Does fuel additive fix P0316?

If the cause is light injector deposits, a strong cleaner (Techron Plus or Red Line SI-1) over two tanks can clear it. Carbon on valves needs mechanical cleaning — additives won't touch it.

Why does my truck only misfire on the first start of the day?

Classic injector leak-down. The injector seals slightly past overnight, flooding the cylinder. After running once, the cylinder clears and stays dry until parked again.

Is P0316 covered under Ford's powertrain warranty?

If under 60k miles / 5 years, yes. After that, it's on you. Ford issued multiple TSBs on EcoBoost P0316 — check service bulletins for your VIN.

Will replacing all 6 injectors solve it?

If diagnostics point to a specific injector, replace that one. Blanket replacement is $1000+ in parts and rarely necessary unless mileage is over 150k.

P0316

Misfire Detected on Startup (First 1000 Revolutions)

SEVERE

SystemIgnition / Fuel

Difficulty

Cost$50–$1200

Read9 min

What It Means Symptoms Common Causes Diagnosis Steps How to Fix It Emissions Test?Repair Cost FAQs

By Mike Reeves

ASE Master Technician (L1 Advanced Engine Performance) · 18 yrs

Technically reviewed by Sara Lopez

Last updated June 11, 2026

What Does P0316 Mean?

P0316 indicates the ECM detected a misfire within the first 1000 crankshaft revolutions after a cold start (roughly the first 60 seconds of running). The ECM logs this separately because cold-start misfires often point to fueling issues that go away once the engine warms — and they're a leading cause of catalytic converter damage if ignored.

On the 2011–2020 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost, P0316 is the canary in the coal mine for failing fuel injectors or carbon-fouled intake valves. Caught early, it's a $200–$600 repair; ignored, it cascades into bent rods and shop bills north of $8000.

Symptoms

Rough cold start, smooths after 30 seconds

Classic P0316 signature — runs poorly only when cold.

Check engine light flashing on cold start

Active misfire — pull over if it flashes.

Cold-start exhaust puff (gray/black)

Unburnt fuel from a leaking injector dripping overnight.

Companion P030X codes

P0301–P0306 may set with P0316 — they identify which cylinder.

Loss of power until warm

Engine derates while compensating.

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Common Causes

1.Leaking fuel injector (drip overnight)
35%
Most common 3.5L EcoBoost cause. Hydraulically locks the cylinder with raw fuel.
2.Carbon buildup on intake valves
25%
Direct injection — no fuel washes the valves. Common past 80k miles.
3.Failing ignition coil or spark plug
20%
Cold-resistant plug failure first shows at cold start.
4.Low fuel pressure (HPFP issue)
10%
EcoBoost high-pressure fuel pump can lose prime overnight.
5.Cracked piston ring land
5%
Known issue on pre-2013 3.5L EcoBoost — confirm via leak-down test.
6.Vacuum leak (cold-only)
5%
Intake gasket shrinks when cold, seals when hot.

Step-by-Step Diagnosis

Read all stored codes immediately

P0316 by itself doesn't tell you the cylinder. Look for P0301–P0306. If P0316 sets without a cylinder-specific code, the misfire is brief enough that the cylinder counter doesn't latch — usually injector leak-down.

STORED CODES:
  P0316  Misfire on startup (first 1000 rev)
  P0303  Cylinder 3 misfire
  → Focus diagnosis on cylinder 3

Check fuel pressure at start

Hook up a scanner that reads HPFP rail pressure. Key on, engine off — pressure should hold within 5% over 30 seconds. Bleed-down = leaking injector or check valve in HPFP.

Pull spark plugs on the affected cylinder

On a 3.5L EcoBoost, soaked or fuel-smelling plugs on one cylinder confirm a leaking injector. Dry/normal plug points at the coil or the valves.

WarningNever crank an EcoBoost with a flooded cylinder — you can hydrolock and bend a rod. Pull the plugs and crank with them out first if you smell raw fuel.

Swap coils and plugs to confirm

Move the coil from cylinder 3 to cylinder 4. If the misfire follows, it's the coil. If it stays on 3, it's injector, valve, or mechanical.

Inspect for intake-valve carbon

On a 100k-mile EcoBoost with cold misfire, borescope the intake valves through the spark plug hole on the closed valve. Heavy carbon (>1mm) = walnut-blast service needed (~$600 at a shop).

Compression and leakdown test

If injector, coil, and plug are good, do a cold compression test on the suspect cylinder. <120 PSI cold, or >15% leakdown = mechanical issue (ring or valve).

Pro TipThe pre-2013 3.5L EcoBoost has a known ring-land cracking issue on cylinders 2 and 4. Test these first if mileage is over 100k.

How to Fix It

DifficultyTime 2–3 hrs

Parts needed:

Motorcraft Fuel Injector (CM-5176, single) — approx $165
Motorcraft OEM Spark Plugs (SP-534, set of 6) — approx $78
Motorcraft Ignition Coil (DG-549) — approx $48
CRC GDI Intake Valve Cleaner (case) — approx $28
Walnut blast service (shop, per side) — approx $350

Procedure:

Identify affected cylinder via stored codes.
Remove engine cover; unclip coil pack on that cylinder.
Remove coil and inspect for oil intrusion.
Pull spark plug — note color and smell.
If fuel-soaked: injector replacement (specialty tool needed).
If carbon-fouled: replace plug + clean valves via induction service.
If normal: swap coil to adjacent cylinder, retest.
Reinstall in reverse order; torque plugs to 25 ft-lb.
Clear codes; allow engine to fully cool before test start.

Will It Pass Emissions?

// DECISION TREE

STARTCheck engine light on?

YES →FAIL

NO →Readiness monitors set?

YES →PASS

NO →RETESTdrive 50–100 miles to set monitors

Repair Cost Breakdown

Part / Region	DIY Cost	Shop Labor	Total Range
Most regions (DIY)	$180	—	$130–$250
Most regions (shop)	—	$420	$320–$600
Heavy repair (shop)	—	$1100	$700–$1800

Estimates based on aggregated independent shop quotes; dealer labor adds 30–50%. Excludes diagnostic fee ($80–$150).

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FAQs

Yes. Active cold misfires dump raw fuel into the catalyst and can melt it in under 100 miles. Diagnose immediately.

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Sources & References

§SAE J2012 — Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions — Standardized OBD-II code definitions used by all manufacturers.
§EPA OBD Regulations (40 CFR §86.1806-05) — Federal on-board diagnostic requirements for light-duty vehicles.

Cost figures are aggregated from real customer invoices at our shop plus quotes from RepairPal and Mitchell1 labor guides. Diagnostic procedures verified against factory service information (ALLDATA / Mitchell1).

// About the author

Mike Reeves — Independent shop owner in Phoenix, AZ. Specializes in driveability diagnostics on domestic and Asian gas engines. Writes our powertrain coverage. More about our team →

Related Codes

P0420MODERATE