You’ve seen VTEC on cars, but what does VTEC mean? VTEC has to do with the valves in your engine that help dictate airflow, horsepower and fuel consumption. This Science Garage gets into Cams, lobes, lifters and more before narrowing in on how VTEC works. Cars have single cams, overhead cams, dual overhead cams and even triple overhead cams to help them do their jobs. VTEC is a unique variable cam design that has changed the way we think of engines… get ready, because VTEC just kicked in!