If your Ford F150 suffers from a multiple-cylinder misfire, you know how frustrating it can be. Not only does the problem affect the performance of your pickup but if left untreated for too long, it could lead to costly repairs.
So what could cause this issue in your truck’s engine? In this article, I am going to give you a list of possible causes as well as what to do if your F150 suffers from this problem.
What Does Multiple Cylinder Engine Misfire Mean on a Ford F150?
First thing first, let’s see what multiple-cylinder engine misfire means.
When a vehicle has a misfire, it means that one or more of its cylinders aren’t firing properly. This happens when the spark plug doesn’t ignite fuel and air at the right time or when the fuel isn’t ignited by a spark plug at all.
If you plug in your F150 to an OBD 2 scanner it will read P0300 which is a fault code for random multiple misfiring.
This results in your Pickup running and idling rough, loss of power, and poor fuel economy.
F150 Multiple Cylinder Misfire Causes
Now, that I have explained what this means, lets look at the main causes from my experience.
1. Bad Cam Phaser:
One of the most common causes of a multiple-cylinder misfire on an F150 is a failing cam phaser this has been a known problem for years (especially 2005-2012 Ford F150s and 3.5 EcoBoost engine) and is almost always the cause of a random misfire. The cam phaser is responsible for adjusting the timing of the valves as they open and close. If it is worn out, or there is a problem with the solenoids inside, then it will cause your engine to run rough and misfire.
2. Faulty Coil Packs:
The Engine Coil packs on your F150 are responsible for igniting the spark plugs. If one of them is faulty then it can cause a misfire in one or more cylinders, most commonly on the side where the coil pack fails. This can happen randomly and oftentimes without any warning signs so it’s important to check all of your coils if you are experiencing this problem.
3. Dirty/Damaged Fuel Injectors:
Another common cause for multiple misfires on an f150 is Dirty or worn fuel injectors this Is because fuel injectors are responsible for spraying the correct amount of fuel into each cylinder,
If they are clogged up with dirt or carbon then they will not be able to spray enough fuel into the engine. This can cause your engine to run lean which can damage your valves and pistons over time.
One thing you can do right away is use to a fuel injector cleaner and see how the truck runs after using it. If you still have multiple misfires then you may need to replace your fuel injectors.
4. Bad Spark Plugs
If you have bad spark plugs then this can cause multiple misfires on an f150. Bad spark plugs will not be able to fire off the correct amount of voltage that is needed for the engine to run properly. It is recommended that you change your spark plugs every 30 000- 60 000 miles.
5. Malfunctioning PCM Module
PCM stands for Power Control Module and is the computer that controls most of your truck. This includes the engine, transmission, and some electronics. If your PCM malfunctions then it will not be able to control these components properly which can cause multiple misfires on an f150.
It is recommended that you get it checked out by a professional mechanic if you notice multiple misfires after driving for a while or especially when starting up again.
How do you fix a misfire in multiple cylinders?
What I personally recommend is to start by changing the spark plugs and coils and see if the random multiple misfire code goes away (In most cases it does).
If you changed the spark plugs and coil parks and still getting the multiple misfire code, try adding a quality fuel injector cleaner and see if it clears up the problem.
If you still have multiple misfires on your F150, I would recommend getting it scanned with an advanced OBD scanner which will pinpoint the main issue. You can do that at any Ford dealership or a local mechanic shop that has an OBD scanner.
