The Chevrolet Silverado has developed quite a reputation with a lifespan of just over 20 years. The truck is a serious competitor in the space. While it might not dominate the market share, it’s still a big seller with a devoted fan base. It has garnered success of this magnitude thanks to its long list of qualities. From things like reliability to performance, it does it all. That being said, like most vehicles, it’s not completely problem-free.

The severity of these problems or issues usually varies from vehicle to vehicle, but even the smallest ones can be niggling especially when the vehicle is fairly new. The Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor issue is one such problem. It might be small, but it’s known to go out and cause errors and problems with driveability. Continue reading to find out the model years affected, the costs involved, and more about the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor.

Role of the Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor

The fuel tank pressure sensor was to reduce the environmental impact caused by vehicles. When we think of environmental damage caused by vehicles we usually think of exhaust emissions. However, older vehicles or ones without properly sealed gas tanks were losing pressure fuel to vaporization. This led to a significant waste of precious liquid. Let’s not forget that vaporized fuel can change into an air pollutant through chemical reactions. There’s also a chance of it combusting due to static electricity.

To combat these issues, regulations across the world made sealed fuel tanks and fuel tank pressure sensors mandatory. A Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor can detect pressure inside the tank of your truck, which also makes it able to tell if there are any leaks. While fuel still evaporates, vehicles are fitted with emission control units which are designed to collect vaporized fuel and use it for combustion. This emission control system is also known as the EVAP. The fuel tank pressure sensor, meanwhile, can also be called the FTP.

The fuel tank pressure sensor will not only detect a leak from the gas cap but anywhere in the system including the lines. The Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor or the one in any vehicle for that matter will inform the driver of the leak. It does this by illuminating the check engine light. The fuel tank pressure sensor can do so as it is connected to the vehicle’s ECU. The check engine light is designed to be triggered by several important issues, but an OBD scanner will reveal an error code related to the fuel tank pressure sensor.

Does My Silverado Have the Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Issue?

Unfortunately, almost every model year of the Chevrolet Silverado up until 2019 has reports of fuel tank pressure sensor failure. What this means is that if you have the first, second, and third generation of the Silverado it could face this issue. Please find the model years listed below:

• 1999-2006 Chevrolet Silverado (First Generation)

• 2007-2013 Chevrolet Silverado (Second Generation)

• 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado (Third Generation)

Symptoms of the Silverado Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Issue

While the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor issue is not a problem to be extremely worried about, the symptoms can be quite alarming. That being said, the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor issue won’t cause any major damage to your truck. It’s worth mentioning that the majority of reports of the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor issue haven’t had identical experiences.

Check Engine Light

The check engine light could be indicative of some other issues which is all the more reason to scan the error codes as soon as possible. 

When it comes to the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor issue, the most common code for the third-gen truck is P018B – Fuel Pressure Sensor Performance B Circuit. The code on older Silverados is P0452. Both these fault codes are clear indicators of the infamous Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor problem.

Poor Fuel Efficiency

A consequence of the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor issue is incorrect readings from the sensor. This is where the real complications arise. The information or data it gathers about the pressure isn’t only used to make sure the tank is sealed, but also to share fuel-related data with the ECU. As a result, the faulty pressure sensor sends incorrect information about fuel usage to the ECU.

When this occurs, the ECU doesn’t have accurate information which will affect the amount of fuel it supplies to the vehicle. The ECU is responsible for dictating the fuel supply, and it does this with the help of data from numerous sensors. An incorrect reading from the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor runs the risk of sending the wrong amount of fuel and causing bad delivery of fuel which will directly affect the truck’s fuel efficiency.

Start-Up Trouble

Another highly reported symptom of the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor problem is trouble starting. When this occurs, a common mistake owners make is to start replacing parts like the battery to get the problem fixed. 

This usually ends up leading to an unnecessary expense and a delay in finding a resolution. An issue with the fuel tank pressure sensor will cause the ECU to make calculations based on incorrect data. When this occurs, there’s a high chance of the truck ending up with a lean air-fuel mixture. A bad air-fuel ratio can directly affect the Silverado’s ability to start up.

Stalling 

In more severe cases, the fuel delivery problem the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor causes can also lead to stalling. If the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor is bad, the ECU will not have accurate fuel pressure data as mentioned above. This will cause an incorrect air-fuel ratio which in turn will directly affect how the engine runs. 

An incorrect or interrupted supply of fuel can cause the engine to not run as it should and lead to stalling. Similar to the aforementioned symptoms, this can also be caused by several other issues which is why it’s a good idea to diagnose the problem before buying a bunch of parts.

How to Fix This Problem?

The best thing you can do is to carefully troubleshoot the issue and rule out any other potential causes. Once you do that, get a replacement fuel tank pressure sensor for your Silverado. We offer genuine Chevrolet, as well as aftermarket fuel tank pressure sensors at great prices. Check our offering for a good deal. 

Detailed troubleshooting is necessary to confirm that you, in fact, have a problem with the Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor. That being said, it’s quite unlikely that this will happen, and the problem will almost always cause the illumination of the check engine light and bring up related error codes.

Keep in mind, the ECU will suggest what the problem is through the error codes, but one cannot completely depend on them. While a failing Silverado fuel tank pressure sensor is highly common, it’s still a good idea to be 100% sure. Something else that also has to be considered is that there could be another issue causing the P0452 or P018B error codes — like a bad seal on the gas cap for instance. One other problem that could affect the pressure is a broken fuel line. 

We Have the Silverado Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor in Stock!

Newparts.com has one of the largest collections of OEM quality spares in the country. From parts as minuscule as grommets to everything we required for a complete engine rebuild, we have it all. When it comes to sensors, it’s hard to make sure it’s a quality part just by looking at it, which is why it’s a good idea to buy it from a trusted shop like ours. Go ahead and get your order placed, and we’ll make sure it reaches you as quickly as possible!