What is the difference in an Engine, and a Motor?

[DieselNuts]

I refuse to call an internal combustion engine a motor. The starter is a motor, the alternator can be a motor with modifications, but the engine is not a motor. It's an engine. Motors turn electrical energy into mechanical energy. Engines turn thermal energy into mechanical energy. Two completely different things.

I 100% agree with you on this. My auto mechanics teacher would refuse to answer anyone's question when they refered to the engine as a motor. He would usually reply, "what motor? the windshield wiper motor?" I thought it was pretty funny, but that brings me to my next point...Why is it called a MOTORcycle? I asked him and he didnt know. Honestly, I dont know if anyone does...

[speedminded]

Try Google Images:

Motor

Engine

I 100% agree with you on this. My auto mechanics teacher would refuse to answer anyone's question when they refered to the engine as a motor. He would usually reply, "what motor? the windshield wiper motor?" I thought it was pretty funny, but that brings me to my next point...Why is it called a MOTORcycle? I asked him and he didnt know. Honestly, I dont know if anyone does...

In the early years of automobiles in Europe they were called motorcars or motorcoach. You mentioned motorcycles but don't forget about motorboats too. So is it a boat engine or boat motor? They're internal combustion engines but most everyone refers to them as motors

Plus you have "motorsports" and don't forget about track names...Atlanta Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway, etc. But they're circle tracks so I write them off as ignorance

[DieselNuts]

Try Google Images:

Motor

Engine


In the early years of automobiles in Europe they were called motorcars or motorcoach. You mentioned motorcycles but don't forget about motorboats too. So is it a boat engine or boat motor? They're internal combustion engines but most everyone refers to them as motors

Plus you have "motorsports" and don't forget about track names...Atlanta Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway, etc. But they're circle tracks so I write them off as ignorance

lol, reps because of the last paragraph

[speedminded]

lol, reps because of the last paragraph

"Motor" can be used as a verb to describe motion too, that's why the English language is the most difficult, there is nothing "cut and dry" about it. Where the hell does "cut-and-dried" come from? lol

[DieselNuts]

"Motor" can be used as a verb to describe motion too, that's why the English language is the most difficult, there is nothing "cut and dry" about it. Where the hell does "cut-and-dried" come from? lol

lol, yeah, or tounge & groove?

[speedminded]

lol, yeah, or tounge & groove?

tongue and groove is from wood working...been around for a longgg time.

I guess cut-and-dried is referring to the simplicity of a hair cut but ionno

[DieselNuts]

tongue and groove is from wood working...been around for a longgg time.

I guess cut-and-dried is referring to the simplicity of a hair cut but ionno

well, i knew that, but where the hell did they come up with it? I mean seriously, who would think "tounge" when working with wood?