Method for Operating an Internal Combustion Engine, in Particular of a Motor Vehicle

A method for operating an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion comprises:

• a cylinder and a piston which is received in the cylinder so as to be movable in translation;
• an exhaust valve and an intake valve assigned to the cylinder;
• a crankshaft via which a torque is providable by the internal combustion engine;
• an intake camshaft which is driveable by the crankshaft and has an intake cam for actuating the intake valve;
• an exhaust camshaft which is driveable by the crankshaft and has an exhaust cam and a decompression lift for actuating the exhaust valve;
• and comprising the steps of:
• first operating the internal combustion engine in a first operating state;
• and
• setting a second operating state, different from the first operating state, of the internal combustion engine by advancing the exhaust camshaft relative to the crankshaft by a value (WA) in comparison with the first operating state;
• wherein the exhaust valve is actuated by the exhaust cam and the decompression lift of the exhaust camshaft, whereupon, in the second operating state, the cylinder assumes a function of a decompression brake by compressing a first cylinder charge in the cylinder within a respective operating cycle of the internal combustion engine and then decompressing it by a first decompression travel (DH1) of the exhaust valve in a region of a charge exchange top dead center (LWOT);
• wherein in the second operating state, the intake camshaft is retarded relative to the crankshaft by a first value (WE1) which is in a range of greater than 80 degrees crank angle and up to at most 120 degrees crank angle after the charge exchange top dead center (LWOT) or wherein in the second operating state, the intake camshaft is retarded by a second value (WE2) which is in a range of 0 degrees crank angle to 20 degrees crank angle after the charge exchange top dead center (LWOT).