Does 12-valve or 24-valve have anything to do with liters?

[MollyCMo]

I’m looking for an 8.3 Cummins and I see some ads that say Cummins 12-valve or 24-valve with no mention of liters. Does number of valves have anything to do with liters?

Also what’s the difference between 12 and 24 valve, performance-wise?

[EastCoastCB]

The 12v is mechanical the 24 has electronic injection. The 5.9 and 8.3 both come in either configuration.

[Ronnie]

The 5.9 is often listed as 12 or 24 valve. 96 or 97 was the last year of the 12 valve in trucks.

Not so sure about the 8.3 as I have not heard it being anything but 12 valves.

[Ronnie]

Ok looks like I just heard of a 24 valve 8.3 ......

[WARGEAR]

The number 12 and 24 refer to the overall number of valves within the cylinder head. A 12 valve inline 6 cylinder engine will have 2 valves per cylinder and a 24 valve of the same configuration will have 4 valves per cylinder. It doesn’t have anything to do with displacement. More valves usually means an overall larger capacity for airflow which means better economy/power. But in this case either will be almost the same.