P0087: Fuel rail or system pressure too low
The ECU measures less fuel pressure than it is asking for. Commonly a blocked fuel filter, the lift pump or the high-pressure pump.
| Code | P0087 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P00xx, Air, fuel and emissions |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | With care |
What P0087 means
The fuel rail is the pipe that feeds pressurised fuel to the injectors. The ECU knows what pressure it wants at every moment and compares it with the reading from the rail pressure sensor. If actual pressure stays well below target, this code is stored. It is common on common rail diesels and direct injection petrol engines.
Most common causes
- Blocked fuel filter or water in the filter (very common on diesels)
- Low fuel in the tank or a weak in-tank lift pump
- Air getting in or a leak in the fuel lines
- Pressure regulator or pressure control valve not sealing properly
- Rail pressure sensor giving a false reading
- Worn high-pressure pump
Symptoms
- Loss of power, sometimes with the car in limp mode
- Hesitation or lack of pull under hard acceleration
- Hard starting or the engine cutting out
- Engine warning light on
Can you drive with P0087?
With care You can drive gently to a garage, but the engine may lose power or stall. If the high-pressure pump is wearing out, carrying on for long can damage the injectors.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
In your scanner’s live data, watch desired and actual rail pressure together at idle and when accelerating. If actual pressure cannot keep up with desired, ask the garage to check the filter and lift pump before replacing expensive parts.
How to read and clear P0087 with Final OBD
Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0087 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P0083 The intake valve control (bank 2) gives a higher signal than normal
- P0084 The exhaust valve control (bank 2) has an electrical fault
- P0085 Low signal in the exhaust variable timing solenoid of the second bank
- P0086 The exhaust valve control (bank 2) gives a higher signal than normal
- P0088 Fuel rail or system pressure too high
- P0089 Fuel pressure regulator performance problem
- P008A The low pressure fuel system pressure is below normal
- P008B The low pressure fuel system pressure is above normal
- P0010 Camshaft A actuator control: open circuit (bank 1)
- P0011 Camshaft A timing over-advanced (bank 1)
- P0012 Camshaft A timing over-retarded (bank 1)
- P0013 Camshaft B actuator control: open circuit (bank 1)
To understand it properly
We explain how that system works, with drawings and no waffle, in our mechanics guide: Fuel.
What does code P0087 mean?
The fuel rail is the pipe that feeds pressurised fuel to the injectors. The ECU knows what pressure it wants at every moment and compares it with the reading from the rail pressure sensor. If actual pressure stays well below target, this code is stored. It is common on common rail diesels and direct injection petrol engines.
Can you drive with P0087?
You can drive gently to a garage, but the engine may lose power or stall. If the high-pressure pump is wearing out, carrying on for long can damage the injectors.
How do you clear P0087?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0087 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
