Code P0172, fuel pressure test?

Tiny
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  • 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,559 MILES
I'm testing the fuel pressure and with the key on and engine off I'm at 48 PSI and then when the engine is running it's at 56 PSI. I have a check engine light on and it's giving a p0172 code. In trying to figure out if it's a bad pump or it's bad fuel injectors.
Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 2:50 PM

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Tiny
AL514
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Hello, the spec for your fuel pressure is 50 to 60 PSI with the key on, engine off. Does the fuel pressure hold after you prime the fuel system? Or does pressure bleed off quickly?
And do you have a scan tool that can read live engine data?
Some live scan tool data can tell you if it's a sensor that is sending the mixture rich, a stuck oxygen sensor can cause the engine computer to enrich the mixture when it shouldn't.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:06 PM
Tiny
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After about 2 minutes it does not hold, it falls to 40 PSI. So, I would say that it bleeds off quickly.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:07 PM
Tiny
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And yes, I do have a scan tool that will do live reading.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
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Okay, check to see what the oxygen sensor voltages are doing for Bank 1. If you see an oxygen sensor on Bank 1 that is reading low voltage, low below 0.4v (400mv) or stuck at a high voltage 0.8 (800mv). Also check to see if there are Long Term and Short-Term fuel trim numbers are, I will assume that Bank 1 is going to possibly have negative long and short term fuel trim numbers. When the engine sees an error in the fuel system it will compensate. If the oxygen sensors are reading overly rich condition, you will see the ECM take away fuel from the mixture and there will be negative fuel trim numbers. Or if the opposite is happening, where a skewed sensor is causing the mixture to go rich, such as an oxygen sensor voltage stuck low, the ECM will compensate by increasing the mixture and the fuel trim will go positive. You don't seem to have fuel pressure that is too high, but you can also take out some spark plugs on Bank 1 and see if they are full of soot and carbon build up on them.
But look for scan tool data PIDs that are labelled LTFT and STFT. See what those numbers are at, then raise the idle to 2,500 RPMs and see if the numbers start to return towards 0 fuel trim, which is what you want. Anything over +10% or -10% is getting into the area where it will set rich codes.
If you suspect the fuel injectors, for scan data you can look at the Fuel Injectors pulse width number, which will normally be around 2.5ms. There is also a tool that can pulse each injector and you measure the amount of fuel pressure that is lost for each injector and it will tell you is you have leaking injectors, The flow will show up to be more or less than other injectors, if you want more info on a fuel injector balance test just ask. It requires a $30 tool that hooks up to the battery and can pulse each injector independently. Since you already have a fuel pressure gauge.
This is a basic fuel injector pulse tool; you just prime the fuel pump and get pressure up and pulse each injector and watch how low fuel pressure drops for each. It's a great test for injector flow testing.
I made a correction, P0172 is Bank 1. My mistake.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
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That was a lot of info that I really don't understand. I'm just a figure it out kind of guy, haha. But this is what the o2 sensors are reading at an idle.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
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But this is what the o2 sensors are reading at an idle.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:38 PM
Tiny
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As I'm sitting here it's getting higher.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
AL514
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Are those voltage levels just staying at that level and slowly rising? The 02 sensor 1 is not fluctuating from 0.2 to 0.8v? And if you raise the rpm do the 02 sensor voltages, come down a little? You may be correct about leaking injector(s). Sorry about the overflow of info there. Do you see any data PIDs for Fuel Trims? And what are the other 02 sensors doing? It doesn't say whether these are the Bank 1 02 sensors, There should be a Bank 1 Sensor 1 and a Bank 1 Sensor 2, and then the same for Bank 2. A front and rear 02 sensor for each side of the engine.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:45 PM
Tiny
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When I raise the RPMs the readings do go down.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:52 PM
Tiny
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Here are my options on what to put on the screen. What should I select?
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:53 PM
Tiny
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Or
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
AL514
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Here is some additional service info on this code and fuel injector testing, The wiring diagram shows you what the wire colors are for the Bank 1 injectors, you can try unplugging those 3 one at a time, it will cause a misfire, but won't damage the Catalytic converter. See if any of them being unplugged for a few seconds makes any difference. Those 02 sensors are definitely reading rich at 900mv.
With the 02 voltages going low, that means the higher rpm is able to use up the extra fuel somewhat. But this condition can damage the Catalytic converter if not repaired before driving too much more.
The only real way to check the flow rate is doing a balance test with the pulse tool. But it sounds like fuel pressure is dropping off a bit too quick. But you may find that the spark plugs are even wet on that side of the engine if the injectors are actually leaking down when the engine is off.
There should also be a Long-Term Fuel trim for Bank 1 as well.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 5:04 PM
Tiny
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 5:06 PM
Tiny
AL514
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Yeah, those numbers are maxed out rich. Do you have a voltage level for the Bank 1 Sensor 2 Oxygen sensor? I think the 99% is a substituted value, so if there is a high voltage reading on B1 sensor 2- 02 sensor, that's also shows an actual over fueling condition.
I will be back with you shortly, not sure what time zone you are in, but if you can check the spark plugs on that side without too much trouble it will help in diagnosing leaking injectors,

It looks like this vehicle has a mass air flow (MAF) sensor and a Map sensor, The MAF will read in g/s (grams per second) and should be around 3.4-4g/s at idle, so if it is over reporting air flow, such as 7-8 g/s of air flow, the ECM will add fuel to the mixture due to that, if there is a data PID for the MAF.
It looks like the 02 sensors are reacting to the rich mixture correctly but see if you can find MAF data (Mass Air Flow).

But the -26% is pegged out. With the front B1 sensor taking away so much fuel, and if you find that the B1 sensor 2 is reading 0.9v (900mv) as well, then you know there is way too much fuel being dumped into the intake manifold, your oil is now diluted with gasoline as well. So, you need to change your oil as soon as you figure out what's causing this.

As for if this is leaking injectors, the only way to know exactly is to either get a camera down into a suspect cylinder to see the injector leaking, or discharge the fuel pressure, and pull up the fuel rail, prime the fuel pump with key on only. And see if they leak out of the intake manifold. Without the pulse tool to measure the pressure loss of each injector, a physical inspection is the only way to be sure.
If you have access to a borescope to look right down a spark plug hole, to see fuel leaking into the cylinders. But this will destroy the catalytic converter if its driver like this much longer.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 5:28 PM
Tiny
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The MAF sensor is reading perfectly. I will have to pick this up tomorrow, thank you for all of your help. And this vehicle is sitting until I get it all figured out it's just our back up vehicle.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 5:31 PM
Tiny
AL514
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Okay, let me know tomorrow if you need any other service info, and let us know what you find in your checks.
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Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 6:44 PM

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