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

[tvtaurus]

I call it an engine (most of the time).

 

[bob15]

Engine= combustion
Motor= electrical

I guess Oilzum didn't get that memo 68 years ago when they printed this ad......

 

[bixxjs]

Engine,motor,power plant its all the same thing.

 

[four.cycle]

We called them "engines" when I was selling them. Like "cowboys and engines".
But then.... why is it that when you pour the lubricant into the engine it's "motor oil", but when you throw a connecting rod through the side of the oil pan and it's all over the road it's "engine blood"?

 

[bert1913]

is it potato or potato?

 

[2oolhound]

Doesn't a fire engine have a motor?

it's all really about horse power anyway...

 

[jfcasey]

If it's in an automobile I call it a motor, if it's in machinery it's and engine. I figure it's not often there's multiple motors in a car you could be referring to vs. The fact there could be 6 motors and an engine in a machine.

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[Pantsfall_McFixit]

Thanks to AvE, I call everything a choocher.

 

[dffay]

Great discussion. Reminds me to head to the Department of Motor Vehicles tomorrow for license renewal.

I know it's a bug for lots of people. We all have them. I hate hearing "hot water heater." If its hot water, why does it need heating? Water Heater......

 

[jl4c]

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!

How about an engine lathe?

 

[G-ManBart]

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.

There are internal combustion engines that are correctly called "motors" like outboard motors, but it really should only apply to those that have the fuel supply integral rather than a separate tank. Most folks call all outboards motors, when only some really should have that title. If the fuel tank is separate, it's an outboard engine.

It's really no worse that people calling wheels "rims" because they don't know better. A wheel has a rim, so the wheel can't be a rim, but you'll get folks arguing all day long that rim is an acceptable term for a wheel.

 

[G-ManBart]

If it's in an automobile I call it a motor, if it's in machinery it's and engine. I figure it's not often there's multiple motors in a car you could be referring to vs. The fact there could be 6 motors and an engine in a machine.

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I've never driven an automobile that didn't have multiple motors. The oldest car I've driven was a 1928, so maybe something earlier didn't have multiples.

Starter motor, wiper motor, headlight motor, headlight door motor, window motor, etc, etc....most modern cars have quite a few motors.

 

[Motorman55]

A good looking woman gets my motor running!

 

[American Locomotive]

I only use the term engine for internal (or external) combustion engines. I use the term motor for both electric motors and internal combustion engines.

 

[kwoswalt99]

Windmills were correctly called 'aeromotor'.

Windmills are neither.