Abstract: A spark-ignition four-stroke gasoline engine, of the commonly mass-produced type having a plurality of cylinders provided each with two poppet valves mounted in a cylinder-head of the engine and constituting respectively an inlet valve, for passing a fuel-air mixture to the cylinder, and an exhaust valve for passing exhaust gases to an exhaust manifold of the engine, is given exhaust valves which are at least 7% greater in area than the inlet valves.