Abstract: A method for operating a four-stroke internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine can be switched over between a full cylinder operation and a partial cylinder operation. The valve lift of the inlet valves of all cylinders are set temporarily to a maximum lift during the switchover between full cylinder operation and partial cylinder operation, wherein, during the switchover, in a step a), in an early switchover phase, the valve lift is increased at all cylinders and, at the same time, the time of the maximum valve lift is adjusted in the early direction by means of a phase adjuster and/or, in a step b), in a late switchover phase, the valve lift is reduced at least at the cylinders which are to continue to run after the switchover and, at the same time, the time of the maximum valve lift is adjusted in the late direction.

Abstract: A method for operating a four-stroke internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine can be switched over between a full cylinder operation and a partial cylinder operation. The valve lift of the inlet valves of all cylinders are set temporarily to a maximum lift during the switchover between full cylinder operation and partial cylinder operation, wherein, during the switchover, in a step a), in an early switchover phase, the valve lift is increased at all cylinders and, at the same time, the time of the maximum valve lift is adjusted in the early direction by means of a phase adjuster and/or, in a step b), in a late switchover phase, the valve lift is reduced at least at the cylinders which are to continue to run after the switchover and, at the same time, the time of the maximum valve lift is adjusted in the late direction.