Ford F-150 Cylinder 4 Misfire: What To Do?

A misfired cylinder is a common problem with all vehicles, not Ford F-150.

There are several symptoms you will experience, and there are several causes that could cause those experiences.

In this article, find out why you have a cylinder 4 misfire in your Ford, the leading causes, the symptoms, and how you can fix it. Let’s get straight into the topic.

What Is A Cylinder 4 Misfire Problem?

A cylinder 4 misfire is unquestionably a reason for worry and should be viewed as a danger to your F150’s driving ability.

However, being a cylinder-specific fault, a cylinder 4 misfire has the advantage of making diagnosis easier than, for example, when cylinders are randomly misfiring.

Fixing a cylinder 4 misfire ought to be given top priority.

This problem, in contrast to many others, is directly related to engine combustion.

Ignoring it can also be expensive because driving with a misfire might harm the car’s catalytic converter.

Raw gasoline also goes through Cylinder 4 and into the exhaust because the engine is not burning all the fuel. When your F150 has a cylinder 4 misfire, the mileage may also fall.

One thing to remember while locating cylinder 4 is that it will be the fourth cylinder in the vehicle’s firing sequence. People usually mistake it for the fourth cylinder they notice when looking at the engine.

A Cylinder 4 Misfire Symptoms

Some of the main symptoms you probably will experience if you have a misfire are: 

1. The service engine lights on the F150 will be activated.
2. The car can start running rough. According to how severe the misfire is.
3. The vehicle might vibrate excessively, especially at low RPM.
4. Possibly reduced fuel economy.
5. Raw gas may be detected coming from the tailpipe.
6. The car could retort.

All these symptoms are a sign something bad is happening to your Ford F-150, and the probable cause is the cylinder 4 misfire. 

Keep reading to find out what causes these symptoms.

Causes For A Cylinder 4 Misfire In Ford F-150

Here are some of the leading causes of the problem.

Faulty Spark Plugs

A bad spark plug is one of the most frequent reasons for a cylinder 4 misfire.

Examine the electrodes to make sure they are in excellent condition. Most automobiles today use iridium plugs, which require relatively little maintenance. So starting with the plugs is a terrific idea.

Spark Plug Wires

Although they are not nearly as lengthy as they formerly were on most modern engines, plug wires are nevertheless susceptible to damage.

Check them out next if the above-described problem is not the cause for a cylinder 4 misfire.

Coil Packs

Coil packs seldom malfunction, but when they do, your Ford F150 may experience a cylinder 4 misfire. It might be highly costly to replace a set.

Bad Fuel Injector

If your fuel injector has stopped working correctly, it won’t be able to atomize your fuel properly, and the cylinder 4 misfire problem will appear.

Since diagnosing an injector is tricky, you should leave this work to the mechanic.

Vacuum Leak

Your F-150 may have trouble getting the appropriate air/fuel ratio if it has a vacuum leak.

If the leak is near that particular cylinder on the intake manifold, it will lead to cylinder misfiring.

Cam Or Crank Sensors

Although this is highly unusual, it can happen.

The car’s timing will be out of sync, which will cause it to misfire if the ECU is not receiving the correct data from these sensors.

Low Compression

You will experience a cylinder 4 misfire if you have a leaky head gasket, a bent valve, a cracked head, etc., that would reduce compression from being as high as it should be. The car should also feel like it is losing power.

How To Fix A Cylinder 4 Misfire?

The first thing to know is that you will get a code that will signify you have a cylinder 4 misfire problem. The code will be P0304.

If the coil packs, plugs, or wires need to be replaced, check and test the ignition system components close to the cylinder. One of those three items is the issue. In that case, you must switch the coil pack, wire, and plugs.

Since relocating those components has altered which cylinder the issue code has registered in, you will know which of those three components is malfunctioning if you receive a different P030X code.

So proceed to replace them or get them tested after that. It is a quick and affordable way to determine if your ignition components are defective.

The fuel injection system is what you would test next. If it doesn’t work, do a compression test to check for cylinder leaks.

If you know, you can do this by yourself. However, we advise you to visit a mechanic with the proper training and the tools to fix your Ford F-150 fully.