time all by myself with ZERO prior experience. I love that car so much now. Thank you for inspiring me.

[@sgomez3047]

You do an amazing job with integrity, brother. Have an awesome Father's Day weekend. Thanks for sharing all these vids.

[@johnaclark1]

When these types of cars come in I tell people they have a car essentially worth salvage value. You can sell it to someone who can do their own repairs and buy something else or you can repair it. If you buy something else you have to determine what you can buy for the cost of the repair. What would you get for $6500? Yes, you could buy another one with lower miles but you will likely be in the same spot in the not too distant future. You can spend $15,000 and buy something with low miles that may last but you could still be in the same spot. Many times the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. At this point this customer has a nice car with a new engine (current hybrid battery longevity is a big question, though) Other people are just ready to replace the car and happy to have a good reason. I like the way you think on these and how you advise your customers. Thumbs up!

[@erickchang2709]

Just a month ago, I had the same problem with my 2012 Prius V that only had 114k miles. I was quoted with $6700 for the same repair job. After some research, I chose to trade in for a new RAV 4 Prime..

[@jamesharvin5486]

You are the real deal,God Bless You. We need more guys like you!!!

[@williamcooley5785]

I have a 2010 Prius with 212k miles on it and by the grace of God my headgasket is still holding. I have serviced the coolant per the schedule and I think that is what's saving me. Of course it consumes oil - not bad though - about a 1 1/2 quarts every 5k miles. I would def drive up to your shop and have you put a new short block in! Better to pay that than a brand new car payment and all the other increased costs that come with a new purchase.

[@WaseiSub]

Exactly, coolant can become corrosive in all cars, for that reason all brands suggest to change coolant peridiocally.

[@wallace3953]

Are you kidding me??? You guys are the BEST! Now, this car is as good as New. You should charge more for Labor! The owner wins, because it if FIXED Perfectly!!! wowo!!!! Great Work..... Best Shop in the country!!!!!

[@rickb296]

Excellent video. Great YT content as always from TCCN. My 2012 CT200h F-Sport (yeah, I know, but it had the options I wanted) has 170,000 km and doesn't burn a drop of oil between changes. I have heard that dreaded rattle just twice in the 11 years I've owned this car, both times in very cold weather. Scared the heck out of me the first time, but it hasn't happened in about 4 years. Totally agree that maintenance makes a huge difference. Equally important is the way the car is driven. 95% of my usage is highway and for more than an hour's driving at a time. The car has also been 100% garaged from new. Keep up the great work AMD.

[@aden3113]

Was hybrid a smart choice for mostly highway driving? What mpg are you getting?

[@rickb296]

@@aden3113 Yes it was. The CT200h was the perfect size for us. It is superbly comfortable over long distances, looks good, has Lexus build quality and came with all the options we wanted. There really was no other choice in 2012. I have averaged 5.4l/100 km (43.5 US mpg) from day 1. I could have gone for a Jetta diesel wagon, but look at the problems they faced. It would have been noisier, less comfortable and diesel is often pricier than premium gas, never mind regular.

[@WaseiSub]

@@rickb296 also I had a Fiat Multijet diesel engine, now I have a Toyota hybrid car and never and ever would buy again diesel. Hybrid is so relaxing to drive, no noise, can use AC also during summer in traffic without wasting gasoline and I can get easily 20km/l in city with AC, a thing that was absolutley impossible with diesel egine. Also brake pad! No need to change haha no broken alternator (broken 3 in Fiat Diesel) and no engine-belt to change. My next car will be again hybrid, Lexus if I can.

[@leksivalen1606]

Here in Norway I had the same gasket problem (engine is consuming a lot of coolant and when you start it the engine rattles) with my 2012 Prius plus but instead of fixing the gasket I decided to change the whole engine with a used one. Bought used engine for 650usd that run 72000 miles and labor costs me 1800usd. Seems like I made a big savings.

[@lukek1949]

That sounds really good. I know Norway is an expensive place.

