P0180 to P0189, P0176 to P0179, P0168 and P0169: fuel temperature and composition
A fuel temperature sensor (A or B) or the fuel composition sensor has a circuit fault or an implausible reading, the fuel is too hot (P0168), or its composition is not what the engine expects (P0169).
SeverityModerateUsually not urgent today, but it can get worse if left.
Can you keep driving?Drive gently, check it soonWhat does P0180 mean?
Fuel gets thinner as it warms, so many diesels and some petrol engines measure its temperature to meter it accurately. Flex fuel cars, which run on any mix of petrol and ethanol, use a composition sensor to know the ethanol share and adjust the mixture and ignition. P0168 says the fuel is too hot, which can follow a blocked return or a hot climate with a near empty tank. P0169 says the fuel is not what the engine expects, sometimes after filling with the wrong fuel.
What causes P0180?
- A failed fuel temperature or composition sensor, or a damaged wire to it
- A corroded connector on the fuel line under the car
- A fuel cooler or return line that is blocked, for P0168
- Wrong or contaminated fuel, for P0169
- Running often with a nearly empty tank in hot weather
What to check first for P0180
- Think back to the last fill-up: the station, the grade and whether anything changed
- Compare the fuel temperature reading with the coolant and outside temperatures after the car has stood
- Inspect the sensor connectors on the fuel lines for corrosion
- On a flex fuel car, compare the ethanol reading with what you have been filling
Can you drive with P0180?
Usually you can drive to a workshop. If you suspect the wrong fuel, do not drive further and have the tank drained; with P0168, keep more fuel in the tank and avoid long hard driving until it is fixed.
Clear a code only after the fault is fixed. A code that comes back means the cause is still there, and a warning light left on can hide a second fault behind the first.
Codes on this page
16
- P0168Fuel Temperature Too High
- P0169Incorrect Fuel Composition
- P0176Fuel Composition Sensor Circuit
- P0177Fuel Composition Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
- P0178Fuel Composition Sensor Circuit Low
- P0179Fuel Composition Sensor Circuit High
- P0180Fuel Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit
- P0181Fuel Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance
- P0182Fuel Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit Low
- P0183Fuel Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit High
- P0184Fuel Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit Intermittent
- P0185Fuel Temperature Sensor "B" Circuit
- P0186Fuel Temperature Sensor "B" Circuit Range/Performance
- P0187Fuel Temperature Sensor "B" Circuit Low
- P0188Fuel Temperature Sensor "B" Circuit High
- P0189Fuel Temperature Sensor "B" Circuit Intermittent
Related codes
Checked on · Rafael Soares
These are the generic meanings every manufacturer shares. Each brand adds its own detail, so your car's handbook, its service information and a qualified mechanic have the last word. OdoKeep has no connection with any manufacturer, and the app does not read codes from the car.
