The present invention relates to methods of improving engine braking of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine by variable valve actuation. A closed dome end of the sputter target is comprised of a first crystallographic orientation and sidewalls of the sputter target are comprised of a crystallographic orientation different from that of the dome. An amplitude andor phase counter may be incremented if the measured amplitude andor phase lies outside the range of the reference amplitude andor phase respectively. A fuel control module provides and disables fuel to the first and second ones of the cylinders, respectively.