The main power plant in a car is typically an internal combustion engine. Which is at times slangily referred to as a motor. Now should a motorcycle be called an enginecycle?
_______________________ “There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.” ― Frank Zappa
Posts: 1969 | Location: Douglas County, Colorado | Registered: July 13, 2009
Depends on the nationality and language. I see a lot of equipment that uses both terms, and some that use neither, instead referring to the engine as a powerplant.
Some like to get snobby and say that only the generator or alternator is a motor, but it ain't so.
Gotta be a motor, everyone calls um motors on Tee Vee and on the interwebs, "what motor ya putting in that thing", "dang that's a big motor", "we've got ten minutes to finish 7 weeks of work, includin' puttin in the motor"
so they's gotta be motors
Engines are at the front of trains.
Posts: 24873 | Location: Gunshine State | Registered: November 07, 2008
Let's ask General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Bavarian Motor Works, Honda Motor Company, KIA Motors Corp, Mitsubishi Motors Corp, Mazda Motor Corp, Nissan Motor Corp, Toyota Motor Corp, etc.
Posts: 4096 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: August 16, 2003
Originally posted by SBrooks: I always thought that motor meant electric and engine meant combustion.
I was taught the above many, many years ago. An electric drill or sewing machine has a motor. A car or truck has an engine (of course, this was well before hybrid vehicles, etc.).
_______________________________________ Flammable, Inflammable, or Nonflammable....... Hell, either it Flams or it doesn't!! (George Carlin)
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
My grandfather and his brothers rebuilt the motor of the family Model T on the kitchen table. I'm not sure how old school you have to be to call it an engine. All of their boats had motors as well. Scott-Atwater was their preferred brand.
Posts: 12290 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007
