Post proof of this seeing all gas stations are certified. Change the fuel filter every so often is a great idea. Our gas is super clean here every gas station in America by now passes federal mandated tank replacements or they are out of business. I would NEVER, EVER recommend injector cleaners. Additives are just money makers. Change the plugs yourself takes 15 min. Change the fuel filters every so often too. I've changed four in 50k miles more from age than needing it. (2012) Google US gas vs Europe. Some ridiculous comments made here.
Bad head gasket or bad head due to violent shudder
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American vs European fuels – Octane rating – eTuners
www.etuners.gr
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Really
And your reasons being?
We at Lexus have a fuel system cleaner and injector cleaner. We use this when servicing customers cars.
You show me where there are 2 fuel filters on a CT
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After my gasket replacement, problem solved. Got my gasket changed after reading the forum. The crazy noise and studding started during cold “soak”. That’s when these symptoms happen. After it initially goes away after 10-15 seconds, it doesn’t come back until the car is allowed to cool down and not driven for several hours. Gasket Masters did the replacement and they came to my home and finished in 3-4 hours. Check them out on YouTube. These guys in the Northern California Bay Area were just awesome. I highly recommend them. They ensured the area was clean before and after the work was completed. Used torque wrenches everywhere, cleaned the Intake and attached their diagnostic tool to ensure the car was functioning properly - temperature was stabilizing (shows the thermostat working) - and the hybrid battery was still functioning well. I also watched them use their straight-edge to determine if the head was warped (it wasn’t -phew). Their price is a steal considering what a dealer will charge for this service. That was my gasket (pictured) and the red area is where the coolant seeped through. You can see that the other cylinders didn’t have any breakage that allowed the coolant to leak into the cylinders. Noted that like their YouTube videos mention, when the head was removed, that the affected cylinder was absolutely clean compared to the other 3 with their carbon build up of an engine with 135,000 miles. Highly recommend These guys.
![60249]()
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Can you send me the info for the place you got the engine from, im currently having this issue now.
EXACT Same issue. EXACT same motor. EXACT same calendar, in reference to first repair, etc. EXACT same problem with error codes (13 of them) misfire, etc, after the car ran like a dream. Additionally, the place I got my last two oil changes NEVER changed the oil filter, it seems. That caused issues as well. Oh, well, here I go with the head gasket crap. Oi, Y'Voy...
Interesting... I was going to get a new head... Do you think that a new engine is a better option? I'd go for that...
oooo... I'm in NorCal now. I will look them up. Gotta get this gasket gig done...
Back in this thread again, 50k miles later, with 224k miles on the odometer.
Misfiring came back on and off over the last year. Replaced the plugs at 202k and 208k which temporarily fixed the issue each time. No coolant consumption up to 208k miles.
Beginning at 221k miles, it happened almost every cold start. Misfires go away in less than 1 min.
Beginning 223k miles, it happens closer to > 50% of all combustion starts (cold or hot). Coolant consumption is now half the expansion tank every week. MIL on, misfire codes on cylinders 1-4.
Brought vehicle for head gasket replacement quotes at 3 non-Lexus repair shoppes.
Quote 1: $3500 for head gasket replacement + $1000 for timing chain replacement (optional, recommended). Parts, materials, labour included. 1 week turnaround.
Quote 2: $2900 for head gasket replacement. Parts, materials, labour, alignment included. Oil and oil filter explicitly included as well which may not be compulsory in the job but it was offered. 1 week turnaround
Quote 3: pending
If I DIY, it’s probably $750 estimated in parts for head gasket + timing chain. Anticipates no other issues, like bent rod or machine work to minimal deck (-0.002”) the mating surfaces. Time needed is 1 week of my time stretched over several nights after work and weekend. Already have 2nd vehicle so no rental cost accrued. I’m not super young anymore but could probably handle it.
Really hate outsourcing that much for a repair on a vehicle only worth $5k.
Misfiring came back on and off over the last year. Replaced the plugs at 202k and 208k which temporarily fixed the issue each time. No coolant consumption up to 208k miles.
Beginning at 221k miles, it happened almost every cold start. Misfires go away in less than 1 min.
