What to do about a P0087 fault code
Low fuel pressure can leave you with an engine that cuts out or won't restart, so P0087 isn't one to sit on. It means the fuel rail isn't holding the pressure the engine computer wants, and we can test the fuel system where the vehicle is parked.
Can you keep using it with P0087?
Fine for now
If the code appeared once, the engine feels normal and it started straight after a fill-up from near empty, there's a chance the tank ran low and the pump drew air. Book a check anyway if it comes back.
Get it booked this week
Hesitation under load, longer cranking before it fires, or the light returning after a few journeys means the pressure is dropping for a reason. Get it diagnosed before the shortfall gets worse.
Stop and call us
Pull over and switch off if you smell diesel or petrol, see fuel under the vehicle, or the engine cuts out on the move. A fuel leak is a fire risk, and an engine that stalls in traffic is a danger to you and everyone around you.
Signs that go with P0087
- The engine taking longer to start, especially when warm
- A flat spot or stutter when you accelerate hard
- Limp mode with power held back
- The engine cutting out at idle or on the move
- A strong fuel smell, which needs checking straight away
What P0087 means
The official definition is Fuel rail or system pressure too low. The rail pressure sensor reports what's actually in the fuel rail, the ECU compares it with the pressure it has asked the high-pressure pump for, and P0087 is stored when the reading stays under target for too long.
It's a generic code, so it means the same thing on any make, and it appears on diesels and direct-injection petrol engines. Its opposite number is P0088, for pressure that's too high.
Common causes
A blocked fuel filter
A filter that's overdue for changing restricts the flow to the high-pressure pump, so the pressure falls away when demand is highest.
Air in the fuel or a weak supply pump
Running the tank very low, a loose fuel line or a tired in-tank pump can starve the high-pressure side of fuel.
A worn high-pressure pump or pressure regulator
If the pump can't build pressure, or a control valve is sticking, the rail never reaches the figure the ECU wants.
A faulty sensor or leaking injectors
A rail pressure sensor that reads low sets the code without any real fault, and injectors leaking back too much fuel drag the pressure down.
What to do right now
- Find somewhere safe to stop if the engine hesitates badly or cuts out, and switch off.
- Look and smell for fuel. Any leak or strong smell means the vehicle stays where it is until it's checked.
- Check the fuel gauge. If the tank ran close to empty, fill up and note whether the code comes back.
- Don't keep clearing it. Each reset loses the freeze-frame record that shows the pressure when it set.
- Book a check with the registration, the full code and when the problem shows up.
How we sort P0087 where the vehicle is parked
We read the codes and watch actual rail pressure against requested pressure at idle and under load. That separates a sensor fault from a real pressure loss, and points to the filter, supply side, pump or injectors.
A garage fits whichever part is at fault, and we tell you exactly which one before you spend anything. Diagnostics is £100 + VAT. If the vehicle can't be moved safely, tell us when you book so we can plan the visit.
Reviews
Will P0087 put the car into limp mode?
Often, yes. Many engines cut power once rail pressure falls too far below target, which protects the pump and injectors from running short of fuel.
How long can I leave P0087 before it gets worse?
A one-off code after running the tank low can settle down. Anything that keeps returning tends to get worse, and a vehicle that won't restart is the usual end point.
Can P0087 damage the fuel pump or injectors?
It can. A high-pressure pump starved of fuel runs hot and wears faster, and on some engines a failing pump sheds metal into the fuel system, which turns a small repair into a large one.
Will my car pass its MOT with P0087 showing?
Not while the engine management light is on, as that's a fail by itself. Get the cause found and fixed before the test.
Is P0087 something I can fix myself?
Checking the fuel level and looking for leaks is fine. Telling a sensor fault from a pump fault takes live pressure data, so that part is best left to a diagnostic check.
Get P0087 looked at where the vehicle is parked
Tell us where the car or van is and how it's behaving, and we'll come out to read the fuel system. Same-day slots are often available when it won't wait.
More fault codes explained
Eccles, Manchester M30 0SF