The car starts fine when warm. Is P0316 still a problem?

Yes. A cold-start-only misfire is still damaging the catalytic converter at every cold start. It also often indicates a worsening condition that will eventually misfire when warm too.

Can bad gasoline cause a startup misfire?

Contaminated or water-diluted fuel can, but it usually causes misfires across multiple cylinders. A single-cylinder startup misfire points to that cylinder's injector, plug, or mechanical condition.

What is a direct-injection carbon cleaning and do I need it?

On GDI engines, fuel does not wash the intake valves, so carbon accumulates over time. Walnut blasting physically removes it. If mileage is past 80,000 miles on a GDI engine with no carbon cleaning history, it is worth having done.

Codes › P0316

P0316: Your engine misfired right after it started

Misfire Detected on Startup (First 1000 Revolutions)

High severityCan you keep driving?

If the light is flashing, stop driving. If the light came on and stayed steady after start-up, drive gently to a shop. A startup misfire that clears quickly may indicate an intermittent problem that will worsen.

What it means

P0316 is unique: it only sets during the first 1,000 engine revolutions after a cold start. The PCM's misfire monitor is especially sensitive in this window because misfires at startup often mean something more serious than a worn plug. Cold-start misfires that clear once the engine warms up are commonly caused by injectors that dribble fuel during shutdown, causing a flooded cylinder at the next start. They can also point to early fuel injector wear on direct-injection engines or early valve seal deterioration that soaks the cylinder with oil overnight.

Common causes

Leaking fuel injector flooding a cylinder at shutdownAn injector that does not fully close keeps dribbling fuel, creating a raw fuel pool that misfires on the next start.
Worn valve seals allowing oil into the cylinder overnightOil draining past the seal soaks the plug and cylinder, causing a startup misfire that clears as oil burns off.
Carbon buildup on direct-injection intake valvesCarbon deposits restrict airflow to one or more cylinders at cold start when intake air velocity is lowest.
Worn spark plugs with wide gapA plug at its wear limit misfires under the richer cold-start mixture.

What it costs

Spark plug replacement$80 to $250
Fuel injector replacement$150 to $500 per injector
Carbon cleaning (direct injection walnut blast)$300 to $700
Valve seal replacement$500 to $1,800 depending on engine

Symptoms

Rough engine start that smooths out after a few seconds
Check engine light on, set on start-up
May feel fine once fully warm
Possible blue-grey smoke briefly on cold start (oil burning)

What to do next

Check for a companion code like P0301 through P0308 to identify which cylinder misfired. If a specific cylinder is implicated, inspect that injector and plug first. For direct-injection engines with high mileage and no carbon cleaning history, intake valve carbon buildup is a common culprit. Blue smoke on startup followed by a clear exhaust points to valve seals.

Lewis captures the first-start data window so you can see which cylinder or cylinders misfired and at which revolution count after start. Download Lewis.

Related codes

FAQ

The car starts fine when warm. Is P0316 still a problem?: Yes. A cold-start-only misfire is still damaging the catalytic converter at every cold start. It also often indicates a worsening condition that will eventually misfire when warm too.
Can bad gasoline cause a startup misfire?: Contaminated or water-diluted fuel can, but it usually causes misfires across multiple cylinders. A single-cylinder startup misfire points to that cylinder's injector, plug, or mechanical condition.
What is a direct-injection carbon cleaning and do I need it?: On GDI engines, fuel does not wash the intake valves, so carbon accumulates over time. Walnut blasting physically removes it. If mileage is past 80,000 miles on a GDI engine with no carbon cleaning history, it is worth having done.