Does a V6 have four camshafts?

Not necessarily. A V6 can have four camshafts, but it depends on the valve-train design: many V6s use four cams (dual overhead cams per cylinder bank), others use two cams (single overhead cam per bank), and some older or pushrod V6s use just one camshaft in the engine block. Understanding whether a specific V6 has four camshafts comes down to whether it’s DOHC, SOHC, or OHV and how many cylinder heads it has.

What actually determines camshaft count in a V6

The number of camshafts in any V6 is driven by two factors: the location of the cams (in the block versus in the heads) and the number of cylinder heads. Traditional V6 engines have two cylinder banks, thus two heads; some narrow-angle designs (like Volkswagen’s VR6) use a single cylinder head. From there, manufacturers choose pushrod (OHV), single overhead cam (SOHC), or dual overhead cam (DOHC) architectures—each with a different camshaft count.

Typical V6 configurations and how many camshafts they use

The list below breaks down the common V6 layouts you’ll encounter, along with representative examples from mainstream manufacturers to illustrate how camshaft counts vary in practice.

• Four camshafts (DOHC, two cams per head on a two-head V6): Common in modern, performance-leaning or efficiency-focused engines. Examples include Toyota’s 2GR V6 family, Nissan’s VQ-series (e.g., VQ35/VQ37), Ford’s 3.5/3.7 “Cyclone” V6 (including EcoBoost variants), Chrysler’s 3.6L Pentastar, GM’s HFV6/“High Feature” family (e.g., 3.6L), Mercedes-Benz M276, and Audi’s 3.0 TFSI. These typically feature variable valve timing on all cams.
• Two camshafts (SOHC, one cam per head on a two-head V6): A pragmatic compromise that reduces parts count while still allowing multi-valve heads and variable valve timing. Examples include Honda’s J-series (e.g., J35/J37), Ford’s older 4.0L SOHC Cologne V6, and Nissan’s VG30E (the VG30DE variant is DOHC and therefore has four).
• One camshaft (OHV/pushrod, cam-in-block): A more traditional American layout where a single cam in the block actuates valves via lifters, pushrods, and rockers. Examples include GM’s 4.3L V6 (LV3) and the Buick/GM 3800 Series II/III. These are simpler and often more compact but generally limit high-RPM breathing compared with OHC designs.
• Special case — narrow-angle/single-head V6 (e.g., VW VR6): Typically uses two camshafts in a single cylinder head; later 24-valve variants are DOHC relative to the single head. Because there’s only one head, “DOHC” here equals two cams total, not four.

These categories cover the vast majority of V6 engines on the road today. The key takeaway is that “V6” describes the cylinder arrangement, not the valve-train architecture—so camshaft counts can vary widely.

Why some V6s have four camshafts

Manufacturers choose DOHC layouts (four cams on a two-head V6) to enable optimal airflow, higher RPM capability, and finer control of valve events. DOHC makes it easier to run multi-valve heads and independent variable valve timing on intake and exhaust camshafts for each bank, boosting both performance and efficiency. This is why most modern premium or performance-oriented V6s are DOHC with four cams.

Why others use two or even one

SOHC V6s (two cams total) can still deliver strong performance with fewer parts and lower cost, especially when paired with variable valve timing and advanced intake designs. Pushrod V6s (one cam) emphasize packaging efficiency, durability, and low-end torque; they’re often favored in trucks and applications where simplicity and compact size are priorities.

How to tell how many camshafts your V6 has

It’s straightforward to verify a specific engine’s cam count if you know what to look for.

• Check the spec sheet or owner’s manual: If it says DOHC and the engine has two cylinder heads, it’s almost certainly four cams. If it says SOHC on a two-head V6, it’s two cams. If it says OHV/pushrod, it’s one cam.
• Count the cylinder heads: Two heads plus DOHC usually equals four cams; one head (as in a VR6) plus DOHC equals two cams.
• Look for timing hardware: Belt/chain drives at the front or back of each head often hint at overhead cams, while a single central timing chain/gear set often indicates a cam-in-block pushrod design.

These checks quickly narrow down the architecture and, by extension, the number of camshafts—no tear-down required.

Bottom line

A V6 does not inherently have four camshafts. It can have one, two, or four depending on whether it’s OHV, SOHC, or DOHC and whether it uses one or two cylinder heads. Many modern V6s are DOHC with four cams, but plenty of widely used engines are SOHC with two cams or pushrod with a single cam.

Summary

A V6 can have four camshafts, but that’s true only for DOHC designs with two cylinder heads. SOHC V6s have two cams, pushrod V6s have one, and narrow-angle single-head designs like the VR6 typically have two. The camshaft count is a function of valve-train architecture, not the V6 layout itself.

How many camshafts does a V6 have?

A V6 engine generally has two or four camshafts, depending on the engine’s design: a SOHC (Single Overhead Camshaft) V6 has one camshaft per cylinder bank for a total of two, while a DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) V6 has two per cylinder bank for a total of four. Some older or specific V6 engines are OHV (Overhead Valve) and use a single camshaft in the engine block.
 
V6 Camshaft Options

• One or two camshafts (OHV/Pushrod engines): Opens in new tabThese engines have the camshaft located in the engine block, with pushrods and rockers operating the valves. 
• Two camshafts (SOHC engine): Opens in new tabA single overhead camshaft engine has one camshaft per cylinder bank, for a total of two camshafts. 
• Four camshafts (DOHC engine): Opens in new tabA double overhead camshaft engine has two camshafts in each cylinder head, resulting in a total of four camshafts. One set operates the intake valves and the other operates the exhaust valves. 

Key Differences

• DOHC vs. SOHC: Opens in new tabDOHC engines have a camshaft for the intake valves and another for the exhaust valves on each cylinder bank, allowing for better valve control and potentially more valves per cylinder. 
• V-type engines: Opens in new tabBecause a V6 engine has two banks of cylinders, it requires either one camshaft for each bank (SOHC) or two camshafts per bank (DOHC) to operate the valves. 

What engines have four camshafts?

Therefore there are two camshafts for a straight engine and a total of four camshafts for a V engine or a flat engine.

Is the V6 a 4-cylinder engine?

No, a four-cylinder engine is not a V6; a four-cylinder engine has four cylinders arranged in a line, while a V6 engine has six cylinders arranged in two banks of three, forming a “V” shape. The primary difference is the number of cylinders: four versus six. 
Here are the key distinctions:

• Number of Cylinders: A four-cylinder engine has four cylinders, whereas a V6 engine has six cylinders. 
• Engine Configuration:
  • Four-cylinder engines: are typically “inline-four” engines, meaning the cylinders are arranged in a single, straight line. 
  • V6 engines: have their six cylinders organized into two banks of three, with the banks set at an angle to each other to create a “V” shape. 
• Performance Characteristics:
  • V6 engines: generally produce more horsepower and torque than four-cylinder engines due to having more cylinders, which can provide more power and a smoother power delivery. 
  • Four-cylinder engines: are often more fuel-efficient and fit well in smaller vehicles, though adding a turbocharger can significantly boost their power. 

How many banks does a V6 have?

The V6 is made up of six cylinders arranged in the shape of a “V” with two banks of three cylinders.