Reciprocating piston engine, and method for operating a reciprocating piston engine

A method for operating a reciprocating piston engine having intake valves, exhaust valves, and an electronic valve controller, the method comprising:

• operating the reciprocating piston engine as a combustion engine, defining a first operating phase,
• operating the reciprocating piston engine in an overrun mode, defining a second operating phase,
• commencing a shutdown process of the reciprocating piston engine during which an engine speed decreases, defining a third operating phase,
• aborting the shutdown process of the reciprocating piston engine prior to an engine speed of zero and restarting the reciprocating piston engine, defining a fourth operating phase,
• transitioning to operating the reciprocating piston engine as a combustion engine, defining a fifth operating phase, and
• during a transition from the first operating phase to the second operating phase, the exhaust valves are shut off and control times of the intake valves are adjustably retarded to a first timing,
• during the third operating phase, the exhaust valves remain shut off and the control times of the intake valves are adjustably advanced from the first timing to a second timing, and
• during the fourth operating phase that aborts the third operating stage, the exhaust valves remain shut off and the intake valve are retarded from the second timing to a third timing.