Editing Multi-valve (section)

== Cars and trucks ==

=== Before 1914 ===
The 1908 Ariès VT race cars had 1.4 litre supercharged single cylinder engines with four valve per cylinder desmodromic systems. (Source: [https://www.desmodromology.nl/aries-2/ <nowiki>[1]</nowiki>])

The 1910 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo KM had a 10.6 litre inline 4 with single overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder and it had one of the first engines with fully enclosed overhead valve gear (source: [[Isotta Fraschini Tipo KM]] [https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16133/lot/316/] and [https://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2008-04/07/7637601-1-23.jpg&width=960])

The first motorcar in the world to have an engine with two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder was the 1912 [[Peugeot]] L76 Grand Prix race car designed by [[Ernest Henry (engineer)|Ernest Henry]]. Its 7.6-litre monobloc straight-4 with modern hemispherical combustion chambers produced {{cvt|148|bhp|kW}} (19.5 HP/Liter(0.32&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch)). In April 1913, on the Brooklands racetrack in England, a specially built L76 called ''"la Torpille"'' (torpedo) beat the world speed record of 170&nbsp;km/h.<ref name="KevinClemensDOHC" /> Robert Peugeot also commissioned the young [[Ettore Bugatti]] to develop a GP racing car for the 1912 Grand Prix. This chain-driven [[Bugatti Type 18]] had a 5-litre straight-4 with SOHC and three valves per cylinder (two inlet, one exhaust). It produced appr. {{convert|100|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 2800 rpm (0.30&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch) and could reach {{convert|99|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. The three-valve head would later be used for some of Bugatti's most famous cars, including the 1922 Type 29 Grand Prix racer and the legendary [[Bugatti Type 35|Type 35]] of 1924. Both Type 29 and Type 35 had a {{cvt|100|bhp|kW}} 2-liter SOHC 24-valve NA straight-8 that produced {{cvt|0.82|bhp|kW}} per cubic inch.

=== Between 1914 and 1945 ===

[[A.L.F.A. 40/60 GP]] was a fully working early racing car prototype made by the company now called [[Alfa Romeo]]. Only one example was built in 1914, which was later modified in 1921. This design of [[Giuseppe Merosi]] was the first Alfa Romeo [[DOHC]] engine. It had four valves per cylinder, 90-degree valve angle and twin-spark ignition.<ref name="velocetoday.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.velocetoday.com/cars/cars_75.php|title=Alfa Designers|access-date=2011-12-30|website=velocetoday.com}}</ref> The GP engine had a displacement of 4.5-liter (4490 cc) and produced {{convert|88|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 2950 rpm (14.7&nbsp;kW/liter), and after modifications in 1921 {{convert|102|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3000 rpm. The top speed of this car was 88-93&nbsp;mph (140–149&nbsp;km/h). It wasn't until the 1920s when these [[DOHC]] engines came to Alfa road cars like the [[Alfa Romeo 6C]].

In 1916 US automotive magazine ''Automobile Topics'' described a four-cylinder, four-valve-per-cylinder car engine made by Linthwaite-Hussey Motor Co. of Los Angeles, CA, USA: ''"Firm offers two models of high-speed motor with twin intakes and exhausts."''.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_OMDAAAAMBAJ |title=Engines: A Century of Progress (Popular Mechanics, Jan 1985, pp. 95-97, 120, 122) |first=Mort |last=Schultz |access-date=2011-12-26 |date=January 1985 }}</ref>