Beginning 223k miles, it happens closer to > 50% of all combustion starts (cold or hot). Coolant consumption is now half the expansion tank every week. MIL on, misfire codes on cylinders 1-4.
Brought vehicle for head gasket replacement quotes at 3 non-Lexus repair shoppes.
Quote 1: $3500 for head gasket replacement + $1000 for timing chain replacement (optional, recommended). Parts, materials, labour included. 1 week turnaround.
Quote 2: $2900 for head gasket replacement. Parts, materials, labour, alignment included. Oil and oil filter explicitly included as well which may not be compulsory in the job but it was offered. 1 week turnaround
Quote 3: pending
If I DIY, it’s probably $750 estimated in parts for head gasket + timing chain. Anticipates no other issues, like bent rod or machine work to minimal deck (-0.002”) the mating surfaces. Time needed is 1 week of my time stretched over several nights after work and weekend. Already have 2nd vehicle so no rental cost accrued. I’m not super young anymore but could probably handle it.
Really hate outsourcing that much for a repair on a vehicle only worth $5k.
Currently at 225,290 mi. Was going to replace the head gasket, clean EGR, replace timing chain components, and all gaskets this long weekend but work is getting in the way again. The misfires were okay for a while but have gone back misfiring at every ICE start until it clears out the water. Current consumption is roughly 1/4 the reservoir every 72 mi daily commute.
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Hey Jody - what did you end up doing with your car? I have the same problem now, with $92K miles on a ct200h, always serviced at the dealer on time. I have a 2014 but it seems like model years 2011-2016 all have this problem. Did you pay for it?
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Hi all,
Add my name to the list here... violent shudder when accelerating, engine warning light, into the dealer to assess the light, code P0300, P0301, etc. which indicates cylinder misfire, diagnosis as issue with intake manifold and crack in head gasket, beaucoup bucks to repair, yadda, yadda...
How many people on this board reported the issue? At least 25+ by my count. That is just Lexus CT owners who found this board to see why and how this would happen to such a high-end brand car and maybe to complain, probably countless others who just paid for the repair and just moved on without digging into it. Then there are also probably a multitude of others who have an actual Prius with this same engine with the same issue, and I have good sources who have looked at Prius boards that confirm this.
I purchased a CT200 late last summer, and over the course of the last week found out that this problem was really a problem with how Toyota/Lexus is addressing the issue. They knew long before any one of you hit 100K miles that this failure was inevitable, yet they did nothing for the customer to avoid the major issues - a blown head gasket, or at worse: hydrolock, a bent cylinder or a cylinder through the block, complete engine destruction. Sure, they put out a TSB on the intake manifold, but never did anything proactive to help the customer avoid the major issue down the road. Look at the TSB --> L-SB-0019-16. They put this out in January of 2013. They knew that after a cold soak (apparently that is engineer-speak for turned off car and let sit idle for a time) that the engine might "run rough" at first, "rattle", maybe have a diagnostic code that indicated a cylinder misfire. Guess what - by that time it is too late! You already have coolant leaking into the cylinder at that point and you already have a cracked head gasket.
Maybe a seasoned mechanic can tell me I'm wrong here, but the way I see it, the intake manifold is the contributor to the head gasket failure. The EGR system in this engine sends exhaust to individual runners (or EGR port, whatever you want to call it) in the intake manifold, then onto each cylinder as part of the exhaust gas recirculation process. With the temperature control at the EGR valve and nothing to monitor the temperature at each individual runner, any carbon deposit build up that clogs an individual runner and increases the running temperature at that individual cylinder will cause that cylinder to run hotter than the other cylinders that have less clogging. This uneven temperature between the cylinders causes a differential expansion on the cylinder head and eventually causes the head gasket failure at that cylinder.
So, yes. The offer is out there to mechanics on this board. Tell me where I am wrong in this assessment of intake manifold - individual runners - carbon clogging EGR circuit - differential expansion on cylinder head - head gasket failure. I'll admit that I am no mechanic, so clarify any points I make that are wrong (as well as confirm any parts that are right).
