Internal combustion engine comprising at least four cylinders and method for optimizing gas exchanges in such an engine

The two outlet apertures of each cylinder (10, 20, 30, 40) each have separate exhaust pipes (14,15,24,25) which are not connected to one another but the outlet aperture of the leading outlet valve (12) of one cylinder is connected to the outlet aperture of the trailing outlet valve (13) of the previously ignited cylinder by means of an additional pipe (16) so that the additional pipe branches off from the exhaust pipe of the previous valve and on changing into the exhaust pipe of the following valve forms together with the exhaust pipe a jet pump (18) with a first flow cross section for an exhaust delivery stream and a second flow cross section for an exhaust stream which is to be delivered. The additional pipe opens into the exhaust pipe so that its mouth is surrounded by the exhaust pipe.