what is it

ken in texas · Apr 5, 2009

What is it? a motor or engine.Igot a little fun poked at me for calling a tractor engine a motor.So what is the proper term?Seems like it depends on who you are talking.I kinda shift back and forth.There are steam engines ,. electric motors,Ford and General Motors. So what do you think about it,engine motor or both.?

GA Dave · Apr 5, 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine

usetob · Apr 5, 2009

motor, unit that supplies power or motion (verb)
engine, machine that converts energy into mechanical motion (websters)

most people say engines are in cars, trucks, tractors etc.
there again most people say motors are eletric

so I would say both is right...............

Don-Wi · Apr 5, 2009

Back in high school tech ed class we were told motors were electric, engines were internal cumbustion.

Corse I still use either or for engines. An electric motor always was and always will be a motor.

Donovan from Wisconsin

ericlb · Apr 5, 2009

'engines', can be internal or external cumbustion and are powered by some kind of fuel that causes the explosion, which does the work, 'motors' are either electric or hydraulic powered, its easier if you picture old trains, there are steam engines, [ locomotives] nobody ever called then 'steam motors' but electric trolly cars were powered by 'electric motors', not 'electric engines'

Sid · Apr 6, 2009

In my early days of the maturing process,we had gasoline motors in our cars and tractors. Steam engines were a thing of the past and gasoline motors had made great strides in becoming used in cars and tractors. I remember that diesel motors were not very common. So you call it what you want but when I hear someone say "gasoline motor" I"ll know he"s probably been around for awhile. I used get a chuckle when a certain guy around here (who is gone now) would correct some on and "say no it"s not a motor, it"s an engine". But the first thing he would say when someone would get a new car is "what motor did you get in it?" So for those of who think engine is the only "correct" term,don"t be surprised when a newer generation comes along and replaces the term engine with something else.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 6, 2009

What it boils down to is;
What region you are in at the time.
And as I view it,any fool that insists on trying to pass around their opinon on another,s way of speeking during causul conversation doesn,t deserve consideration.
I found it refreshing when Sara Palin said "YOU BETSYA"

Anonymous-0 · Apr 6, 2009

electric motor, gas/diesel engine. Probably depends on where you are from compared to the people you are talking to and your generation.
I grew up on a little river where a creek flowed into it. I heard that creek called a stream, creek, branch, and crick.

Dave

oliver power · Apr 6, 2009

That's how I was also taught. Yet, I've always herd the term "Boat Motor", or "Motor Boat". Also, the engine that come out of a motor boat.

james rumph · Apr 6, 2009

Well they get me for wanting to put gas in the big truck !!!

I know dam well it takes diesel , i just have always said gas.

But the correct term is "fuel" your going to put fuel in the truck.

The correct police.......

Anonymous-0 · Apr 6, 2009

(quoted from post at 03:27:02 04/06/09) That's how I was also taught. Yet, I've always herd the term "Boat Motor", or

"Motor Boat". Also, the engine that come out of a motor boat.

Probably because it's the whole assembly and not just the engine that moves (motors) the boat ???

Gas engine or rubber band motor on an airplane.

I'm sure glad that a beer is a beer (most places anyway)....................

Dave

Dick L · Apr 6, 2009

Electric Motors -- Fuel powered Engines.

Now that is that! It is settled!

Hold on! A funny thought???

Why is it that it aways a Boat Motor and it is fuel powered?

Hot Roders are Motor Heads??

Must be (term - in - knowledge - e)

^D

Ultradog MN · Apr 6, 2009

I think you guys have it right on the engine/ motor thing.
Except for one thing;
All too often they're infernal combustion engines. wink

Wilson · Apr 6, 2009

I don't care what it's called. What bothers me is calling a transmission a tranny. Advertised a 4x4 chassis for sale, guy asked if it was a berb. I didn't have a clue what he was talking about,turnout he was saying surburban. How about generators called gennys.What about asking someone a question or making a statment which would require a response and not getting an answer, to me very rude.

Wilson · Apr 6, 2009

ton of money in one dollar bills is one million 4 thousand . Aton of rain is not much as water is 8 lb/ gal Aton of people ,only 10 to 15 adults.What about asking someone distance to a spefic place and getting so many minutes?

RAB · Apr 6, 2009

I don't really care as long as an electric motor is not referred to as an engine!

One that does bug me is calling a cell a battery. They just don't understand the English language.

Regards, RAB

pete black · Apr 6, 2009

how many pushups did you have to do in the army for calling a rifle a gun instead of a weapon?
heard this recited a few times; this is my weapon, this is my gun, this is for fighting, this is for fun.

msb · Apr 6, 2009

Motors get their power from an external source. i.e. Electricity.

Engines develop their own power as in a gasoline engine.

A friend will always correct you if you say cement instead of concrete. He will say cement is what holds concrete together. Of course he owns a concrete plant.lol.

garytomaszewski · Apr 6, 2009

engine= internal combustion. Steam ENGINE ???????

rrlund · Apr 6, 2009

But...isn't gasoline the external source that makes the gas motor run? It won't run without it and it doesn't produce its own.

garytomaszewski · Apr 6, 2009

It's becoming cervasa(sp?) a lot more around here.

Fordman6442 · Apr 6, 2009

Well to settle this you should check it on a search "ENGINE" like google. Or is it a search "MOTOR"? Don from Canada

Anonymous-0 · Apr 6, 2009

Id have to agree, gas=engine electric= motor. You dont say the windshield wiper engine went out on my truck, I call it a wiper motor!

northener · Apr 6, 2009

Have yall ever heard of a outboard boat engine, naw its a outboard motor?

northener · Apr 6, 2009

Have yall ever heard of a outboard boat engine, naw its a outboard motor?

Mike (WA) · Apr 6, 2009

And this comment from the land of spanners and bonnets ;>)

Best "Britishism" I've heard lately was from a Scottish lady- her dad in Scotland worked for their local street dept., and in winter drove a "grit lorry"- we call them sand trucks.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 6, 2009

Yep, I guess its six to one, half a dozen to another.

cornfarmer · Apr 6, 2009

I have never heard of an electric engine. An outboard "motor" is unique in that it refers to both an engine and propulsion unit. Too many people are not specific in their speech and count on the listener to sort it out. I had a boss tell an employee to gas up a rented boom lift, so he did. Too bad, since it was a diesel. It had been around a while, and he assumed the employee knew what he meant. A lot of people complain about the "correct police", but would you call a hammer a screwdriver and expect people to know what you were talking about?

richardinnz · Apr 7, 2009

Yeah, but a grit lorry spreads salt! lol.

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