Early multi-valve engines in [[T-head engine|T-head]] configuration were the 1917 ''Stutz'' straight-4, White Motor Car Model GL 327 CID Dual Valve Mononblock four, and 1919 ''Pierce-Arrow'' straight-6 engines. The standard [[Flathead engine|flathead]] engines of that day were not very efficient and designers tried to improve engine performance by using multiple valves. The [[Stutz Motor Company]] used a modified T-head with 16 valves, twin-spark ignition and aluminium pistons to produce 80&nbsp;bhp (59&nbsp;kW) at 2400 rpm from a 360.8 cid (5.8-liter) straight-4 (0.22&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch). Over 2300 of these powerful early multi-valve engines were built. Stutz not only used them in their famous [[Stutz Bearcat|Bearcat]] sportscar but in their standard touring cars as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportscarmarket.com/car-reviews/american/1500-1918-stutz-series-s-roadster |title=1918 Stutz Series S Roadster (Sportscarmarket.com, Friday, 31 March 2000) |website=Sports Car Market |access-date=2011-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116170520/http://www.sportscarmarket.com/car-reviews/american/1500-1918-stutz-series-s-roadster |archive-date=16 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=2885&year=1918&model=21969 |title=1918 Stutz S Series Roadster Standard Specifications (Classic Car Database) |website=Classic Car Database |access-date=2011-12-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DPE_yAlErU  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/-DPE_yAlErU |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title= 16-valve Stutz block (YouTube.com video, May 6, 2010) |first=Paul |last=Freehill |website= [[YouTube]] |access-date=2011-12-23 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> The mono block White Motor Car engine developed 72 horsepower and less than 150 were built, only three are known to exist today. In 1919 [[Pierce-Arrow]] introduced its 524.8 cid (8.6-liter) straight-6 with 24 valves. The engine produced 48.6&nbsp;bhp (0.09&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch) and ran very quietly, which was an asset to the [[Prohibition in the United States|bootlegger]]s of that era.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AZ12&CarID=r198&fc=0 |title=1919 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 Dual-Valve Four-Passenger (RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, USA) |website=RM Auctions |access-date=2011-12-23 |archive-date=2012-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112023839/http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AZ12&CarID=r198&fc=0 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=2687&year=1919&model=16436 |title=1919 Pierce Arrow 48-B-5 Series Touring Standard Specifications (Classic Car Database) |website=Classic Car Database |access-date=2011-12-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/default.aspx?carID=13542&i=2#menu |title=1919 Pierce Arrow Model 48 Specifications (Conceptcarz.com) |website=Conceptcarz.com |access-date=2011-12-23 }}</ref>

Multi-valve engines continued to be popular in racing and sports engines. Robert M. Roof, the chief engineer for Laurel Motors, designed his multi-valve ''Roof Racing Overheads'' early in the 20th century. Type A 16-valve heads were successful in the teens, Type B was offered in 1918 and Type C 16-valve in 1923. [[Frank Lockhart (racing driver)|Frank Lockhart]] drove a Type C overhead cam car to victory in Indiana in 1926.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nwvs.org/Technical/Engines/EngineRoofGrpAlpha.shtml |title=Roof Alphabetical Index and Images (nwvs.org) |website=Northwest Vintage Speedsters |access-date=2011-12-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtfca.com/HOF/Fame.htm |title=Robert M. Roof (MTFCA.com) |website=Model T Ford Club of America |access-date=2011-12-23 }}</ref>

[[Bugatti]] also had developed a 1.5-liter OHV straight-4 with four valves per cylinder as far back as 1914 but did not use this engine until after [[World War I]]. It produced appr. 30&nbsp;bhp (22.4&nbsp;kW) at 2700 rpm (15.4&nbsp;kW/liter or 0.34&nbsp;bhp/cid). In the 1920 Voiturettes Grand Prix at Le Mans driver Ernest Friderich finished first in a [[Bugatti Type 13]] with the 16-valve engine, averaging 91.96&nbsp;km/h. Even more successful was Bugattis clean sweep of the first four places at Brescia in 1921. In honour of this memorable victory all 16-valve-engined Bugattis were dubbed ''Brescia''. From 1920 through 1926 about 2000 were built.

[[Peugeot]] had a triple overhead cam 5-valve Grand Prix car in 1921.<ref name="SportsCarMarket1921Peugeot">{{cite web |url=http://www.sportscarmarket.com/car-reviews/etceterini/1545-1921-peugeot-3-liter-racer |title=1921 Peugeot 3-liter Racer (Sportscarmarket.com, 30 June 1999) |website=Sports Car Market |access-date=2011-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024034712/http://www.sportscarmarket.com/car-reviews/etceterini/1545-1921-peugeot-3-liter-racer |archive-date=24 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Bentley]] used multi-valve engines from the beginning. The [[Bentley 3 Litre]], introduced in 1921, used a monobloc straight-4 with aluminium pistons, [[pent-roof combustion chamber]]s, twin spark ignition, SOHC, and four valves per cylinder. It produced appr. 70&nbsp;bhp (0.38&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch). The 1927 [[Bentley 4½ Litre]] was of similar engine design. The NA racing model offered 130&nbsp;bhp (0.48&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch) and the 1929 supercharged 4½ Litre (Blower Bentley) reached 240&nbsp;bhp (0.89&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch). The 1926 [[Bentley Speed Six|Bentley 6½ Litre]] added two cylinders to the monobloc straight-4. This multi-valve straight-6 offered 180-200&nbsp;bhp (0.45-0.50&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch). The 1930 [[Bentley 8 Litre]] multi-valve straight-6 produced appr. 220&nbsp;bhp (0.45&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch).

