A common trouble code with the Chevy Cruze is P0172. This code number references a number given to you when you plug your car into an OBDII scanner.
It’s not the most complicated OBDII trouble code to diagnose. It is also one of the most common. It means the motor is running rich.
Chevy Cruze P0172: Quick Info
| Definition | P0172: Fuel System Too Rich – Bank 1 |
| Frequent Symptoms | Sputtering, Low MPG, MIL Light |
| Common Causes | Leaking Fuel Injector, Too Much Fuel Pressure at the Fuel Rail, Bad Air Filter (full list below) |
| Breakdown Risk? | Sometimes. We don’t recommend driving with P0172 |
| Repair Difficulty | A Challenging Diagnosis |
| Estimated Repair Cost (Parts) | Varies |
Cruze P0172 Code Meaning
Fuel System Too Rich
P0172 is thrown when the oxygen sensors detect that the air-fuel mixture is too rich. A rich fuel mixture contains too much fuel in relation to air.
The A/F ratio for ideal combustion is 14.7 parts air to 1 part fuel (14.7:1). With that in mind, either too much fuel or not enough air can cause a vehicle to run rich.
Your Cruze will want a rich mixture at certain times (such as when your car is warming up). When the bank one O2 sensor detects that the mixture is richer than the engine control module is calling for, it’ll throw P0172.
If your Cruze’s PCM detected a lean condition, it would store P0171.
Bank 1
The side of the engine with the first cylinder is bank one. If your Cruze has only one cylinder head (inline four or six), bank one will be the only bank, and you don’t need to concern yourself with which side of the engine is which.
Chevy Cruze P0172 Causes
Here are the most common causes of P0172 in the Chevy Cruze:
- Vacuum Leaks– With the Chevy Cruze, a vacuum leak is one of the most common causes of the P0172 code. Take a look around and see if you can find a vacuum leak. Here’s a great YouTube video on how to find a vacuum leak.
- Oxygen Sensor– The P0172 code is thrown when the B1S1 O2 sensor does not register the right amount of oxygen in the exhaust. The computer will still adjust the air/fuel mixture to compensate. A bad O2 sensor will show a lean mixture more often, though.
- Mass Air Flow Sensor– Your Cruze’s mass air flow sensor calculates the volume of air entering the engine. If it has gone bad, the air-fuel mixture will be off, and the P0172 code will show.
- Bad Fuel Injectors– If you have one or more faulty injectors, they can richen the air/fuel mixture.
- Fuel Pump/Fuel Filter– Today’s modern fuel-injected motors need a lot of fuel pressure to atomize the gas properly. If your Cruze’s fuel pressure is too high, atomization doesn’t happen properly, and fuel will dump into the engine.
- Air Filter– While it’s not the most common reason to throw the P0172 code, a clogged air filter can cause the code to throw.
How to Diagnose and Fix P0172 in the Chevy Cruze
There are a number of potential causes of P0172 in the Chevy Cruze. We recommend checking your vehicle for other codes first (so you don’t go in blind) and starting with the easiest stuff first.
1. Check for Other Codes
Other codes can provide valuable insight into what’s going on with your Cruze. P0172 rarely appears alone (if it does look for a vacuum leak, bad O2 sensor, or dirty MAF).
2. Do You Smell Gas?
When your Cruze’s engine is running, do you smell gas? If you smell a strong odor of gas while the engine is running, it can be caused by a leaking injector or a fuel regulation issue.
3. Check the Easily Checkable Items
- Check the air filter to ensure it isn’t filthy or something isn’t nested. If not enough air gets into the engine, P0172 can appear.
- Take a look at all the vacuum and PCV hoses. Verify they are tightly sealed and leak-free.
- Check for restrictions in the intake.
- Listen for an exhaust leak. It’s more likely to cause P0171, but it can happen.
- Inspect the injector wiring harness. If there’s obvious wiring damage, repairing it should clear the code. Look for loose, damaged, or cracked wiring.
- Examine the wiring harness going to the B1S1 O2 sensor.
- Contaminated oil can cause P0172.
4. Check The Fuel Pressure
If there were no obvious issues causing P0172, check the fuel pressure. You can usually get a loaner fuel pressure testing tool at many parts stores.
If the fuel pressure is too high at the rail, you’ll need to fix the issue with whatever your Cruze uses to regulate it or the fuel pressure sensor.
5. Clean the MAF Sensor
A dirty MAF sensor is a common cause of P0172. If you got a MAF-related code when you had your scan tool in, you’d want to address it in more detail. But if it’s dirty, that doesn’t always appear as a code.
Make sure only to use a MAF sensor cleaner. Here’s a quick 2-minute video that shows you exactly how to clean a MAF sensor.
6. Test the B1S1 O2 Sensor
Earlier, we took a look at the B1S1 O2 sensor’s wiring. Now it’s time to test the sensor itself.
If your Cruze came with a V6 or V8, you can swap the two O2 sensors on or by the exhaust manifolds. Clear the OBD II codes. If the code “jumps” to bank 2, you know that the O2 sensor needs replacing.
If you can’t do the swap test, you can use a multimeter to test them. Here’s how.
7. Test the Fuel Injectors
Test the fuel injectors to verify they aren’t leaking. Cleaning them may clear P0172.
Cruze P0172 Code Symptoms
There aren’t usually any drivability issues associated with P0172 in the Chevy Cruze. For most people, the first sign that anything is wrong is the service engine soon light coming on.
- Mileage- may or may not suffer depending on how much the air-fuel mixture has changed.
- Misfire– If the air-fuel mixture has gotten too far from factory specs, this can cause your Cruze to misfire.
- Idle Issues– With the air/fuel mixture altered, the car can idle erratically as the computer compensates to keep the engine running.
- Exhaust Smell/Color– Depending on how rich the motor runs, there could be some exhaust odor or discoloration.
- Fouled Spark Plugs– The spark plugs can foul if the engine runs very rich for a long enough period of time.
- Check Engine Light– Other codes may appear with P0172 as well.