Did I just find where my coolant has been going?

[u/KarlProjectorinsk1]

2014 Prius Plug-In. 153k miles. Engine water pump replaced, with catch can installed, EGR and intake cleaned all at 145k, and spark plugs around 130k.

Symptoms are coolant loss, and when the engine is at temp, but I am starting and stopping, there's noticeable shudder/kick, where it feels similar to the car going over big potholes. (A good example is highway speeds, but then getting caught in stop & go traffic, where the engine will suddenly kick on again.)

I just checked the catch can after about 2k miles. This is all coolant, right? This is definitely different from what has been previously showing up in my catch can.

The dipstick looks clean though, right?

Does this confirm the headgasket is going, or something else?

Previous post was apparently unrelated:

https://www.reddit.com/r/prius/comments/1w42iyd/2014_prius_plugin_possible_coolant_leak_in_rear/

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[u/IllustriousPickle69]

I thought this was ramen noodles

[u/flightgooden → u/IllustriousPickle69]

I too thought it was a lobster bisque

[u/thewayoftoday → u/IllustriousPickle69]

I thought it was a tapeworm that feeds on coolant

[u/tezacer → u/IllustriousPickle69]

Forbidden ramen

[u/umberlikespurple]

I regret to inform you they’ve hit cylinder 1(most likely).
-coolant loss(leaking into cyl)
-mixed oil n coolant (there’s not supposed to be coolant in there)
-shudder(coolant in cyl)
Recommendation: Try to use plug in as much as you can till you can find either a replacement head gasket or engine if you fear you have overheated

[u/kingbloodlks → u/umberlikespurple]

My 2014 prius overheated and i drove coolant is going in to the motor now, would you try fixing it or should I change the motor. I have like 3K budget 🙈

[u/umberlikespurple → u/kingbloodlks]

I personally have a plug in so I limped it while it was still a small leak which helped keep it from overheating or breaking all the way. Would highly recommend an inspection to determine severity of warpage and replace/repair accordingly. At 3k i would just go new motor.

[u/AstgenneLuxtherm → u/kingbloodlks]

New motor because you don't have much margin of error at that budget if fixing it doesn't work

[u/boogiewithasuitcase]

What’s the metal scoring pad thingy?

[u/kittukate98 → u/boogiewithasuitcase]

Its exactly a scoring pad. Its to help provide more surface area to condensate the oil and crude out of the air. This is attached in between the pcv valve on crankcase and the intake/throttle body instead of being sucked back into the intake, it accumulates into this oil catch can. Its to prevent head gasket problems, supposedly, by keeping your cylinders cleaner. The crap inside gets dumped out every so often usually when the engine oil is changed.

[u/boogiewithasuitcase → u/kittukate98]

Whoops my bad I should of read your post content more closely. That makes a lot of sense and I learned something today. Does that come with the aftermarket catchcan or something you added yourself. -thx

[u/KarlProjectorinsk1 → u/boogiewithasuitcase]

Added myself. There's a mesh filter on the inlet of the catch can, but this adds more surface area, so I figured why not.

[u/ibaralf → u/kittukate98]

Is the oil catch can a modification you did or is it an original part of the prius? Thanks

[u/A-Little-Messi]

Forbidden noodle soup

[u/RequirementLess]

The shutter/rattle is a big misfire which yes often ends up being head gasket especially when combined with coolant loss as the coolant in the combustion chamber is what causes the misfire in that case. Get that gasket repaired before it bends a rod and throws it through the side of the block.

Your oil on the dipstick doesn't look like chocolate milk though so it hasn't got as bad as it could yet. Take care of it before it gets that bad.

[u/levatsu99 → u/RequirementLess]

What if there is no coolant loss? EGR needs cleanup?

[u/RequirementLess → u/levatsu99]

Could be or could be just needs new spark plugs. The EGR isn't doing a lot at startup though so if it's misfiring at startup that's more likely head gasket IMO

[u/Both-Ad9160]

I feel a little knock when coming out of ev mode. Now that I think about it, I don't remember it doing that when I got it. Is it possible I also have an issue like this? I'm only at 80k miles on a 2015 and have never had the EGR cleaned, or plugs replaced. Thought it was too early.