In 1931 the [[Stutz Motor Company]] introduced a 322 cid (5.3-liter) dual camshaft 32-valve straight-8 with 156&nbsp;bhp (116&nbsp;kW) at 3900 rpm, called DV-32. The engine offered 0.48&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch. About 100 of these multi-valve engines were built. Stutz also used them in their top-of-the-line sportscar, the DV-32 Super Bearcat that could reach 100&nbsp;mph (160&nbsp;km/h).<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/automobiles/honoring-the-original-american-sports-cars.html?pagewanted=all |title= Honoring the Original American Sports Cars (New York Times, August 12, 2011) |first=Donald |last=Osborne |access-date=2011-12-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=314&year=1932&model=22249 |title=1932 Stutz CD DV 32 Series Super Bearcat Standard Specifications (Classic Car Database) |website=Classic Car Database |access-date=2011-12-23 }}</ref>

The 1935 [[Duesenberg]] SJ Mormon Meteor's engine was a 419.6 cid (6.9-liter) straight-8 with DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder and a supercharger. It achieved 400&nbsp;bhp (298.3&nbsp;kW) at 5,000 rpm and 0.95&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supercars.net/cars/2480.html |title=1935 Duesenberg SJ Mormon Meteor (Supercars.net) |first=Richard |last=Owen |access-date=2011-12-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13996/Duesenberg-Model-SJ-Special-Mormon-Meteor.aspx |title=1935 Duesenberg SJ Special Mormon Meteor (Conceptcarz.com, March 2011) |first=Daniel |last=Vaughan |access-date=2011-12-22 }}</ref>

The 1937 [[Mercedes-Benz W125]] racing car used a supercharged 5.7-liter straight-8 with DOHC and four valves per cylinder. The engine produced 592-646&nbsp;bhp (441.5-475&nbsp;kW) at 5800 rpm and achieved  1.71-1.87&nbsp;bhp per cubic inch (77.8-85.1&nbsp;kW/liter). The W125 top speed was appr. 200&nbsp;mph (322&nbsp;km/h).

=== After 1945 ===

[[File:3.5EcoboostCombustion.jpg|thumb|Combustion chamber of a 2009 [[Ford EcoBoost engine|Ford Ecoboost 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 petrol engine]] (77.8 kW/liter) showing two intake valves (right), two exhaust valves (left), centrally placed spark plug, and [[Gasoline direct injection|direct fuel injector]] (right).]]
The 1967 [[Cosworth DFV]] F1 engine, a NA 3.0-liter V8 producing appr. {{Convert|400|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 9,000 rpm (101.9&nbsp;kW/liter), featured four valves per cylinder. For many years it was the dominant engine in Formula One, and it was also used in other categories, including [[Champ Car|CART]], [[Formula 3000]] and [[Sportscar racing]].

Debuting at the 1968 Japanese Grand Prix in the original {{Convert|300|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} 3.0-liter version the [[Toyota 7]] engine participated in endurance races as a 5.0-liter (4,968 cc) non-turbo V8 with DOHC and 32-valves. It produced {{Convert|600|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} at 8,000 rpm (88.8&nbsp;kW/liter) and {{Convert|55.0|kgm|Nm lbft|0|abbr=on}} at 6,400 rpm.

There is much discussion about which was the first 'mass-produced' car to use an engine with four valves per cylinder.  For six cylinder engines, and considering special versions of mass-produced cars, the first appears to have been the 1969 [[Nissan Skyline]], using the Nissan [[Nissan S20 engine|S20]] six cylinder DOHC four-valve engine.  This engine was also fitted to [[Nissan Fairlady]] Z432 racing edition.

