Introduced in 1953, it is commonly used on light aircraft such as the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee, and remains in production as of 2024.

The LIO-320 is a "left-handed" version with the crankshaft rotating in the opposite direction for use on twin-engined aircraft to eliminate the critical engine.

[2][3] The first O-320 (with no suffix) was FAA certified on 28 July 1953 to CAR 13 effective 5 March 1952; this same engine was later re-designated, without change, as the O-320-A1A.

A remotely mounted oil cooler is used, connected to the engine by flexible hoses.

[4] The 150 hp (112 kW) versions of the carbureted O-320, are approved for the use of 87 AKI automotive gasoline.