Crossflow cylinder head

A crossflow cylinder head is a cylinder head that features the intake and exhaust ports on opposite sides. The gases can be thought to flow across the head. This is in contrast to reverse-flow cylinder head designs that have the ports on the same side.

Crossflow heads use overhead valves, but these can be actuated either by overhead camshafts, or by a valve-train, which has the camshafts in the cylinder block, and actuates the valves with push rods and rockers.

• Crossflow cylinder head, with twin overhead cams
• Cutaway view of the overhead camshaft, rockers and valves of a crossflow cylinder head
• Cross-section of a four-stroke engine showing the flow of gases across the cylinder head from the inlet port on the right to the exhaust port on the left, via the combustion chamber