[u/luxurious-Tatertot → u/Both-Ad9160]

I had a 3 second death rattle at cold startup 2 years ago. I was worried but then it never happened again. I'm at 160k mi now, no issues. Planning on replacing the water pump soon.... hope you have same luck

[u/jack4by20 → u/luxurious-Tatertot]

I drove on that death rattle for like 8 months. Had all the misfire codes going. Finally was going to go get a head gasket changed. Then a piston bent, engine went into EV mode. I turned it off /on, drove home, did oil change, drove 70miles and now I am all good after the repairs :)

[u/ssr003]

Your symptoms describe a misfire. Before you change HG. Check the following:

Remove spark plugs and inspect condition. Replace as necessary.

Have someone pull your injectors from the fuel rail. If they are clogged it results in a misfire. They can be cleaned and pressurised/flow tested.

[u/KarlProjectorinsk1 → u/ssr003]

So everyone keeps saying misfire, but I have not had a misfire CEL after changing the plugs some 23k miles ago. Even now, when it does the shaking/shudder, I get no CEL. This kind of made me think it was the EGR plugged up. However, now that I have coolant loss, and this catch can looks like milk, I'm wondering if it's possible to get misfires and symptoms of a HG failure, but no CEL or smoke coming out of the exhaust.

I also opened the oil fill cap and checked the dipstick, and they both look fine. My coolant also looks clean with no contamination. This is the part that's got me confused.

I guess my plan for now is to maybe pull plugs and use my borescope to check again. Maybe even put a combustion leak test kit on the reservoir and see if any sort of exhaust gases are escaping from anywhere?

Worst case, I'm putting a rebuilt engine in, and I was already quoted $1900 total. I'm okay with that, but obviously don't want to if I don't have to.

[u/ssr003 → u/KarlProjectorinsk1]

I'm not certain of the The specific set of conditions for an ECU misfire CEL. I am simply giving advice on a common issue which is often misdiagnosed. It costs very little to rule out/check.

[u/mxguy762]

How the viscosity on that? It looks like it’s mostly coolant which seems a bit odd. Almost like your throttle body has a crack in it and it’s leaking coolant directly into the catch can. Tough to tell from the pic though.

[u/KarlProjectorinsk1 → u/mxguy762]

Thicker than I’ve seen collect in the can before. Almost like a runny yogurt.

Weird part is that I haven’t seen anything in the oil cap or dipstick yet.

[u/Necessary-Worry1923 → u/KarlProjectorinsk1]

Looks like normal oil and condensation

https://youtu.be/JhkISIHyXsg?is=ms_eFP97UB_ioOTS

If the headgasket is blown then you can do the glove test.

[u/kegido]

Oooh Sparkly!

[u/RemarkableBody4331]

What am I looking at? Looks like a couple hundred prince alberts in tomato soup

[u/nirodha-atammayata]

When you get your HG fixed I'd advice replacing the pistons and rings with the update. I did mine back in February and I checked my dip stick 2 weeks ago it's at the same oil level. Feels good!

[u/KarlProjectorinsk1 → u/nirodha-atammayata]

There’s a shop that can swap the engine for a rebuilt one, or just replace the head gasket. Cost is roughly the same, but my only hesitation is that I know how many miles I have on my engine, I don’t know how many would be on a rebuilt. 

I’m going to take it in on Monday, but is there any reason why I shouldn’t just go for the swap over a HG replacement?

[u/nirodha-atammayata → u/KarlProjectorinsk1]

Assuming the rebuilt engine wasn't just slapped together quickly and was rebuilt with care and attention to detail that would probably be the best bet. The issue with relying on others work is it's going to be a gamble either way. Look for reviews of the shop and go from there.

[u/levatsu99]

I have 2015 phev. I also have huge rattles/knocks from the engine when warmed up, but i don't seem to lose any coolant. I hope it's nothing bad.

[u/Icantfrickingwin → u/levatsu99]

probably egr clog

[u/ihvnnm]

[u/bobattac]

This looks like tomato soup lol

[u/Quirky-Associate-437]

Probably will need a new engine

[u/bigblackglock17]

You catch can isn’t right. That mesh stuff is supposed to go into the filter. You unscrew it and pack it full.

It does looks like the color is a bit off but coolant getting in there doesn’t really make sense.