For a four-cylinder engine, the first mass-produced car using a four valves per cylinder engine was the British [[Ford Escort RS1600]], this car used the Cosworth BDA engine which was a Ford 'Kent' block with a [[Cosworth]] 16 valve twin cam cylinder head. The car went on to become a rallying legend in the 1970s winning many domestic and World Championship events. Other cars claiming to be first are the [[Jensen Healey]], launched in 1972 which used a [[Lotus 907]] belt-driven DOHC 16-valve 2-liter straight-4 producing 140&nbsp;bhp (54.6&nbsp;kW/liter, 1.20&nbsp;bhp/cid). All of these, although mass-produced, are also of relatively limited production, so it is argued that the first widely available and popularly priced mass-production car with a four valve per cylinder engine was the 1973 [[Dolomite Sprint|Triumph Dolomite Sprint]].  This Triumph used an in-house developed SOHC 16-valve 1,998 cc (122 ci) straight-4 engine that produced 127&nbsp;bhp (47.6&nbsp;kW/liter, 1.10&nbsp;bhp/cid) at introduction.

The 1975 [[Chevrolet Cosworth Vega]] featured a DOHC multi-valve head designed by [[Cosworth|Cosworth Engineering]] in the UK. This 122-cubic-inch straight-4 produced {{Convert|110|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 5600 rpm (0.90&nbsp;bhp/cid; 41.0&nbsp;kW/liter) and {{Convert|107|lbft|Nm|abbr=on}} at 4800 rpm.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/1975_Cosworth_Vega_Ad.jpg |title=1975 Cosworth Vega advertisement (Motor Trend Magazine, 1975)|access-date=2011-12-23 }}{{dead link|date=January 2022|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

The 1976 [[Fiat 131#Series 1|Fiat 131 Abarth]] (51.6&nbsp;kW/liter), 1976 [[Lotus Esprit]] with [[Lotus 907]] engine (54.6&nbsp;kW/liter, 1.20&nbsp;bhp/cid), and 1978 [[BMW M1]] with [[BMW M88]] engine (58.7&nbsp;kW/liter, 1.29&nbsp;bhp/cid) all used four valves per cylinder. The BMW M88/3 engine was used in the 1983 [[BMW M6]]35CSi and in the 1985 [[BMW M5]].

The 1978 [[Porsche 935/78]] racer used a twin turbo 3.2-liter [[flat-6]] (845&nbsp;bhp/630&nbsp;kW@8,200 rpm; 784 Nm/578&nbsp;ft.lbs@6,600 rpm). The water-cooled engine featured four valves per cylinder and output a massive 196.2&nbsp;kW/liter. Porsche had to abandon its traditional aircooling because the multi-valve DOHC hampered aircooling of the spark plugs. Only two cars were built.

[[Ferrari]] developed their ''[[Ferrari Dino engine#Quattrovalvole|Quattrovalvole]]'' (or QV) engines in the 80s. Four valves per cylinder were added for the 1982 [[Ferrari 308 GTB|308]] and [[Ferrari Mondial|Mondial]] ''Quattrovalvole'', bringing power back up to the pre-[[fuel injection|FI]] high of {{Convert|245|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} . A very unusual Dino Quattrovalvole was used in the 1986 [[Lancia Thema|Lancia Thema 8.32]]. It was based on the 308 QV's engine, but used a split-plane crankshaft rather than the Ferrari-type flat-plane. The engine was constructed by [[Ducati]] rather than Ferrari, and was produced from 1986 through 1991. The Quattrovalvole was also used by Lancia for their attempt at the [[World Sportscar Championship]] with the [[Lancia LC2|LC2]]. The engine was twin-turbocharged and destroked to 2.65&nbsp;litres, but produced {{Convert|720|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} in qualifying trim. The engine was later increased to 3.0&nbsp;litres and increased power output to {{Convert|828|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. The 1984 [[Ferrari Testarossa]] had a 4.9-liter [[flat-12]] with four valves per cylinder. Almost 7,200 Testarossa were produced between 1984 and 1991.

