Fuel rail pressure too low on Audi diesel — HP pump wear or in-tank lift pump on 2.0/3.0 TDI common rail.
Audi P0087 — Fuel rail pressure too low on Audi diesel — HP pump wear or in-tank lift pump on 2.0/3.0 TDI common rail. Typical UK independent garage cost: £180–£1800.
What actually causes P0087 on a Audi
Audi 2.0 TDI CR P0087 is often the in-tank lift pump going lazy before the HP pump itself fails. On 3.0 TDI V6 it's frequently a torn fuel-line quick-connector under the tank. Always rule out cheap causes before condemning the HP pump (£900+).
Audi engines that log P0087
- 2.0 TDI CR (A4/A6 CFFB/CGLC)
- 3.0 TDI V6 CR (A6/Q5/Q7 CDYA/CDYC)
- 2.7 TDI V6 CR
How we diagnose P0087 on a Audi
- Read rail pressure target vs actual under load
- Test in-tank lift pump pressure at the supply line
- Inspect fuel filter and quick-connectors for leaks
- Check for metal contamination in fuel filter — sign of dying HP pump
- Only condemn HP pump after confirming healthy supply pressure
The common misdiagnosis to avoid
Garages skip straight to HP pump on P0087 — a £140 lift pump or £45 fuel-line connector fixes 60% of these. Test lift pressure first.
Audi P0087 repair cost in the UK
Expect £180–£1800 including parts and labour at an independent garage. Main-dealer quotes on Audi are usually higher for the same job, and the spread exists because the cheap cause and the expensive cause throw the same code — pay for the diagnosis before you pay for parts.
Bob's workshop tip
Audi 2.0 TDI P0087 in cold weather only — wax in cheap supermarket diesel. Drain, fresh premium, additive. Free fix.
Codes usually seen alongside P0087 on Audi
- P0088
- P0089
- P0090
Symptoms drivers report with P0087
- Sudden loss of power on the motorway — car drops into limp mode at exactly 2,500 RPM
- Restarts fine after a key-cycle, then relimps under load 20 minutes later
- Hard cold-starting: cranks for 4–6 seconds before catching
- Uneven idle with a diesel-knock 'nail' from cold
- MPG drops 3–7 mpg before the light even comes on
- Metal glitter in the fuel filter housing = CP4 pump has already grenaded
Repairs that clear P0087
- Replace fuel filter first (cheap, fast)
- Test rail pressure with scan tool
- Injector leak-off test (diesel)
- Replace HPFP only if proven by pressure test
For the generic, all-makes explanation of this code — meaning, every known cause and UK cost bands — see our P0087 guide.