Engine

P2290 — Injector Control Pressure Too Low

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P2290 means

The diesel engine control unit compares the target injector control pressure (ICP) with what the sensor reports and finds the actual pressure staying too low. On Ford PowerStroke 6.0L engines, high-pressure oil from the HPOP drives the hydraulic injectors, so without enough pressure they can't deliver fuel properly. The result is hard starting and rough running.

Symptoms

  • No-start condition
  • Long cranking before the engine starts
  • Rough idle with white smoke
  • Check Engine light on
  • Misfire, shaking or loss of power
  • Possible increased fuel consumption

Possible causes

  1. Worn high-pressure oil pump (HPOP) on 6.0L engines
  2. Leaking injector O-rings letting pressure escape
  3. Low engine oil level
  4. Faulty ICP sensor
  5. Faulty ICP pressure regulator
  6. Damaged wiring or connector at the ICP sensor

How to diagnose

  1. Check the engine oil level and condition, and top up if needed
  2. Read stored and freeze-frame codes and look for other faults
  3. Watch ICP data on a scan tool while cranking and idling, and compare it with the desired value
  4. Inspect the ICP sensor connector and harness, and check power, ground and reference voltage
  5. Test the ICP regulator operation
  6. Look for oil leaks in the high-pressure circuit, including injector seals, lines and valve covers
  7. Run an injector test and cylinder balance check
  8. Test HPOP output and performance

Common fixes

  • Top up or change the oil and fix the cause of any oil loss
  • Replace the ICP sensor or repair the wiring and connector
  • Replace the ICP regulator
  • Replace injector O-rings and any damaged seals
  • Replace the high-pressure oil pump (HPOP)

Questions and answers

What does P2290 mean?

It means the oil pressure that operates the injectors is lower than the ECU expects. The injectors can't work properly, so the engine starts poorly and runs rough.

Can I drive with P2290?

Only for a short distance if you must. The engine may stall or not restart, and continued driving can make the damage worse.

What should I check first?

Start with the oil level, then the ICP sensor and its wiring. These are quick and cheap checks to do before looking at the HPOP and injector seals.

This is general information about the code. The meaning can differ between makes and models: a scan tool and the repair manual for your car will show the exact cause.