In 1985 [[Lamborghini]] released a [[Lamborghini Countach#5000QV|Countach ''Quattrovalvole'']], producing {{Convert|455|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}}  from a 5.2-liter (5167 cc) [[Lamborghini V12]] engine (64.8&nbsp;kW/liter).

The [[Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16]] with 16-valve engine debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 1983 after it set a world record at Nardo, Italy, recording a combined average speed of {{Convert|154.06|mi/h|km/h|2|abbr=on}} over the {{convert|50000|km|abbr=on}} endurance test. The engine was based on the 2.3-liter 8-valve 136&nbsp;hp (101&nbsp;kW) unit already fitted to the 190- and E-Class series. [[Cosworth]] developed the DOHC light alloy cast cylinder head with four large valves per cylinder. In roadgoing trim, the 190 E 2.3-16 produced 49&nbsp;hp (36&nbsp;kW) and 41&nbsp;ft•lbf (55 N•m) of torque more than the basic single overhead cam 2.3 straight-4 engine on which it was based offering {{Convert|185|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}  at 6,200 rpm (59.2&nbsp;kW/liter) and {{Convert|174|lbft|Nm|abbr=on}}  at 4,500 rpm. In 1988 an enlarged 2.5-liter engine replaced the 2.3-liter. It offered double valve timing chains to fix the easily snapping single chains on early 2.3 engines, and increased peak output by 17&nbsp;bhp (12.5&nbsp;kW) with a slight increase in torque. For homologation Evolution I (1989) and Evolution II (1990) models were produced that had a redesigned engine to allow for a higher rev limit and improved top-end power capabilities. The Evo II engine offered {{Convert|235|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}}  from 2463 cc (70.2&nbsp;kW/liter).

[[Saab Automobile|Saab]] introduced a 16-valve head to their 2.0-liter (1985 cc) straight-4 in 1984 and offered the engine with and without turbocharger (65.5&nbsp;kW/liter and 47.9&nbsp;kW/liter respectively) in the [[Saab 900]] and [[Saab 9000]].

The 2.0-liter Nissan [[Nissan FJ engine|FJ20]] was one of the earliest [[straight-4]] mass-produced Japanese engines to have both a DOHC 16-valve configuration (four valves per cylinder, two intake, two exhaust) and [[electronic fuel injection]] (EFI) when released in October 1981 in the sixth generation [[Nissan Skyline]]. Peak output was {{Convert|148|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 6,000 rpm and {{Convert|133|lbft|Nm|abbr=on}} at 4,800 rpm. The FJ20 was also offered with a turbocharger, producing {{Convert|188|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 6,400 rpm and {{Convert|166|lbft|Nm|abbr=on}} at 4,800 rpm.

Following Nissan's lead, Toyota released the 1.6-liter (1,587 cc) [[4AGE|4A-GE]] engine in 1983. The cylinder head was developed by [[Yamaha Motor Corporation]] and was built at Toyota's Shimayama plant. While originally conceived of as a two-valve design, Toyota and Yamaha changed the 4A-GE to a four-valve after a year of evaluation. It produced 115-140&nbsp;bhp (86-104&nbsp;kW) at 6,600 rpm (54.2-65.5&nbsp;kW/liter) and {{Convert|109|lbft|Nm|abbr=on}} at 5,800 rpm. To compensate for the reduced air speed of a multi-valve engine at low rpms, the first-to-second generation engines included the [[T-VIS]] intake system.

In 1986 [[Volkswagen]] introduced a multi-valved [[Volkswagen Golf Mk2#Golf GTI & GTI 16v|Golf GTI 16V]]. The 16-valve 1.8-liter straight-4 produced 139 PS (102&nbsp;kW; 137&nbsp;bhp) or 56.7&nbsp;kW/liter, almost 25% up from the 45.6&nbsp;kW/liter for the previous 8-valve Golf GTI engine.

The [[GM Quad-4 engine|GM Quad 4]] multi-valve engine family debuted early 1987. The Quad 4 was the first mainstream multi-valve engine to be produced by GM after the [[Chevrolet Cosworth Vega]]. The NA Quad 4 achieved {{Convert|1.08|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} per cubic inch (49.1&nbsp;kW/liter).<ref name="DanMcCosh4valves"/><ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=HOQDAAAAMBAJ |title=Quad 4: The Inside Story (Popular Mechanics, February 1988, pp.62-65) |first=Mike |last=Allen |access-date=2011-12-23 |date=February 1988 }}</ref> Such engines soon became common as Japanese manufacturers adopted the multi-valve concept.

