A liquid cooling arrangement for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with a cylinder head connected thereto and defining at least one combustion chamber, a common exhaust passage extending through the cylinder block and an exhaust passage leading from each combustion chamber to the common exhaust passage, is disclosed. The liquid cooling arrangement includes a pump for pumping cooling liquid from a cooling liquid source first through at least one passage extending through the cylinder head generally adjacent the exhaust passages leading from the combustion chambers, and through at least one passage extending through the cylinder block generally adjacent the common exhaust passage. Once the cooling liquid has passed through these passages, the cooling liquid is delivered to one or more passages extending through the cylinder head or block generally adjacent the combustion chamber(s). The cooling liquid then selectively passes a thermostat into a cooling liquid return line through which the cooling liquid is drained from the engine.