Back to the real issue - what did Toyota/Lexus do about this, aside from putting out a few TSBs (also see L-SB-0019-16)? Nothing, that I can see. Lexus/Toyota has not been proactive with its customers to offer a solution to this problem that avoids major expense to the customer. There are a number of ways Toyota/Lexus could have saved it’s customers from undue expense. First, Lexus/Toyota should have made updates to the service schedule on this vehicle to inspect the car for clogging in the intake manifold. To my knowledge, they have never updated their service schedule to include this. Toyota/Lexus could have also offered a cleaning of the intake manifold at regular service intervals to avoid the clogging and cylinder failure that leads to the head gasket failure. Additionally, Toyota/Lexus could have required a complete replacement of the intake manifold by a certain mileage so the customer could avoid a head gasket failure. Any one of these proactive decisions could help your customers avoid the issues that lead to higher repair expenses on the car.
No, Toyota/Lexus knows. Toyota/Lexus knows there is a problem with clogging in the intake manifold and that this clogging problem contributed directly to the head gasket failure. But they chose to do the least they could do, and the owners of these cars are now getting stuck with the results of this negligence.
Question is, are we all just going to plunk down our hard earned money to fix a problem that could have been avoided if Toyota/Lexus did the right thing?
Add my name to the list here... violent shudder when accelerating, engine warning light, into the dealer to assess the light, code P0300, P0301, etc. which indicates cylinder misfire, diagnosis as issue with intake manifold and crack in head gasket, beaucoup bucks to repair, yadda, yadda...
How many people on this board reported the issue? At least 25+ by my count. That is just Lexus CT owners who found this board to see why and how this would happen to such a high-end brand car and maybe to complain, probably countless others who just paid for the repair and just moved on without digging into it. Then there are also probably a multitude of others who have an actual Prius with this same engine with the same issue, and I have good sources who have looked at Prius boards that confirm this.
I purchased a CT200 late last summer, and over the course of the last week found out that this problem was really a problem with how Toyota/Lexus is addressing the issue. They knew long before any one of you hit 100K miles that this failure was inevitable, yet they did nothing for the customer to avoid the major issues - a blown head gasket, or at worse: hydrolock, a bent cylinder or a cylinder through the block, complete engine destruction. Sure, they put out a TSB on the intake manifold, but never did anything proactive to help the customer avoid the major issue down the road. Look at the TSB --> L-SB-0019-16. They put this out in January of 2013. They knew that after a cold soak (apparently that is engineer-speak for turned off car and let sit idle for a time) that the engine might "run rough" at first, "rattle", maybe have a diagnostic code that indicated a cylinder misfire. Guess what - by that time it is too late! You already have coolant leaking into the cylinder at that point and you already have a cracked head gasket.
Maybe a seasoned mechanic can tell me I'm wrong here, but the way I see it, the intake manifold is the contributor to the head gasket failure. The EGR system in this engine sends exhaust to individual runners (or EGR port, whatever you want to call it) in the intake manifold, then onto each cylinder as part of the exhaust gas recirculation process. With the temperature control at the EGR valve and nothing to monitor the temperature at each individual runner, any carbon deposit build up that clogs an individual runner and increases the running temperature at that individual cylinder will cause that cylinder to run hotter than the other cylinders that have less clogging. This uneven temperature between the cylinders causes a differential expansion on the cylinder head and eventually causes the head gasket failure at that cylinder.
So, yes. The offer is out there to mechanics on this board. Tell me where I am wrong in this assessment of intake manifold - individual runners - carbon clogging EGR circuit - differential expansion on cylinder head - head gasket failure. I'll admit that I am no mechanic, so clarify any points I make that are wrong (as well as confirm any parts that are right).
Back to the real issue - what did Toyota/Lexus do about this, aside from putting out a few TSBs (also see L-SB-0019-16)? Nothing, that I can see. Lexus/Toyota has not been proactive with its customers to offer a solution to this problem that avoids major expense to the customer. There are a number of ways Toyota/Lexus could have saved it’s customers from undue expense. First, Lexus/Toyota should have made updates to the service schedule on this vehicle to inspect the car for clogging in the intake manifold. To my knowledge, they have never updated their service schedule to include this. Toyota/Lexus could have also offered a cleaning of the intake manifold at regular service intervals to avoid the clogging and cylinder failure that leads to the head gasket failure. Additionally, Toyota/Lexus could have required a complete replacement of the intake manifold by a certain mileage so the customer could avoid a head gasket failure. Any one of these proactive decisions could help your customers avoid the issues that lead to higher repair expenses on the car.
