OHV
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Off-highway vehicle |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
OHV has two meanings. It stands for Off-highway vehicle (automotive) or Overhead valve (automotive).
Meanings of OHV at a glance
| # | OHV stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Off-highway vehicle | Transportation & Travel › Automotive |
| 2 | Overhead valve | Transportation & Travel › Automotive |
1. Off-highway vehicle
Transportation & Travel · Automotive Abbreviations
Vehicle designed for off-road recreation, such as an all-terrain vehicle, side-by-side, dirt bike or dune buggy. US states and federal land agencies designate OHV trails and often require registration stickers or permits.
Example: You need a state OHV sticker to ride the dunes at Oceano, even with a rented quad.
Also called off-highway or off-road vehicle (ORV). Many states fund trail maintenance through OHV registration fees. Age, helmet and spark-arrestor rules vary by state. The same letters describe the overhead-valve engine design, which context easily distinguishes.
2. Overhead valve
Transportation & Travel · Automotive Abbreviations
Engine design with valves in the cylinder head operated by pushrods from a camshaft in the engine block, also called a pushrod engine. OHV designs are compact and produce strong low-end torque, as in the GM small-block V8.
Example: The Corvette's OHV V8 is lower and lighter than many DOHC rivals of similar power.
General Motors and Chrysler still build OHV V8s for trucks and performance cars, including the Chevrolet small-block and the Hemi. Critics say pushrods limit high-rpm breathing, but the compact package lowers the hood line and center of gravity. In recreation, OHV means off-highway vehicle, a different meaning.
Related abbreviations
More automotive abbreviations
- MT – Manual transmission
- NACS – North American Charging Standard
- NCAP – New Car Assessment Program
- OBD – On-board diagnostics
- OBD-II – On-board diagnostics II
- OEM – Original equipment manufacturer
- OTA – Over-the-air updates
- OTD – Out-the-door price
- PCM – Powertrain control module
- PCV – Positive crankcase ventilation
- PDK – Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (Porsche dual-clutch transmission)
- PHEV – Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle