Engine or Motor... What do YOU call it?

[The Tool Tyrant]

I know it shouldn't bother me, but why do people call an internal combustion engine a MOTOR? I've never heard anyone call an electric motor an ENGINE!

It seems to me that it's becoming more prevalent, most all of the folks on current automotive related shows on TV call engines motors. It bugs me. Maybe I just need another beer.

 

[TheBigMortboski]

It's one of those things that bugs me too. After taking a year of journalism in college, a lot of misnomers like that bug me.

 

[jallyn]

An internal combustion engine is one type of motor. See Webster definition below:

Definition of motor
1
: one that imparts motion; specifically : prime mover
2
: any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: such as
a : a small compact engine
b : internal combustion engine; especially : a gasoline engine
c : a rotating machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy
3
: motor vehicle; especially : automobile

 

[bert1913]

Engine= combustion
Motor= electrical

 

[vavet]

Engine= combustion
Motor= electrical

Yep...unless you're talking about racing....then it's a motor. Don't know why, it just is.

BMW would sometimes call a small electric motor (such as a seat adjustment motor) an engine in their parts catalog. Of course, they would also issue instructions to say "inspect the fuel system for leaks using a torch." A torch, in the queen's English is what we yanks call a flashlight. An air conditioning system receiver-dryer was a "dehumidifying flask."

 

[Adam.C]

Engine= combustion
Motor= electrical

Nope. Motors move stuff- create motion. Engines convert one type of energy into mechanical energy. So an electric engine takes electricity and creates motion. Electric motors are engines technically. but I don't call them that.

 

[Skin]

They can be interchanged. Motor is more universal.

Both words pre-date association with electric or combustion devices.

 

[LAROKE]

This has been going on since before any of us were born. Many automotive publications have "Motor" in their title such as "Motor Trend". Ya just have to live with it.

I calls 'em engines unless I'm refering to a nickname lke "Rat Motor".

 

[lakeroadster]

It's all good

They called them a "mill" back in the day..

Growing up our click of hoodlum hot rodder friends always said motor.

But nowadays... cars can have both, in the same vehicle.

 

[pi_guy]

PU
Power unit

 

[Bagherra]

I hate it when people call helicopters "choppers"..

 

[2oolhound]

I hate it when people call helicopters "choppers"..

Hear hear, they're Whirlybirds.

 

[Ign]

It's essentially slang in the mechanical world. Who cares?

There's a difference between slang when the understanding is there and incorrect terminology.

For instance, a spring hanger and a shackle are two different things. If you tell me you want your spring hanger removed I'm going to start torching rivets. If you want your shackle removed that's another matter.

Likewise if you want a hitch you want what attaches to a truck frame. If you want a ball mount or a drawbar that's VERY different.

But if you tell a mechanic you want your motor rebuilt they're gonna know what you mean. Anything else on the vehicle must be preceded by the appropriate description, such as blower motor or power window motor.

 

[coldh2o]

Nope. Motors move stuff- create motion. Engines convert one type of energy into mechanical energy. So an electric engine takes electricity and creates motion. Electric motors are engines technically. but I don't call them that.

Correct. For all you "motor=electrical only" folks, please explain:

Ford Motor Company
General Motors
motorcycle
outboard motor
Detroit, Motor City
etc...

 

[kythri]

Steppenwolf wasn't referring to an electric motor in "Born to be Wild"

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Engine= combustion

Like a siege engine such as a catapult?

Motor= electrical

Like a rocket motor?

 

[md21722]

You might be a tool polisher if you don't think "motor" can be electrical or combustion?

 

[franzdom]

OP, you are ok, wait until you get tweaked when people say ft-lbs for torque when it is supposed to be lb-ft. That's when you are proper OCD like me.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Correct. For all you "motor=electrical only" folks, please explain:

Ford Motor Company
General Motors
motorcycle
outboard motor
Detroit, Motor City
etc...

A search engine is powered with electricity.

 

[Olafur]

And what do you guys call this thing?

