Ford 3.5 EcoBoost firing order and cylinder numbers: F-150 vs Explorer
The Ford 3.5 EcoBoost V6 fires 1-4-2-5-3-6. In the F-150, Expedition, Transit, cylinder 1 is the front cylinder on the passenger side (bank 1, RH bank).
In the Taurus SHO, Flex, Explorer Sport, MKS/MKT, cylinder 1 is the cylinder at the passenger-side end of the rear bank, against the firewall (bank 1, RH bank).
Drag to turn the engine, scroll or pinch to zoom. Orange = the cylinder firing now; the numbers on the coils are cylinder numbers. Driver and passenger sides are for left-hand-drive vehicles.
Firing order diagram
Where each cylinder is
F-150, Expedition, Transit: engine runs front to back
| Cylinder | Misfire code | Location | Place in firing order |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P0301 | The front cylinder on the passenger side (bank 1, RH bank) | 1st |
| 2 | P0302 | The second cylinder from the front on the passenger side (bank 1, RH bank) | 3rd |
| 3 | P0303 | The rear cylinder on the passenger side (bank 1, RH bank) | 5th |
| 4 | P0304 | The front cylinder on the driver side (bank 2, LH bank) | 2nd |
| 5 | P0305 | The second cylinder from the front on the driver side (bank 2, LH bank) | 4th |
| 6 | P0306 | The rear cylinder on the driver side (bank 2, LH bank) | 6th |
Taurus SHO, Flex, Explorer Sport, MKS/MKT: engine sideways, belt end on the passenger side
| Cylinder | Misfire code | Location | Place in firing order |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P0301 | The cylinder at the passenger-side end of the rear bank, against the firewall (bank 1, RH bank) | 1st |
| 2 | P0302 | The middle cylinder of the rear bank, against the firewall (bank 1, RH bank) | 3rd |
| 3 | P0303 | The cylinder at the driver-side end of the rear bank, against the firewall (bank 1, RH bank) | 5th |
| 4 | P0304 | The cylinder at the passenger-side end of the front bank, nearest the radiator (bank 2, LH bank) | 2nd |
| 5 | P0305 | The middle cylinder of the front bank, nearest the radiator (bank 2, LH bank) | 4th |
| 6 | P0306 | The cylinder at the driver-side end of the front bank, nearest the radiator (bank 2, LH bank) | 6th |
Bank 1 is always the bank that contains cylinder 1, so for this engine bank 1 is the RH bank with cylinders 1-2-3; bank 2 is the LH bank with cylinders 4-5-6. Oxygen-sensor, camshaft and catalyst codes that name bank 1 or bank 2 use the same split.
Coils, plugs and wires
- Coil-on-plug ignition: one coil sits directly on each spark plug.
- In the transverse cars the RH bank (cylinders 1-3) is the rear bank, against the firewall.
How to find a cylinder on this engine
- Find the front of the engine: the end with the drive belt and pulleys.
- Find bank 1, the RH bank that holds cylinder 1. On this engine it is the passenger side.
- Count from the belt end. Cylinders 1-2-3 run along bank 1 and 4-5-6 along bank 2, each starting at the belt end.
- Match the code: P0301 is cylinder 1, P0302 cylinder 2, and so on. P0300 means a random or multiple misfire and does not name a cylinder.
Which engines this covers
Ford 3.5 EcoBoost twin-turbo V6. The same cylinder numbering is fitted two ways: front to back in the F-150, Expedition and Transit, and sideways in the transverse Taurus SHO, Flex, Explorer Sport and Lincoln MKS/MKT.
- F-150 3.5 EcoBoost, 2011 on (2012 verified, longitudinal)
- Taurus SHO 2010 on (2010 verified, transverse)
- Flex EcoBoost (2012 verified, transverse)
- Explorer Sport 2013-2019 (transverse)
Questions
What is the Ford 3.5 EcoBoost (F-150 vs Explorer) firing order?
1-4-2-5-3-6.
Which side is cylinder 1 on?
In the F-150, Expedition, Transit, cylinder 1 is the front cylinder on the passenger side (bank 1, RH bank). In the Taurus SHO, Flex, Explorer Sport, MKS/MKT, cylinder 1 is the cylinder at the passenger-side end of the rear bank, against the firewall (bank 1, RH bank).
Where is cylinder 4 (code P0304)?
In the F-150, Expedition, Transit, cylinder 4 is the front cylinder on the driver side (bank 2, LH bank). In the Taurus SHO, Flex, Explorer Sport, MKS/MKT, cylinder 4 is the cylinder at the passenger-side end of the front bank, nearest the radiator (bank 2, LH bank).
Which bank is bank 1?
The bank with cylinder 1: the RH bank, cylinders 1-2-3.
Is cylinder 1 in the same place on an F-150 and an Explorer?
It is the same cylinder on the engine but it sits in a different place in the vehicle. On the F-150, cylinder 1 is the front cylinder on the passenger side. In the transverse Explorer, Taurus SHO and Flex it is the passenger-side end of the rear bank, next to the firewall.
Which side is bank 1 on a 3.5 EcoBoost?
Bank 1 is the RH bank with cylinders 1, 2 and 3. That is the passenger side on an F-150 and the rear (firewall) side on the transverse Explorer, Taurus SHO and Flex.
Sources
The firing order, the cylinder numbering and the position of each bank in the vehicle were each checked against at least two of these sources, and they agree.
- Ford owner's manual, Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L EcoBoost (fordservicecontent.com). “Firing order. 1-4-2-5-3-6. Ignition system. Coil on plug.” Factory / manufacturer
- Ford workshop manual, 2012 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost, Firing Order and Engine Cylinder Identification (via Operation CHARM). “Fire order 1-4-2-5-3-6. Diagram (arrow = front of engine): RH bank 1-2-3, LH bank 4-5-6, front to rear.” Factory / manufacturer
- Ford workshop manual, 2010 Taurus SHO 3.5L EcoBoost, Engine Cylinder Identification (via Operation CHARM). “Firing Order 1-4-2-5-3-6. Same diagram N0069904: RH bank 1-2-3, LH bank 4-5-6.” Factory / manufacturer
- Ford workshop manual, 2012 Flex 3.5L EcoBoost, Engine Cylinder Identification (via Operation CHARM). “Same diagram N0069904.” Factory / manufacturer
- Ford workshop manual, 2012 Explorer 3.5L (transverse 3.5 V6), Ignition Coil-On-Plug - RH (via Operation CHARM). “The upper intake manifold must be removed to access the RH (Right Hand) ignition coil-on-plugs. (On the transverse 3.5 the RH bank lies under the intake at the firewall side.)” Factory / manufacturer
- Fordmasterx, Ford 3.5 EcoBoost firing order and cylinder layout. “On the longitudinal Ford F150 3.5 EcoBoost, Bank 1 is on the passenger side and Bank 2 is on the driver side. Cylinder numbering runs from the front of the engine toward the firewall.” Independent reference
- BackYardMechanic, Ford 3.5L V6 firing order, cylinder location, bank 1 and bank 2. “Mounted straight (longitudinal): passenger side, front of engine to back ... Mounted sideways (transverse): Bank-1 on the firewall side of engine.” Independent reference
- ReRev, Ford 3.5L EcoBoost firing order and cylinder diagram. “The passenger's side bank contains cylinders 1 to 3, while the driver's side bank has cylinders 4 to 6.” Independent reference
Last reviewed 15 November 2026 · How the data is sourced and checked