P0087 – Fuel rail/system pressure too low
| Code | Fault Location | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|
| P0087 | Fuel rail/system pressure too low (Buy Part On Amazon) | Fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, fuel supply pipe blockage, mechanical fault |
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Table of Contents
- What Does Code P0087 Mean?
- What are the common causes of code P0087 ?
- What are the symptoms of code P0087 ?
- How do you troubleshoot code P0087 ?
- Codes Related to P0087
- Get Help with P0087
What Does Code P0087 Mean?
Well-known on diesel engines, high-pressure fuel injection systems have made their way to gasoline engines, specifically those equipped with direct injection systems. Direct injection, unlike port injection, injects fuel directly into the cylinder and, depending on driver demand, may inject fuel during the intake stroke or near the end of the compression stroke, or even during the power stroke. To make such injection possible, particularly when injecting at the end of compression or during the power stroke, high pressure is required, and the typical high-pressure fuel injection system usually runs from 200 psi to over 3,000 psi, whereas common port fuel-injection systems usually run between just 10 psi and 65 psi.
Direct fuel injection systems may or may not be paired with port fuel injection systems, but one thing they all share is the presence of two fuel pumps. Usually located in the fuel tank, an electric low-pressure fuel pump sends fuel to the high-pressure fuel pump, which is mounted on the engine. The high-pressure fuel pump is mechanically-driven, usually by a special camshaft lobe, boosting fuel pressure to over 200 psi, depending on driver demand and ECM command of the pressure-regulating spill control valve.
The engine control module (ECM), in addition to controlling fuel injection, monitors fuel pressure in the system, which it uses to fine-tune injector pulse-width. If the ECM detects that fuel pressure isn’t rising sufficiently on command, it will set a diagnostic trouble code, DTC P0087, “Fuel Rail/System Pressure – Too Low,” and illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). Concurrent DTCs may include cylinder misfire, air-fuel ratio sensor, or fuel trim codes.
What are the common causes of code P0087 ?
Depending on year, make, and model, DTC P0087 may have number of causes. Here are some of the most common.
- High Mileage Vehicles or Bad Fuel – Fuel filters are designed to catch only a certain amount of contamination. Once they fill up, they practically block all fuel flow. In spite of fuel purity standards, contamination can build up over time, or experienced on at least few occasions, a bad batch of super-contaminated fuel can clog up a fuel filter in just a few minutes.
- 2001-2004 General Motors – Some of these diesel-powered vehicles suffered from collapsed or kinked fuel line problems, restricting fuel flow to the high-pressure fuel pump. Additionally, new fuel injectors were prescribed to address this problem. (Chevrolet Silverado, Kodiak C4500/C5500; GMC Sierra, Topkick C4500/C5500)
- 2005-2007 Volkswagen – Some high-pressure fuel pump cam followers failed, leading to low fuel pressure problems. In most cases, the cam follower would turn concave, sometimes blowing off the face and damaging the camshaft and the fuel pump. Most vehicles simply required a new cam follower, though some required a new camshaft. Rarely, the fuel pump plunger was affected, requiring replacement of the fuel pump. (Volkswagen Eos, GTI, Jetta, Passat)
What are the symptoms of code P0087 ?
Aside from the MIL, you may note rough running, engine misfires, and poor acceleration. Some vehicles, those equipped with both port- and direct-injection systems may run “fine,” up to a certain point, but will suffer poor fuel economy. Depending on the severity of the problem, some vehicles may experience hard starting or may not start at all.
How do you troubleshoot code P0087 ?
Typically, a fuel pressure monitor will not run unless the fuel pressure sensor monitor has run and passed. If you see a concurrent fuel pressure sensor or circuit DTC, diagnose and repair it first. Then turn your attention to fuel pressure itself.
- Did you run out of fuel? If you run out of fuel, there won’t be enough fuel in the lines to pressurize, resulting in this DTC. Clearing the DTC and adding a fresh tank of fuel will fix this in no time.
- Check for fuel leaks. Obvious fuel leaks, where you can see dripping or can smell raw fuel, will not allow pressure to build properly, leading to a low-pressure condition. Repair as needed.
- Check the fuel lines for kinks, which would obstruct fuel flow and prevent pressurization. Some plastic fuel lines are especially prone to kinking and collapse, obstructing fuel flow from the low-pressure pump to the high-pressure pump.
- Check the fuel filter for contamination, particularly on high-mileage vehicles, which can also obstruct fuel flow.
- Check the fuel tank for damage. External fuel tank damage could impact the fuel sender inside the tank, leading to poor fuel intake by the low-pressure fuel pump.
At this point, you may not be able to perform any further diagnosis, as the high-pressure fuel system requires special tools and procedures.