[@leksivalen1606]

@@lukek1949 Cars in Norway is verrryyy expensive. Price of a used car is almost the same as the new car in other countries if not more than. I found out that labor cost for changing gasket is same as changing the engine and less messy. We have a website here with largest database for used original car parts and purchased a whole engine with low mileage. It was this channel also that helps me decide to do it because you will never know if there is hidden problem that a blown head gasket made inside the engine.

[@robiecarmichael9958]

AMD, my hat is off to you sir! In my last comment I mentioned honesty and integrity. Being one percent open and giving the customer the repair options and letting them do the decision making. Discussing the costs and fees openly is so rare. You will thrive as a business owner. Maybe you can cause one other mechanic to be straight forward and give the customer options to make informed decisions. Thank you sir. Happy Father’s Day. Loved the one year anniversary video the other day.

[@zzanatos2001]

I do all the scheduled maintenance on my 2004 4Runner, but every 100,000 miles I had a new timing belt and water pump professionally installed. I also have the transfer cases and transmission serviced every 50K. I would not hesitate to drive it coast to coast on a moment's notice.

[@wino4]

Wait… I have a 2014 Prius. Is this something in my future? I change the oil every 5k religiously. Put I drive like a mad man. I just hit 200k last week. Now… on a side note , wow! This video has only been up for 11 hr and your already over 11K views! Congrats on the success of your channel!

[@JimSampson-y6v]

It's not so much the oil changes... that toyota coolant is so acidic after about 10 months, it just eats head gaskets and then yer done.... he say's "change at 50,000 miles" ... nope... change it every year !

[@Dhana398]

Yeah, I guess the head gasket issue will pop up at any time after 200k but if you are lucky it will run for another 20k or more... I had the same issue with my 2013 Prius @195k and I did it myself by watching all these KZbin videos, Gasket Masters, By the way I am not a mechanic.

[@JesusHernandez-lv4rx]

Im a technician that just bought a 2022 prius with 140,000 miles. I like to know what ill be dealing with for the next 5-10 years. Your immensely detailed commentary truly helps me what to expect from my daily workhorse. I love taking good care of each one of my cars, thank you for this information

[@Vikturus22]

I have a question for the 3rd generation prius people. I use to have a couple as I had a Taxi business and had 4 2010 prius in fleet. I never noticed any oil burning as it would be serviced EVERY 5000 miles or 3 months ( we would easilly do 700 miles per week ) is the wear on the cylnder walls from a lack of servicing or just bad oil? I did the servicing myself at our workshop and in the time of ownership never noticed any oil burn, it always came out still quite clean. When I Sold the business with the cars they all were around 140k miles and max was about 170k miles

[@shaughnmay7501]

Im starting in a few weeks as a toyota lube tech and may I say, you are one of the most thorough and knowledgeable technicians I have ever seen on KZbin. You’re so good at explaining what and WHY you’re doing things. You’re a true blessing to the community. Wrench on!

[@ekenzin]

Thank you, AMD, very much for your honest work and advice. I do maintenance and basic work on my Toyota and Lexus SUVs (Both have V8s) and it always amazes me when I see the next level when you repair an engine and number of nuts, bolts and cables that have to be removed and reinstalled again 👏

[@telwood15]

In the perfect world this is the attitude and focus all mechanics should have with car repairs or in any field of servicing other than cars.

[@jeffm7779]

I am so impressed with your knowledge and approach towards customers. I hope you enjoy the success that you deserve.

[@davidjeroboam1283]

Wow, you're a genius mechanic, the kind of mechanic every person wish they knew

[@cenccenc946]

Episode idea, signs to stop driving a car immediately and have it checked-out. For example, zero oil pressure or over heating. Things of that nature vs. "I'll have that sound checked next time I am at the mechanic" sort of problems.

[@patrikgubeljak9416]

Excellent idea!