No, Toyota/Lexus knows. Toyota/Lexus knows there is a problem with clogging in the intake manifold and that this clogging problem contributed directly to the head gasket failure. But they chose to do the least they could do, and the owners of these cars are now getting stuck with the results of this negligence.
Question is, are we all just going to plunk down our hard earned money to fix a problem that could have been avoided if Toyota/Lexus did the right thing?
I've been doing a lot of reading on ct forums as well as prius forums; specifically for information on this particular engine. Decided that I will post on this thread to continue following it. These problems don't deter me from owning one, btw...the best type of vehicle care is preventative care...and these problems everyone is having seems to be a direct result of improper care. NOT the owners fault by any means, but I think Lexus is failing in communicating proper type of care for this engine...Anyway, found a used one with 191,7xx miles for sale for $6k in my area...decided to look it up in Lexus' service history program...Lookie what we found here:
DESCRIPTION: OTHERS ~|~CUST STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. SHAKES WHEN STARTING AFTER SITTING A FEW HOURS. ALSO SOUND LIKE WATER MOVING THROUGH PIPE. RECENTLY CHANGED SPARK PLUGS. PLEASE ADVISE ~|~P0300-RANDOM MULTIPLE MISFIRE DETECTED,P0301-CYLINDER #1 MISFIRE,P0302-CYLINDER #2 MISFIRE UNABLE TO VERIFY SHAKING ON FIRST START UP,VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY MISFIRING,RECOMMENDED EGR VALVE AND INTAKE MANIFOLD TO ADDRESS SHAKING ON START UP AND MISFIRES ~|~REPLACED EGR VALVE,INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REFLASHED ECM,TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND NO MISFIRES WERE PRESENT CUST WAS ADVISED OF POSSIBLE INTERNAL ENGINE ISSUES 5.0
The infamous engine shakes!! Prior history inputs on this vehicle show that the owner took it in very regularly to perform the Lexus recommended maintenance schedule, and this issue wasn't discovered until the engine started shaking on start up - probably right around 190-191xxx miles.
Just thought I would share this with anyone reading this thread and interested in more instances of this same issue.
DESCRIPTION: OTHERS ~|~CUST STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. SHAKES WHEN STARTING AFTER SITTING A FEW HOURS. ALSO SOUND LIKE WATER MOVING THROUGH PIPE. RECENTLY CHANGED SPARK PLUGS. PLEASE ADVISE ~|~P0300-RANDOM MULTIPLE MISFIRE DETECTED,P0301-CYLINDER #1 MISFIRE,P0302-CYLINDER #2 MISFIRE UNABLE TO VERIFY SHAKING ON FIRST START UP,VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY MISFIRING,RECOMMENDED EGR VALVE AND INTAKE MANIFOLD TO ADDRESS SHAKING ON START UP AND MISFIRES ~|~REPLACED EGR VALVE,INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REFLASHED ECM,TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND NO MISFIRES WERE PRESENT CUST WAS ADVISED OF POSSIBLE INTERNAL ENGINE ISSUES 5.0
The infamous engine shakes!! Prior history inputs on this vehicle show that the owner took it in very regularly to perform the Lexus recommended maintenance schedule, and this issue wasn't discovered until the engine started shaking on start up - probably right around 190-191xxx miles.
Just thought I would share this with anyone reading this thread and interested in more instances of this same issue.
Really
And your reasons being?
We at Lexus have a fuel system cleaner and injector cleaner. We use this when servicing customers cars.
You show me where there are 2 fuel filters on a CT
Thanks for your reasonable and wise approach to our cars. I work with an independent hybrid mechanic and there have been conversations about water pump failure = blown head gasket. I’ve had my ‘14 for a month w 72k miles - changed the plugs and the ceramics were burned. Will take your advice and run some cleaner through my next tank.
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Thank you for this! I think it’s exactly what is going on with my vehicle so I’m going to check into everything you said.