==== Three valves ====

[[File:Head D15A3.JPG|250px|thumb|A [[cylinder head]] from a 1987 [[Honda CRX|Honda CRX Si]] showing SOHC, rocker arms, valve springs, and other components. This is a multi-valve configuration with two intake valves and one exhaust valve for each cylinder.]]
The 1975 [[Honda Civic]] introduced Honda's 1.5-liter SOHC 12-valve straight-4 engines. Nissan's 1988–1992 SOHC [[Nissan KA engine|KA24E]] engine had three valves per cylinder (two intakes, one exhaust) as well. Nissan upgraded to DOHC after 1992 for some of their sports cars, including the [[Nissan 240SX|240SX]].

In 1988, Renault released a 12 valve version of its Douvrin 4 cylinder 2.0l SOHC.

Mercedes and Ford produced three-valve V6 and V8 engines, Ford claiming an 80% improvement in high RPM breathing without the added cost of a DOHC [[valve train]]. The Ford design uses one spark plug per cylinder located in the centre, but the Mercedes design uses two spark plugs per cylinder located on opposite sides, leaving the centre free to add a direct-to-cylinder fuel injector at a later date.

The 1989 [[Citroën XM]] was the first 3-valve diesel-engined car.

==== Four valves ====

[[File:NISSAN SR20VE CYL-HEAD 02.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Nissan SR engine#SR20VE|Nissan SR20VE]] 2.0-liter straight-4-cylinder head with [[DOHC]], Nissan's [[Neo VVL]] [[variable valve timing]] with lift control and four valves per cylinder.]]
[[File:Diesel engine valve train.JPG|250px|thumb|Multi-valve train of Volvo's 2005 truck diesel engine D13A, a 12.8-liter turbocharged straight-6 (21.1-28.1 kW/liter) with SOHC and four valves per cylinder located around a central injector, and VEB engine brake that operates both exhaust valves.]]
Examples of SOHC four-valve engines include the [[Honda]] [[Honda F engine|F-series]] engines, [[Honda D engine|D-series]] engines, all [[Honda J engine|J-series]] engines, the [[Honda R engine|R-series]] engines, the [[Mazda B engine#B8|Mazda B8-ME]], and the [[Chrysler SOHC V6 engine|Chrysler 3.5&nbsp;L V6 engine]].

The [[V12 engine]]s of many [[World War II]] fighter aircraft also used a SOHC configuration with four valves for each cylinder.

The 1993 [[Mercedes-Benz C-Class]] (OM604 engine) was the first 4-valve diesel-engined car.

==== Five valves ====

[[Peugeot]] had a triple overhead cam five-valve Grand Prix car in 1921.<ref name="SportsCarMarket1921Peugeot"/>

In April 1988 an [[Audi 100|Audi 200 Turbo Quattro]] powered by an experimental 2.2-liter turbocharged 25-valve straight-5 rated at 478&nbsp;kW/650 PS@6,200 rpm (217.3&nbsp;kW/liter) set two world speed records at [[Nardo]], Italy: 326.403&nbsp;km/h (202.8&nbsp;mph) for 1,000&nbsp;km (625 miles) and 324.509&nbsp;km/h (201.6&nbsp;mph) for 500 miles.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8odMlvCz19IC |title=Five valves for Audi (Popular Science, Jan 1990, pp. 35, 37)  |first=D. |last=Sherman |access-date=2011-12-30 |date=January 1990 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brunnracing.info/projects/audi_200_turbo_quattro/audi_200_turbo_quattro.html |title=AUDI 200 N6000 - world record prototype  |author=<!--staff--> |website=Brunn Racing |access-date=2011-12-30 }}</ref>