[@jimsgaragetoys]

Great to see the breakdown of the engine. My wife drives a 2010 Prius and she still loves it. I do all of the maintenance on it and I preach to everyone about doing the maintenance on a more precise schedule to avoid these issues. I'm always amazed at how much push back I get. I always do 5k mile oil changes, 30k mile CVT fluid changes, 50k mile coolant changes for both the engine and hybrid system. I clean the EGR system every 75k miles. I have a spare EGR cooler and intake manifold and I can take my time cleaning them. I can actually clean the intake manifold and I soak it in a tub, the entire thing until it's completely clear. I change it out with a new PCV valve every 75k miles and I also installed an oil catch can that works very well in helping to keep the crude from the intake manifold. The car has 162k miles and runs well and doesn't burn any oil. If you do the proper maintenance it will take care of you!

[@jeanvaljean1475]

I just had the same issue with a 1.4 Renault symbol from 2007. My coolant disappeared entirely from the jar a few times until we figured out what it is. Curious how long will the engine last now, otherwise a notoriously good engine in Europe. Cheap long lasting cars that don’t exist anymore. They have 0.9 and 1.0 3 cylinder engines now, and they break down months after purchasing as new.

[@sameftek9799]

I do not own a Toyota, but I love watching all your videos. You are a great mechanic.

[@GersonWright]

“Let’s grab your favorite beverage and your favorite snack and let’s talk about this car.” Great teacher, I wish university professors take this approach when explaining things. Thanks for taking the time and effort to create this amazing content. I’ve learned a lot about my two Toyota engines thanks to you sir. Keep up the good work.

[@elijahhacks6399]

I respect your honesty , which is rare gem nowadays. My 98 Honda Civic hatchback reached 515,000 mi and showed signs of wear and tear. I decided to get another block and replaced all other parts with new original Honda parts from the oil pan to cylinder head bolts . An investment of $5K and is back on the road with low emissions and safety requirements. With 200,000 miles more, it will prove to be a good investment. Decisions like this are not for the average car owner.

[@radanovics]

For 6,500 you cannot buy another car that will pretty much guarantee another 100k miles. Very wise decision!!! i have 2016 Prius V, if anything like this happened, I would definitely reward the car with the same fix.

[@scotthayesproductions5715]

i would totally drive to his shop and have him rebuild my 2009 camry engine with new rings, etc.. cant trust anything used these days.

[@arpfre]

You're a good man. Telling the customer the truth, warts and all. Enjoy watching your videos.

[@AKAAAK]

Love the videos. I don't work on Toyotas, I'm an old school VW mechanic (Vanagons). But I do own an 05 Corolla and 11 Camry. Won't ever own a VW 😂. Love watching the ins and outs of Toyotas because even though people think they are indestructible, the truth is they do breakdown. At our shop, I always try to give my customers every detail and every option for them to make a best decision for their situation. Unfortunately my boss doesn't see it that way all the time. I even send pictures to my customers so they can see the damages I see. Most of the time they are willing to go the extra mile to keep their Vanagons on the road. Keep up the great work and pushing out the excellent videos. Have a great day.

[@kevinb2844]

I wish had opportunity to go to him when my 2012 Prius v head gasket went and I got it replaced and a month later by engine blew on the highway… place did head gasket said it was an unrelated issue and didn’t want ro to put a used engine they offered to put in it. Having an honest and excellent mechanic is truly priceless to find when you have a high mileage vehicle that you really enjoy. I needed a car quickly and got a new accord 23 hybrid which is a good car, but I truly miss the wagon space versatility of the 2012 Prius V, which while while slower still got a solid 38 mpg when owned it from 170-250 thousand miles… Accord gets solid 40 but is brand new and doubt will be getting that type of mileage at 250 thousand if it even lasts that long

[@18_rabbit]

well the honda probably will last that long at least, they are stellar cars actually, especially right now. But its so sad that Honda didn't make a hatch version of that, bcuz the sedan format is utterly pointless in an age when Cuv's became a thing almost entirely bcuz they are practical w/ the the layout/hatch. Sedans can be made with hatches, but these car makers are too cheap or unimaginative to do it with enough sedan type models!