Codes Related to P0087
- DTC P0088 Fuel Rail/System Pressure – Too High
- DTC P0089 Fuel Pressure Regulator 1 Performance
- DTC P0090 Fuel Pressure Regulator 1 Control Circuit
- DTC P0091 Fuel Pressure Regulator 1 Control Circuit Low
- DTC P0092 Fuel Pressure Regulator 1 Control Circuit High
- DTC P0093 Fuel System Leak Detected – Large Leak
- DTC P0094 Fuel System Leak Detected – Small Leak
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Hi Ben,
Model Lexus Gs300 year 2006, recently i have this warning P0087, i tried to change fuel pump, fuel filter , check the leakage of fuel line and even change the high pressure fuel pump but after awhile this warning came out again, what should i do?
please advise ….Thanks…
Hey Benjamin,
I’ve been trying to diagnose an issue now that i’m stuck 2000 km away from home. I originally started with feeling like i was in limp mode but even in limp mode barely getting power. I’m getting The following right now after “fixing” a few things. This is a MKV 2.0T FSI Jetta, Fuel filter has been replaced with a genuine 6.6bar filter, I’ve pulled the HPFP off to check the follower and lobe, I have pictures of both and there is no damage to the follower or lobe. I then after some research found many issues related to a failing low pressure sensor on the HPFP, ordered an OEM replacement, since replacing the fuel filter and low pressurethrottle sensor, the car starts every time, but idles rough after it idles down (open loop i think it’s called?) from a cold start. Driving it feels like boost builds a lot more often, I can hear the diviter valve releasing pressure (stock turbo but revo stage 1 chipped)
I’ll still get hesitation when driving quite often. If comparing to before I replaced the sensor and fuel filter, I would feel the car begging for fuel 100% of the time. Now it’s more like 20% of the time I’ll feel the car feel as if it looses boost but I haven’t found a vacuum leak either. I don’t want to assume boost since I feel boost appears fine, just feels like a loss of power for a moment. Here are the faults from my OBDEleven. Don’t have my VAG-Com on hand unfortunately though I’ve thought of ordering another HEX cable.
As a quick note, I’ve also checked the fuel module in the rear for being possibly burnt out and it looks new and appears to warm but not even remotely feel like it’s hot enough to burn itself out as I’ve read about.
I’ve also replaced all 4 plugs and all 4 coils with OEM during this whole process. That was what I started with.
It’s not that I want to refuse bringing it to a shop, it’s that before I left home, I just finished getting my mechanic to replace a plug and a coil on #3 after a $300 diagnoses and being heavily over charged for 1 plug and 1 coil. $1000 later with the mechanic I’m left feeling confident in doing repairs myself, just trying to figure out the issue. 1 fuel pressure regulator the one under the manifold i’m really hoping I don’t need to get at since I looks like a tough one to replace.
Trouble codes:
P2293 – Fuel Pressure Regulator 2 Performance Lower limit not reached
static
Frequency counter: 5
Measurements:
761 U/min
20 %
0 km/h
90 °C
Mileage: 154606 km
Driving cycle: 255
Priority: 0
P0087 – Fuel Rail/System Pressure – Too Low Implausible signal
static
Milage on this engine is about 67,000 km less. Engine has been replaced after I learned the hard way on my car about the cam follower punching through damaging a lot. So this engine has just under 100k.
pls help after full fuel my audi Q7 start is very long
P0087 – Fuel Rail/System Pressure – Too Low
– Permanent
P2015 – Intake manifold damper sensor; implausible signal
– Permanent
Hello!
How can you fix code P0087? what’s part do you change?
Thank you!
Trobel code p0087 may vihical 800 aidel pozison to stop?and starting problems. Pls help me….
Faruk-
Please provide information about your vehicle: year, make, model, and engine? This will help a lot.
To start with, I would check all fuses, particularly those connected with the fuel system, such as the fuel pressure regulator and fuel supply pump. Make sure you actually have fuel in the tank and there are no fuel leaks.
-Ben
Hi Ben….I have a 2008 Land Rover, LR2 Utility SE AWD……OBD Diagnostics reading: P0087-Fuel Rail/ System Pressure-too low and also: P0128-Coolant Thermostat(Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating
Hi Benjamin
I do get good fuel pressure when i start the car(of about 500KPa) and it may be good for about 20minutes but soon the fuel pump duty cycle will go from about 50% to about 70% duty cycle then the fuel pressure goes down to about 100KPa from about a high of 500KPa. the car will then stop as the engine is starved of fuel. Kindly assist with suggestions. i already changed the fuel pressure sensor but this did not change anything
Hello Adeniyi. So you changed the fuel pressure sensor. I happen to know from experience about this one. And it’s a common issue on these xc90’s. The fuel pump control module sounds like it definitely needs tested and replaced. Best of luck. It is located underneath the rear seat cushion on the passenger seat.
