P0310

Cylinder 10 Misfire Detected

P0310 is a generic OBD-II powertrain diagnostic trouble code: Cylinder 10 Misfire Detected. It is logged by the engine control unit when the misfire monitor detects that a specific fault threshold has been exceeded — typically resulting in the malfunction-indicator lamp (MIL / check-engine light) being illuminated.

Code
P0310
Group
Powertrain
System
Misfire
Severity
Warning (MIL on, possible limp mode)
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What P0310 means

P0310 means the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected that cylinder 10 is not contributing to combustion — either firing erratically or not firing at all. The code is exclusive to engines with 10 or more cylinders, making it relevant to a narrow group of vehicles: BMW M5/M6 with the S85 or S65 V10, BMW 7-series with the M70/S70 V12, Dodge Viper with the Gen I–V V10, Lamborghini and Audi models sharing the 5.2 V10, and certain heavy-duty diesel trucks with 10-cylinder configurations.

When a cylinder misfires, unburned fuel passes into the exhaust, damaging the catalytic converter and raising exhaust emissions. On high-performance V10 engines — where each cylinder is smaller and the firing order tighter — even a single dead cylinder produces a noticeable power loss and rough idle. The PCM detects the miss by monitoring crankshaft velocity fluctuations: a firing cylinder accelerates the crank slightly, and its absence creates a measurable dip.

The misfire may be intermittent (especially at idle or low load) or continuous. If the MIL flashes rather than stays on, the misfire rate is severe enough to cause catalytic converter damage within seconds, and the vehicle should be stopped promptly.

Common causes

Most-frequently reported root causes when P0310 is logged.

  • 1
    Worn or fouled spark plug in cylinder 10 preventing reliable ignition.
  • 2
    Failed coil-on-plug ignition coil for cylinder 10 (very common on BMW S85/S65 engines).
  • 3
    Clogged or leaking fuel injector on cylinder 10 disrupting the air-fuel mixture.
  • 4
    Vacuum leak near cylinder 10's intake port causing a lean misfire.
  • 5
    Low compression in cylinder 10 due to worn piston rings, damaged valve seats, or a leaking head gasket.
  • 6
    Worn camshaft lobe or collapsed hydraulic lifter reducing valve lift on cylinder 10.
  • 7
    Damaged spark plug wire or high-resistance ignition lead (older distributor-based engines).
  • 8
    PCM injector driver circuit failure affecting the cylinder 10 injector output.

Symptoms drivers notice

Check Engine Light illuminated, possibly flashing under load.
Rough idle with noticeable vibration or shudder, especially pronounced in high-strung V10 engines.
Reduced power and hesitation during acceleration.
Increased fuel consumption due to incomplete combustion.
Possible smell of raw fuel from the exhaust or visible black smoke.

How to diagnose P0310

A typical diagnostic flow when this code is present.

  1. 1
    Connect a scan tool, confirm P0310 is set, and check for companion misfire codes on other cylinders.
  2. 2
    Swap the cylinder 10 coil-on-plug coil with a known-good coil from another cylinder and re-check — if the misfire follows the coil, replace it.
  3. 3
    Inspect and gap-check (or replace) the spark plug in cylinder 10; look for fouling, cracking, or electrode wear.
  4. 4
    Perform a fuel injector balance test or measure injector pulse width; confirm cylinder 10 injector is opening and delivering correctly.
  5. 5
    Check for vacuum leaks at the cylinder 10 intake runner using smoke or a propane enrichment test.
  6. 6
    Run a compression test on cylinder 10; low readings (especially against adjacent cylinders) point to mechanical wear or a damaged head gasket.
  7. 7
    If compression is low, perform a leakdown test to isolate the leak path (rings, valves, or gasket).

Related powertrain codes

Frequently asked questions

Which vehicles can actually set a P0310?

Only those with 10 or more cylinders. Common examples include the BMW E60/E63 M5/M6 (S85 5.0 V10), BMW 7-series with M70/S70 V12, Dodge Viper (8.0/8.4 V10), Audi R8 and Lamborghini Gallardo/Huracán (5.2 V10), and some V10/V12 diesel trucks. Four- and six-cylinder engines physically cannot set this code.

Can I drive with P0310 active?

Short distances at low load may be possible, but a persistent misfire pushes unburned fuel into the catalytic converter, which can destroy it. If the MIL is flashing, stop driving immediately and investigate.

Why are BMW S85 coils so failure-prone?

The S85 routes 10 individual coil-on-plug units in a tight valley with limited cooling. Heat cycling accelerates coil winding fatigue. Many owners proactively replace all 10 coils as a set rather than chasing individual failures.

Is P0310 the same as a random misfire code?

No. P0300 is a random/multiple-cylinder misfire. P0310 pinpoints cylinder 10 specifically, making diagnosis more targeted — focus on the ignition, fuel, and compression components serving that cylinder only.

Disabling P0310 in software

RaceTune can permanently disable P0310 — and any other OBD-II diagnostic trouble code — on every ECU family we support. The monitor is disabled inside the ECU itself, so the fault stops being logged: the warning light stays off and the engine never enters limp mode for this code. The change is tied to your exact software version.

Permanent
The monitor is disabled in the ECU itself — not just cleared. It cannot return.
Tailored to your file
Each patch is matched to your specific software version — never a one-size-fits-all file.
Reversible
The original file is always preserved. Reflash the stock to return the ECU to factory state.

Software modifications affect emissions compliance and are not road-legal in many jurisdictions. RaceTune service files are intended for motorsport, off-road, and export use.

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