[@richardramon2175]

I appreciate the long video on an engine teardown. It really gives me insight on how much work is involved. I will be removing both heads on my 03 Kia Sorento in the future and will use this video and guidance.

[@cwang6951]

I'm only 3 minutes in but....the colour of that engine oil coming out....looks delicious!

[@jimelfman1369]

No such thing as a video "too long" when inmportant things are being taught/learned! Keep it up!!! How goes the project Lexus?

[@juelzm149]

My friend, every time you do these types of videos I somehow gain even MORE respect for you and your craft! Your knowledge, attention to detail and honest spirit are so rare in the world let alone in business! May the Lord keep and bless you and yours!!!

[@jim8781]

I'm so glad they fixed it cause a trade in would become some other poor buggers problem. Trust me, after having the head bolts let go in my 04 Highlander on my way to work three days after I bought it. Man that sucked

[@Ramenscooter]

Best automotive repair content, period !

[@thugblaster303]

I wasn't surprised by the price since I've been looking for a newer used car. The market still has high prices, and $6500 doesn't get you much where I live. Nevertheless, he now has a reliable car that runs well and should serve him for many miles and years to come.

[@stephanematis]

The voice over methods works great. I hope this is an efficient format for your workflow. I enjoy it and learn from it.

[@ashotkgk]

Hello brother. Your channel is one of the best KZbin car informative channels ever. Thank you for your work. Wishing you good health and success.

[@keifuchan7265]

You are the gold standard that all mechanics and shops should strive for!

[@yummygogolak]

It's not that people don't want to do maintenance, they hate going to dealer and deal with upsell, which also leads to trust issues. And these days dealers are doubly despised for price gouging.

[@joefraga7377]

The running commentary is very informative for us. What a project. Appreciate your honesty and telling customer facts for them to make decisions. I recall taking in our Sienna and service rep said 5k and no guarantee it will work. Let it go. We did.

[@bstephens600]

Enjoy these time lapse videos and always amazed at how you keep all the fasteners coordinated.

[@johncaruana6406]

I also would like to complement you on the quality of the videos. The work you do on the vehicles is outstanding but the video quality is so good.

[@egx161]

This engine had a hard work life. Maintenance is even more important for Uber or commercial vehicles. More frequent oil changes and ahead of recommended schedules. Coolant, plugs, etc. severe duty maintenance schedule would have been better.

[@lupavo1738]

None of that would've fixed the oil burning issue. At that point an engine rebuild/replacement would be needed. Maintenance can't fix or undue what damage is already done or occurring. Some Toyotas even have a TSB for engine ring/piston replacement.

[@ToyotaAristo]

This wasn't a "hard work life" just a normal use. This engines along with other from Toyota have been recalled for this same reason and since the block are not machinable you are stuck with buying a whole new block.

[@j.t.5826]

As a DIY and learning about working on cars. I find your videos to be very informative and honest. I can tell people its alot cheaper to give it to a good mechanic for serious repairs. It took me a long long time to fix my engine but learned alot. thanks for your videos.

[@miesdaantje]

I love my ct200h.Over here in the Netherlands the headgaskets are not famous to break down.. could the reason be the difference in fuel?? I've called different toyota/lexus dealers and asked for this problem..none of them had expierence with the ct200h or the prius to go bad...same story goes for the EGR system. I love your passion!!! Greetz from a the Netherlands 🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱

[@rightlanehog3151]

Are you related to the 400 metre runner?

[@miesdaantje]

@@rightlanehog3151 you mean Lieke Klaver?

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@miesdaantje Yes!

[@miesdaantje]

@@rightlanehog3151 as far as i know im not related😊

[@kevingreen3923]

You're either going to fix it 100% or 0%. I love it when you said that. That's how things should be done, all or nothing. Thank you for your videos and content. I love how honest and upfront you are.