Try filling your oil midway between the high and low marks. For some reason I no longer get the rough start since my last oil change and I didn't fill up to the high mark. I was getting rough start twice a year on cold mornings. I use genuine Toyota filter without the "blow-by caps" and use Mobil 1 oil.
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82 Posts
Simple simple simple..
Starts Banging SHUT IT DOWN..
Don’t let these Atkinson engines bang..
They don’t like it, and it will cause damage rather quickly, like Less than 30minutes quickly..
Change the plugs, Ensure gaps are .041
Still a bang, coil going out, Replace them
Have a nice day..
Don’t fret this EGR money dump scam, system is designed to warn driver of EGR Restrictions, clean it then..
Mind you, this is IF you catch it fast enough.. Like don’t drive home or to the dealership Banging away..
Let it bang, well your in for a few surprises-
1- intake manifold gasket goes out
2- head gasket goes out
3- wrist pin circlip pops
4- throw a rod out the side of the block
so what is this Bang “?”
It is an out of order firing of gases in the cylinder head behind the valves when a spark plug is not firing.. Want to test this yourself, pop the hood unplug a spark plug coil, or pull the coil over plug off the spark plug, go start it for a second.. Bang Bang.. This procedure is called Duplicating The Complaint, at dealerships that say they Can’t Duplicate the customers complaint..
Atkinson engines have a valve timing for fuel efficiency, some gases blow back for reburn.. Spark plug not firing, the next cylinder fires the unburnt gases, explosions in the cylinder head.. that’s enough to take out the intake gasket if left banging till it clears up.. While this is happening we have an out of thermal balance of heat at cylinder Deck, allowing uneven thermal expansion of the cylinder head, takes the head gasket out.. Like sandpaper.. Let us not forget, as SOON as it starts banging we have undue stresses on the wrist-pin, that if left Banging, takes the circlip out that hold the wrist-pin in place.. well now that holds the piston and connecting rod together.. Boom throw a rod out the side of the block, it’s done..
this all cumulates to Having a Bad day..
and yes the Manual is Wrong..
Change plugs every 60,000 miles, not 120,000 miles as per Properly Dealership Maintained
that’s it.. Enjoy your CT’s and Prius’s and Ford Fusions and anything else using the Atkinson engine
Starts Banging SHUT IT DOWN..
Don’t let these Atkinson engines bang..
They don’t like it, and it will cause damage rather quickly, like Less than 30minutes quickly..
Change the plugs, Ensure gaps are .041
Still a bang, coil going out, Replace them
Have a nice day..
Don’t fret this EGR money dump scam, system is designed to warn driver of EGR Restrictions, clean it then..
Mind you, this is IF you catch it fast enough.. Like don’t drive home or to the dealership Banging away..
Let it bang, well your in for a few surprises-
1- intake manifold gasket goes out
2- head gasket goes out
3- wrist pin circlip pops
4- throw a rod out the side of the block
so what is this Bang “?”
It is an out of order firing of gases in the cylinder head behind the valves when a spark plug is not firing.. Want to test this yourself, pop the hood unplug a spark plug coil, or pull the coil over plug off the spark plug, go start it for a second.. Bang Bang.. This procedure is called Duplicating The Complaint, at dealerships that say they Can’t Duplicate the customers complaint..
Atkinson engines have a valve timing for fuel efficiency, some gases blow back for reburn.. Spark plug not firing, the next cylinder fires the unburnt gases, explosions in the cylinder head.. that’s enough to take out the intake gasket if left banging till it clears up.. While this is happening we have an out of thermal balance of heat at cylinder Deck, allowing uneven thermal expansion of the cylinder head, takes the head gasket out.. Like sandpaper.. Let us not forget, as SOON as it starts banging we have undue stresses on the wrist-pin, that if left Banging, takes the circlip out that hold the wrist-pin in place.. well now that holds the piston and connecting rod together.. Boom throw a rod out the side of the block, it’s done..
this all cumulates to Having a Bad day..
and yes the Manual is Wrong..
Change plugs every 60,000 miles, not 120,000 miles as per Properly Dealership Maintained
that’s it.. Enjoy your CT’s and Prius’s and Ford Fusions and anything else using the Atkinson engine
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