[[Mitsubishi Motors|Mitsubishi]] were the first to market a car engine with five valves per cylinder, with the 548&nbsp;cc ''[[Mitsubishi 3G8 engine|3G81]]'' engine in their [[Mitsubishi Minica|Minica Dangan ZZ]] [[kei car]] in 1989.<ref name="wards">{{Cite journal | title = A baby that sprints: tiny Mitsubishi engine blasts off with five valves | journal = Ward's Auto World | issue = April 1989 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://autospeed.com.au/cms/article.html?&A=2705 |title=Mighty Minica ZZ-4 (Autospeed Issue 353, 19 October 2005) |first=Michael |last=Knowling |access-date=2011-12-26 }}</ref>

[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] designed the five-valve cylinder head for the [[Toyota A engine#4A-GE (20-valve)|20-valve 4A-GE]] engines made by Toyota for use in some [[Toyota Corolla]] models in Japan and South Africa, in 1991. Yamaha also developed five-valve Formula One engines, the 1989 [[Yamaha F1 engine|OX88]] V8, 1991 [[Jordan 192|OX99]] V12, 1993 [[Judd (engine)#Yamaha partnership|OX10]] V10 and 1996 [[Judd (engine)#Yamaha partnership|OX11]] V10, but none of these were very successful.
For their [[Yamaha YZ250F|YZ250F]] and [[Yamaha YZ450F|YZ450F]] motocross bikes, Yamaha developed five-valve engines.

[[Bugatti]] ([[Bugatti EB 110|EB 110]]), [[Ferrari]] ([[Ferrari F355|F355]], [[Ferrari 360|360]] and [[Ferrari F50|F50]]), [[Volkswagen]] - [[Audi]] ([[Audi Quattro]]) - [[Skoda Auto|Skoda]] ([[Skoda Octavia|Octavia vRS]]) and [[Toyota]] ([[Toyota A engine|4A-GE 20V]]) have all produced five-valve-engined vehicles.

==== Six valves ====

In 1985, [[Maserati]] made an experimental 2.0-liter turbo V6 engine with six valves per cylinder (three intakes, three exhaust). It achieved {{Convert|261|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 7,200 rpm (97.5&nbsp;kW/liter).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri26.htm |title=Maserati Sei Valvole (Enrico's Maserati Pages, 2002–2004) |first1=Ermanno |last1=Cozza |first2=George |last2=Lipperts |access-date=2011-12-26 }}</ref>

==== Pushrod ====

Although most multi-valve engines have [[overhead camshaft]]s, either SOHC or [[DOHC]], a multivalve engine may be a pushrod [[overhead valve engine]] (OHV) design. [[General Motors|GM]] has revealed a three-valve version of its [[GM LS engine|Generation IV V8]] which uses [[pushrod]]s to actuate forked rockers, and  all Duramax V8 engines have four valves per cylinder with pushrods. Moreover, [[Cummins]] makes a four-valve OHV [[straight-six engine|straight six]] [[Diesel engine|diesel]], the [[Cummins B Series engine|Cummins B Series]] (now known as ISB). Ford also uses pushrods in its 6.7L Power Stroke 
engine using four pushrods, four rockers and four valves per cylinder. The 6.0 and 6.4 Powerstroke engine built by Navistar also used pushrods with four-valve heads. Pushrod multi-valve systems are common on diesels because they need to be able to meet emissions standards, but also produce more low-end torque. The Harley-Davidson ''Milwaukee Eight'' engine, introduced in 2016, uses four-valves per cylinder driven by pushrods and a single in-block camshaft.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bennett|first1=Jay|title=Milwaukee Eight Multi-Valve|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/motorcycles/a22601/harley-davidson-new-engine-milwaukee-eight/|website=Popular Mechanics|publisher=HEARST DIGITAL MEDIA|access-date=16 August 2017|date=2016-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Cook|first1=Marc|title=HD Pushrods|url=http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/harleys-all-new-milwaukee-eight-big-twin#page-4|website=Motorcyclist Online|publisher=Bonnier Corporation|access-date=16 August 2017}}</ref>

==== Turbocharged ====

The 1980 [[Lotus Esprit#Essex Turbo Esprit .281980.29|Lotus Essex Turbo Esprit]] (with [[Lotus 900 series#Type 910 and 910S|type 910]] 2.2-liter inline four engine) was the first production car to use a multi-valve [[Turbocharger|turbocharged]] engine.