Flow characteristics of a compressible gas flow through a rotating disc-type rotary valve are investigated experimentally under various conditions. It is known that the mass flow rate through poppet valves of 4-stroke cycle engines and through piston valves of 2-stoke cycle engines decrease with increase in engine speed. Rotary valve is one means by which air may be made to flow inter-mittently through a pipe. In this paper an exhaust system simulator of engine was used to experi-mentally analyze the decrease in flow rate at high rotation speeds and to determine what variables other than rotational speed give rise to the observed behaviour. These variables have been included in an empirical equation which is representative of the measured flow characteristics.