Engine or Motor....... which is it?????

Junkman · Dec 6, 2003

I was just reading a post in another forum and came across this .........

( This is going to seem really picky, but the terms "cement" and "concrete" are not interchangeable. Cement is a component of concrete, not the final mixture. If you actually poured cement, you would have a big, cracky mess.

Sorry ***, it's not just you that does that - tons of folks do and I know what they mean but it bothers me. )

We all at some time or another use an incorrect term to describe something...... Now for the question... is that big thing under the hood of your tractor .... you know the one that has the cylinders casted into it.... is it a motor or engine??? Your opinion please. I know that common day practice is to call it either... what do you call it and why?????

Docsknotinn · Dec 6, 2003

engines run on fuel. motors run on electricity, at least thats always what I was tought.

DaveNH · Dec 6, 2003

Gas motor engine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RobertN · Dec 6, 2003

I read somewhere that the engine in a old tractor may be stuck, but the motor in the old pickup is frozen. .. tried to find it my library of tractor books, but have not found it yet; I think it was a Roger Welsch book.

chim · Dec 6, 2003

I thought it had something to do with an engine converting fuel to motion, and a motor converting one form of energy (electricity, hydraulic pressure, etc.) to motion. Been a long time since school.................chim

Gary_in_Indiana · Dec 6, 2003

My Dad grew up on a farm, later ran the farm, served five years in the military all over the world and returned here as a mechanic, a field in which he worked over half a century. He always said motors were electric and engines burned fuel so that's always been my position.

I often hear people talk about a new motor for a car or truck yet never hear someone talk about a new engine for an exhaust fan or anything like that. It seems the terms are only partially interchangeable. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I wonder why that is? Could it be because we use "motor oil" to lubricate our engines and "motor mounts" to set them in place?

em14 · Dec 6, 2003

Internal Combustion Engine: a heat engine in which the combustion that generates the heat takes place inside the engine proper instead of in a furnace.
Motor: use’s external source of energy conversion.
Is the way I remember ...
Leo

jinman · Dec 6, 2003

Chim, I'm with you on the definition, but then it starts to break down when you talk about "steam engines" because they would seem to be motors by your/our definition. I think you have to add something like the energy being directly converted inside an engine, but a motor gets energy from a magnetic field around the armature. I guess that makes a windmill also a motor doesn't it? Perhaps it's the location of the fuel. In the case of steam engines, the steam would be cosidered the fuel. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif ...it's all Junkman's fault. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

frank_f15 · Dec 6, 2003

ENGINES are what is used in tractors, cars, etc. motors are what operates your vacumme cleaner.at least that is what i was always taught.

frank_f15 · Dec 6, 2003

( ...it's all Junkman's fault.
)
YOU ARE RIGHT! it is junkmans fault! lets all go over to his house and have a CHRISTMAS PARTY and send him the bill! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

all in favor say AYE!