[@cg8005]

you would have to have a lot of faith in the battery pack and hybrid components to plow $6500 into the motor.. I hope it works out for the owner 👍🏻

[@rj.parker]

Usually at this mileage anf age they have replaced the hv battery

[@omarrolle3842]

Idk about this car but I’ve seen that the battery replacement on the 3rd gen is pretty easy DIY I’m guessing it’s the same on this car

[@Liam-Mangan]

People with access to your shop with its knowledge base and skill set are blessed, keep up the good work and keep informing and remotely teaching those of us who cannot avail of such amazing services

[@Anonymous99997]

Something that would help us all, would be a document representing your service interval recommendations for Toyotas and Lexus vehicles: Oil and Filter, Transmission Fluid, Coolant, Spark Plugs, Timing Belts or Chains, Water Pumps, etc.

[@jims2507]

He has videos on oil and filter, transmission fluid, coolant, and spark plugs. The timing belt you can follow the factory maintenance interval. The timing chain doesn't have an interval, but the chains last a really long time. The water pump I would like to know too! :)

[@jimthumerzs2301]

After watching an embarrassing amount of videos on the subject, I'm convinced that one of the main causes of these head gasket issues is a failed water pump. They fail without much notice (150-200K) and cook the engine before the owner notices something is wrong. I''m changing mine at 155K just to be safe. It's not a bad DIY job either, as long as the (5) bolts don't get seized up and break or booger up the threads. (don't mix up the 2 long bolts for the 3 short ones) If you own one of these cars, change the oil, coolant, and PCV valve regularly, and clean/replace the air intake and EGR valve by 100K.

[@olegk455]

@@jimthumerzs2301good to know. So it’s basically comes down to the main three culprits: not replacing coolant often enough, EGR/ intake clogging(especially on 1 and 2 cylinders), water pump failures. Is the water pump gear driven on these engines? You recommend putting an original Toyota/Lexus water pump or is there some alternatives. I am about to diagnose a friends 14’ CT 200 with the morning death rattle that happens 50/50 percent of the time. With 285,000km I am suspicious that it will need a head gasket replacement, and a water pump obviously too. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[@jimthumerzs2301]

@@olegk455 The water pump is electric. Yes, I would recommend OEM. Some say the Aisin is identical. I got OEM pump through online Toyota dealer for about the same money. Also, change PCV valve regularly.

[@jpthsd]

I've never seen any auto shop/shop owner showing/record videos of his works....very very good! thank you sir!

[@JP-xd5oz]

Awesome info and fix. The best Toyota car care nut says it all. God bless you and keep you , peace be with you

[@yetthejet]

Thank you TCCN crew. Another excellent and informative video. These videos of you breaking down, repairing, and replacing engines and is so awesome! Thank you for sharing.

[@shoersa]

I have heard many times that an ICE experiences most of it's wear on startup. So I am thinking what about start/stop systems and what about hybrids. Nice to hear AMD touch on this in this video (24:24 thru 27:00). Folks, this is one honest mechanic.

[@Fred-F4]

The longer your videos the better 😊

[@victorbaird8220]

I am glad you like the long videos 😊

[@Joshuazico]

I just want to say...keep doing what your doing...i love the way u inform ur customers of all facts regardless of u getting the job or not...ur style of videos, the level of details and information covered...i hope to change this field just as you are trying hard to one day 🙏

[@jonathanbaudier4665]

Thanks for the video. I learnt a lot about the ct200h. Fingers crossed, mine is from 2011 also, 80k miles, and runs great so far

[@CynicznyNonkonformista]

it's sad that supposedly the „best brand” cars have a problem with durability already at 80,000 miles and you have to keep your fingers crossed .How is it different from VAG cars?

[@WaseiSub]

There are milions of this engine on Prius/CT200h/and other cars that runs 300k without problems, in Europe almost all taxi are Prius and also there are CT200h. Not so much complains this engine, just do your maintenance with OEM parts and fluids peridiocally.