Hi I have codes p2290, and p0087 will replacing pressure control valve sort this problem as in last month had to replace egr thanks is fiesta 1.6 tdci 09 plate
2010 Camaro 3.6L LLT. It has been put into limp mode. Cleared code several times and it kicks it back after a few seconds. Live readings on scanner shows 60PSI getting to fuel rail. When clearing the code it runs rough, but if you push on the gas up to 2000-3000 RPM it does fine, let come back to idle it take a little longer 15-25 seconds to kick the code and back into limp mode. When in limp mode idle is normal 650-700RPM. What could cause this. 2 different mechanics couldn’t diagnose it
Couple things I would check first would be the pressure regulator it self., vacuum line going to the regulator to.make sure it is not leaking. The diaphragm inside the regulator could have a small pin hole in it also.
I would check the fuel pressure at idle via a fuel pressure gauge, it should prime to the initial pressure around 45-55 PSI and hold, you can also check to see if the diaphragm is leaking this way. It will also tell you whether or not you have an injector sticking open or is stuck.open causing it to dump more fuel than necessary.
You dont have to have the car running, just key on power and the pump should supply the correct amount of pressure to the fuel rail for initial cranking pressure. Once you have verified supply pressure to the rail you can turn the key off and watch the gauge to see if you pressure bleeds off. If that is the case I would start with the regulator before trying to diag a leaking injector or so forth.
If you need any info or further help feel free to email. Me at the email listed below.
Hello, I have that fault code P0087, in a Kia Sorento 2.5 diesel, year 2008, the scanner says low fuel rail pressure, the engine starts to be unstable in rpm that coincides with an erratic airflow parameter, when this one value of air flow low value coincidentally stops the engine and throws the code P0087, can you help me please?, thanks.
Any other DTCs? With the mileage on this rig, I’m thinking you have to start with things like checking the fuel filter, which is probably due after a decade running. If the fuel filter is stuffed, it would starve the fuel pump.
Hi Benjamin
It does not have other codes, only I am struck by a parameter called “air flow” that does not indicate any unit of measurement and when it is at 1.5 or 10 without oscillating it works well, but then when this parameter starts to oscillate erratically the fuel pressure starts to drop and after a few seconds the revolutions fall and the engine stops, where the only code P1186 reappears.
(aside is the air mass parameter of the MAF sensor that remains with a constant sinusoidal wave oscillation)
I just checked the filter with 8 months of use because I had doubts, because the tank is dirty and the return valve stuck with contaminants in the open position inside the fuel tank, thank you !!
OK, So we have two low fuel pressure DTCs. Have you done a fuel pressure test? Might require factory special tools, because the high-pressure system is dangerous. Does the air flow fluctuate before or after the fuel pressure problem? It’s hard to tell from here, but it seems like the air flow is an effect, not the cause.
In agreement
Then I will have to go to a diesel service center to measure the actual parameters of fuel pressure, even if the scanner has become a service device, as well as a cleaning in the tank and was with many apparently cotton fabrics , there I do not know what happened before as this contamination arrived, thank you Benjamin.
P. D. It is no longer in parameter 87, only 1186 remains
Hi. I have an audi a1 2012 and i have p0087 code plus car RPM is flactuating going up and down, only when started the car from 8 + hour interval. Can you please tell me why?
Seems to me the fuel pressure is bleeding down after the engine is shut down, which is why it only sets the code after sitting overnight. Of course, during the day it leaks, too, but it’s not going below the threshold to set the code. Likely need someone to do a pressure test to determine the source of the leak to repair it. Regarding the hunting RPM, I’m thinking that’s simply the engine running in limp-home mode.
I have a Dodge Nitro 2009 diesel 2.8 fault code as he said comes up it turns turns turns but it will not kick over to run change the fuel pump change the fuel filter still nothing
我有一辆Sumitomo SH200-5 Excuvator, 它出现错误码0087。我上网查看了它是解”No pumping pressure”。我不懂它指的是哪个部份? 请问我要怎样修复它?
P0087 on 2013 Ford Kuga 1.6 Ecoboost. Has changed the Fuel Pressure Sensor, but the P0087 code does still appear and fuel consumption is high. Please help!
i also have this problem on a 1.6 ecboost along with another code i am looking at high pressure fuel pump if that helps
Last night I got gas and about 1 hrs later my car didn’t have any speed then it drive fine then today it did the same thing and it died and I had to give it gas to start then the engine light came on and the code is p0087 what could they be?
I have a nissan terrano 2 2005. Im getting the 87 error code what it means and how do i fix it?