 

[b7labelle]

Engine = converts chemical energy into usable work
Motor = converts electrical energy into usable work

After 6 years in the commercial truck industry, I have NEVER heard an representative from any supplier/OEM refer to their respective engines (diesel, gasoline, LP, CNG, mixed fuel) as 'motors'.

Like a rocket motor?

*twitch*

 

[b7labelle]

And what do you guys call this thing?

Oh that right there is your wheel since it spins, obviously.

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

And what do you guys call this thing?

It's a front rear end!

 

[b7labelle]

It's a front rear end!

Well it's from a rear drive electric engine vehicle, so yeah - you're right!

 

[sberry]

And what do you guys call this thing?

Old junk,,,,, hahahahaha couldn't resist.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Engine = converts chemical energy into usable work
Motor = converts electrical energy into usable work

After 6 years in the commercial truck industry, I have NEVER heard an representative from any supplier/OEM refer to their respective engines (diesel, gasoline, LP, CNG, mixed fuel) as 'motors'.

Does using motor oil for lubrication void their warranty?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

If Motorcycles and Tesla have motors,

and Automobiles and Cars have engines,

what would You call a Prius ?

 

[kythri]

I've heard of motorboats, but never engineboats...

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

If Motorcycles and Tesla have motors,

and Automobiles and Cars have engines,

what would You call a Prius ?

ROADKILL!

 

[bert1913]

There is not a right or wrong answer. The question is what do YOU call it

 

[b7labelle]

Does using motor oil for lubrication void their warranty?

I guess I've always referred to it as Engine Oil.

Now looking at AutoZone's website, I find it interesting that they have 'engine oil' under the category of 'Motor Oil and Transmission Fluid'...

http://www.autozone.com/motor-oil-and-transmission-fluid/engine-oil

Now if you put engine oil in your motor....

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Where does the attempt to distinguish the difference between motors and engines come from? If we consider an engine a device of human engineering (ingenuity) and a motor as a device which supplies motion, then the device which gets a car moving is both a motor and an engine. Clearly, the motorcar and motorcycle manufacturers of the early 1900s weren't aware of such a distinction. Neither were the locoMOTIve engine manufacturers.

Somewhere along the way, some pedantic jackass decided to muddy the water. What useful purpose does it serve to make the energy source the distinction between a motor and an engine? If we need to make the difference clear, we can simply call the device a gas engine or an electric motor, if we choose.

But there are motors that are not engines and there are engines which are not motors. Biologists describe something called a molecular motor, for example. They exist without human ingenuity.

And is a search engine not a product of human ingenuity without mechanical motion? I think linking the word engine to some product of engineering entirely acceptable. Even preferable.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I guess I've always referred to it as Engine Oil.

Now looking at AutoZone's website, I find it interesting that they have 'engine oil' under the category of 'Motor Oil and Transmission Fluid'...

http://www.autozone.com/motor-oil-and-transmission-fluid/engine-oil

Now if you put engine oil in your motor....

Amsoil lists diesel oil as a subgroup of motor oil:

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/motor-oil/diesel/

 

[Zeke]

Only bothers me if someone says electric mortar.

 

[APEowner]

When I'm talking with other engineers I call it an engine. When I'm talking to other racers I call it a motor. I never know what to call it when I'm talking to racers who are also engineers.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Cousin Ole burnt up His computer yesterday.. He heard about the hi-speed internet, and decided to give it a try. He figured that using aviation gas in His search engine would help.

 

[gdocktor3]

Why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway?????

 

[leg17]

I always heard this:

Motor uses a fully developed power source, as the electric current used in 'electric motor'.

Engine is involved in fully developing the power source as the spark induced explosion of pressurized gasoline in 'gasoline engine'.

Windmills were correctly called 'aeromotor'.

A steam engine then would technically be a steam motor and the 'motor' in my car would technically be an engine.

But, of course, nobody listens to me anyway. LOL

 

[mbshop]

Calling a combustion device a motor never made sense to me nor my technical school instructors. So electrical is motor and combustion is engine. Just me.

 

[Rarified27]

I call it a motor, because I'm from Philly and people look at me funny when I say "In-jin".