[@CynicznyNonkonformista]

@@WaseiSub 2:45 (and later) AMD talks about notorious problems with this engine. Maybe for fanboys replacing the head gasket and/or piston rings is a normal operation, like replacing brake pads? Besides, Toyota has problems with oil burning in its engines for decades.

[@Beasy63]

@@CynicznyNonkonformistaYou’re definitely overreacting with the maintenance. Curious to know what car is better than toyota in your opinion because there’s real world information and data that contradicts what you say

[@CynicznyNonkonformista]

@@Beasy63 as you can see in the real world, the head gasket and oil burning is not considered a problem, Toyota users prefer not to talk about it. You can buy a car of any brand that will have a problem with oil burning or a head gasket, at least it will have twice as much power. So why choose a Toyota?

[@stevec9669]

What an honest TCCN! And not going to make some quick bucks and send customer out of the door, without really solving the problem.👍

[@bamahi7142]

I absolutely love this type of videos you produce! Keep up the great work!

[@MuscleBandit]

Hail the CCN! It takes me 20hrs just to assemble flat pack furniture!! Thanks for another in depth lesson. It's important to learn which Toyotas are more and less problem prone than others. Cheers, MB.

[@rightlanehog3151]

It takes me 20 hours to open the box.

[@MuscleBandit]

@@rightlanehog3151 🤣🤣🤣👍

[@future62]

$6500 actually isn't bad compared to the cost of buying a reliable Uber ready car these days. Even if the owner only gets another 50K miles out of this it would be money well spent.

[@ozzy4219]

Ha , 50k ??? After this rebuild experience , I’m for sure think , owner will get more than 200 k or way more, at l least with proper maintenance !!!

[@mikehand2668]

Cause a new one would be $30 k easy , $6500 all day long is much better

[@StrongerThanBigfoot]

@@ozzy4219 Exactly!!!! Proper Maintenace is key

[@SkylineGTR_BNR32]

@Paper Tiger The CT is just a Prius dawg. A Prius can go well over 400k with no problems...as long as you're ok with battery pack replacements. (Which I've replaced a battery pack on a Prius and a CT before, they're not in the slightest hard to do. $2000 instead of $4500 to have a dealer do it.) I'm talking from experience by the way. Friend owns a 2011 Prius that he uses as a delivery car. It the exact same 2ZR-FXE as the CT and that thing made it to 590k miles before it threw a rod, and he beats the living life out of it. As long as you're ok with replacing battery packs every 200-300k, and also as long as you're not an idiot and actually wash/clean your car on a monthly basis, a Toyota hybrid is an excellent choice and is very reliable.

[@hiteshadhikari]

@jclaiborneii all he might have issue with is a battey later, which he can easily replace , costly? Yes but works

[@dv7768]

Great video thanks. As someone who had a 3rd gen Prius, at 180k miles it started to get the morning sickness. After some liquid gasket sealer it was good for a time. It made it to 240k before it was too bad and I was told only do the liquid "fix" once. A friend of mine owns a shop and gave me another reason for the common reason of the 1.8l engine has head gasket issues. For city driving the engine starts and stops a ton of times which keeps the head and the block cooling at different temps which keeps for a better word "smashing" the head gasket between the two parts. This over time this helps breaks down the gasket. I just bought a mid time engine as I expected to get another 100k for 6k. But i am still gambling on the main battery, good news is you can get a rebuild battery pack for around 3k. Or...you can spend 30k + and wait 3 to 6 months for a new prius.

[@jgalmodovar]

@dv7768 Thanks for that information. I have a 2011 CT200H that I bought used and just had to have a JDM engine with 58K miles installed. I'm crossing my fingers. The problem that I have is that I'm completely in love with this car...not too much high tech, no display panel (which I love), but still just the right amount of creature comforts! I wish there was a comparable car on the market that drove like this one does!

[@valq661]

Yet another great video! Lexus/Toyotas that's all my kids and I drive. Hopefully I find a mechanic that specializes in the same as you here in central California!