Method for operating a reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine

A method for operating a reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection. Injecting fuel in a lower part-load range, for the formation of a heterogeneous mixture, with a higher injection pressure centrally into a working space or a piston recess shortly before top dead center, or, optionally, in the case of very early injection (crank angle of 180° to 20° before top dead center), forming locally an ignitable homogeneous mixture with homogeneous combustion by defined charge stratification, controlled air movement in the cylinder and injection pressure combined with timed injection; injecting fuel in a middle part-load range, for a formation of a homogeneous mixture, with a lower injection pressure in a phase with a crank angle of 180° to 20° before top dead center; and injecting part of the fuel, in an upper part-load range (23) and/or full-load range, first, for the formation of a homogeneous mixture, with a lower injection pressure into the working space or the piston recess in a phase with a crank angle of 180° to 20° before top dead center and, injecting the rest of the fuel, for the formation of a heterogeneous mixture, with a higher injection pressure into the working space or the piston recess in a phase around top dead center.