Toyota is often considered the pinnacle of reliability, with few brands even coming close. However, even with such a stellar reputation, perfection is unattainable. This Toyota engine, after 73,000 miles, gave up, proving that even the best can sometimes fail. The naturally aspirated 2ZR-FXE inline-four engine in question was from a 2016 Toyota Prius, as reported by the I Do Cars YouTube channel.
Given that most cars with this engine are still on the road, this failure is somewhat unusual, especially considering the relatively low mileage. On the surface, the engine appears undamaged, but once the valve cover is removed, the issue becomes apparent. A brown, milky liquid is scattered throughout, indicating that coolant and oil have mixed—a clear sign of trouble.
Eric, the channel's host, investigates further and discovers signs of head gasket failure around one of the cylinders, which appears suspiciously cleaner than the others—a likely sign of water intrusion. Upon closer inspection, he finds that the cylinder's rod has been bent, suggesting that it attempted (and failed) to compress water. This would certainly cause the engine to fail.
While the damage is evident, the exact cause of the failure remains unclear. It could have been due to overheating or a spontaneous head gasket failure. Eric contacted the dealership that removed the engine from the car, but they were unable to provide any additional information. One thing is certain: this four-cylinder engine won't be returning to service anytime soon.
Source link: https://www.motor1.com
