There are cars with 5 valves per cylinder. But the point of more valves is to get better breathing. (More intake/exhaust and/or quicker). You can imagine putting circles inside circles (and leaving the least room). 3 is better than 2, and 4 is better than 3. But I'm not sure 5 is really better than 4 -- and you're getting into diminishing returns (lots more complexity for not much more area) -- so I'm unconvinced it is worth it. Frankly, there are much better ways to get better improvements for less money. (Variable Valve Timing, FSI/DirectInjection, better alloys to lighten the weight, etc). So I'd let the engineers do their job -- I tend to think of 5 valves per cylinder is more letting the marketing people do engineering. (Or on super exotics where price/reliability is no object getting a little better performance for lots of other cost, after they've done everything else)....

 

thanks! i always wanted to know that. oh well... there goes the 40 valve 5.4L Boss mustang

 

5 valve per cylinder? thats kinda excessive... isn't it?

 

''5 valve per cylinder? thats kinda excessive... isn't it?''
you have no understanding of American engineering do you?

 

lol with 2 exaust pipes for every cylinder

 

Me likey!!! :worship:

 

ironic since most of the 5-V heads around are one Asian and European-built superbikes.

 

I think charles was referencing the "excessive" tendencies of American engineering, not specifically 5 valve heads.