P0272 Cylinder 4 is contributing less power than the others

Cylinder 4 contribution / balance fault

Severity not verified — if the car runs badly, have it inspected

No source here rates urgency. TroubleCodes.net says you may notice nothing, or reduced performance and economy, with rough idle or misfire if severe.

It gets more serious if:

  • Inspect soon: Inspect soon if the engine idles roughly or misfires, which TroubleCodes.net says can happen when the fault is severe.

Source: how we rate severity

P0272 in short

P0272 means the engine computer found cylinder 4 contributing less power than the other cylinders. TroubleCodes.net lists dirty fuel injectors as the number one cause, then mechanical wear such as burnt valves, worn rings or a leaking head gasket. You may notice nothing, or a rough idle.

The computer compares how much each cylinder adds to the engine's speed. P0272 is the code for cylinder 4: its contribution is out of balance with the rest.

TroubleCodes.net names dirty injectors as the top cause, from poor fuel, weak filtering or carbon deposits. Diesel injectors that were replaced need a learning procedure, and mechanical faults in the cylinder can also cut its output.

Most likely causes

These are general causes for this code across vehicles. None is specific to one make or model.

  1. Dirty or faulty injector on cylinder 4

    Common general cause
    Why it ranks here
    TroubleCodes.net cites dirty injectors as the number one cause.
    What would change this
    Rises if injector balance or flow tests show cylinder 4 behind the others. Falls if it matches the others.
    How to test the fuel injector

  2. Replaced diesel injector not learned

    Possible — needs testing
    Why it ranks here
    TroubleCodes.net says diesel injectors need a learning procedure after replacement; it applies only if one was changed.
    What would change this
    Rises if the code began after injector work on a diesel. Falls otherwise.

  3. Mechanical fault in the cylinder

    Possible — needs testing
    Why it ranks here
    TroubleCodes.net lists burnt valves, worn rings and a leaking head gasket as reducing cylinder output.
    What would change this
    Rises if compression or leakdown is low on this cylinder. Falls if both are normal.

What to test first

Start at step 1. Each result tells you what it means and where to go next.

  1. Have the cylinder 4 injector checked for flow and electrical operation against the other cylinders.

    Best left to a shop

    Warning:Fuel is flammable and rails hold pressure; a shop should depressurise the system and handle the injectors.

  2. Have compression and leakdown tested on cylinder 4 and compared with the others.

    Best left to a shopTool: compression and leakdown tester

    Warning:The engine must be cranked with spark or injection disabled and the tester fitted in a hot cylinder head; a shop should do this.

Symptoms

  • Often no noticeable symptom
  • Reduced performance or fuel economy
  • Rough idle or misfire if severe Gets more serious: stop and have it checked.

Compare with: Car shaking with the check engine light on

How to fix

  1. Use a quality fuel and have the injectors checked before replacing parts.

Parts and cost context

  • Fuel injector:Test the injector before replacing; labor varies, get a quote.

Labor varies by vehicle and shop; get a quote before you approve a repair.

Compare used part prices on PartPriceGuide

On your vehicle

Kia

  • 2014–2015 · Optima

    Supported by vehicle data

    NHTSA flat-file summary of Kia bulletin TSBENG149 (summary: a lit MIL with P0263, P0266, P0269 and/or P0272 on 2.4 GDI engines, with information about replacing fuel injectors on some Sorento and Optima vehicles). Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • 2014–2015 · Sorento

    Supported by vehicle data

    NHTSA flat-file summary of Kia bulletin TSBENG149 (summary: a lit MIL with P0263, P0266, P0269 and/or P0272 on 2.4 GDI engines, with information about replacing fuel injectors on some Sorento and Optima vehicles). Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • TSBENG149Status unverified

    2.4 GDI MIL with P0263, P0266, P0269, P0272

    2014–2015optima, sorento, sportage · issued · NHTSA 10089301

    NHTSA flat-file summary only; the full bulletin was not read. The summary mentions a lit MIL with P0263, P0266, P0269 and/or P0272 on 2.4 GDI engines, with information about replacing fuel injectors on some Sorento and Optima vehicles.

    We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.

Volkswagen

  • 2010–2014 · Golf

    Supported by vehicle data

    NHTSA flat-file summary of Volkswagen bulletin TB011409 (summary: a lit MIL with cylinder contribution/balance faults including P0272 stored in ECM fault memory); and TB011422 (summary: a lit MIL with cylinder contribution/balance faults including P0272 stored in ECM fault memory). Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • 2009–2010 · Jetta

    Supported by vehicle data

    NHTSA flat-file summary of Volkswagen bulletin TB011422 (summary: a lit MIL with cylinder contribution/balance faults including P0272 stored in ECM fault memory). Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • 2013–2014 · Beetle

    Supported by vehicle data

    NHTSA flat-file summary of Volkswagen bulletin TB011409 (summary: a lit MIL with cylinder contribution/balance faults including P0272 stored in ECM fault memory); and TB011422 (summary: a lit MIL with cylinder contribution/balance faults including P0272 stored in ECM fault memory). Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • 2009–2012 · Touareg

    Supported by vehicle data

    NHTSA flat-file summary of Volkswagen bulletin TB011418 (summary: update programming for cylinder contribution faults P0263, P0266, P0269, P0272, P0275 and/or P0278 stored in ECM fault memory); and TB011311 (summary: update programming for a lit MIL with P0263, P0266, P0269, P0272, P0275 and/or P0278 stored in ECM fault memory). Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • TB011409Status unverified

    MIL with cylinder contribution faults

    2009–2014beetle, golf, jetta, jetta-sportwagen · issued · NHTSA 10241312

    NHTSA flat-file summary only; the full bulletin was not read. The summary mentions a lit MIL with cylinder contribution/balance faults including P0272 stored in ECM fault memory.

    We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.

  • TB011422Status unverified

    MIL with cylinder contribution faults

    2009–2014beetle, golf, jetta, jetta-sportwagen · issued · NHTSA 10241325

    NHTSA flat-file summary only; the full bulletin was not read. The summary mentions a lit MIL with cylinder contribution/balance faults including P0272 stored in ECM fault memory.

    We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.

  • TB011418Status unverified

    Update programming for cylinder contribution faults

    2009–2010touareg · issued · NHTSA 10241321

    NHTSA flat-file summary only; the full bulletin was not read. The summary mentions update programming for cylinder contribution faults P0263, P0266, P0269, P0272, P0275 and/or P0278 stored in ECM fault memory.

    We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.

  • TB011311Status unverified

    Update programming for MIL with cylinder faults

    2011–2012touareg · issued · NHTSA 10241283

    NHTSA flat-file summary only; the full bulletin was not read. The summary mentions update programming for a lit MIL with P0263, P0266, P0269, P0272, P0275 and/or P0278 stored in ECM fault memory.

    We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.

No curated relationships for P0272 yet.

All Fuel pump and injectors codes

Sources and review

  1. P0272 Cylinder 4 Contribution/Balance Fault — TroubleCodes.net
  2. TSBENG149: 2.4 GDI MIL with P0263, P0266, P0269, P0272 — Kia
  3. TB011409: MIL with cylinder contribution faults — Volkswagen
  4. TB011422: MIL with cylinder contribution faults — Volkswagen
  5. TB011418: Update programming for cylinder contribution faults — Volkswagen
  6. TB011311: Update programming for MIL with cylinder faults — Volkswagen
  7. On-Board Diagnostic Trouble Codes (generic code title list) — Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles
Last reviewed
Written by
Saurabh K.
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