http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/engine.htm
For some reason I feel its easier to call it motor but I think the proper term is engine.

I saw this on silencertalk.

(I should've added option 3: a beast! )

 

wheres the "both" option?
but i normally call it an engine

 

r a n d o m

 

Whichever i see fit in a conversation.

 

Used to be before backwood rednecks like Larry Mac and Darrel Waltrip started announcing NASCAR that a motor was associated with electrical current feed and an engine was associated with internal combustion. I work for an engine manufacturer and can assure you nobody calls it a motor. Hot Rod Magazine calls them engines too. I went to a trades college for engine technology and my instructors dared anyone to call a combusion engine a motor....they would zero you out that day if he caught you saying it.

So in my world it's an engine.

 

My Firehawk has a bunch of motors inside, the starter, the wipers, the washer, the headlamp have one each, the windows. It only has one engine though, the LS1.

Next time someone is refferring to the engine as a motor take the opportunity to reffer to one of the motors as an engine. Then when they look at you all stuupid make the same look right back at them until they figure it out. "How much is a new window engine?" LOL "Man Dave blew his motor running to much spray." "Wow, how dirty was his windshield?" LOL

It's worked for me,
Vernon

 

ditto motors run off of electricity

 

"motors" are just not electricaly driven, they can also be driven by hydrolics as welll....^ my teacher told my clad the same thing..when motor comes into a sentence ur goin outa the class!...also went to a tech school

 

In engineering school we were also instructed to say "motor" only when talking about electrical devices. If combustion takes place, it is an engine.

 

that is true nineball a motor is really only ment for electronics, or power that dosnt combust. So if it is something that combust it is an engine

 

While most view "motor" as being electrical only, the definition of a motor includes it being an engine. It seems that an engine is a motor basically. Directly from websters dictionary:


Main Entry: Motor
1mo·tor Listen to the pronunciation of 1motor
Pronunciation:
\ˈmō-tər\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Latin, from movēre to move
Date:
1586

1: one that imparts motion; specifically : prime mover2: any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: as a: a small compact engine b: internal combustion engine; especially : a gasoline engine c: a rotating machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy3: motor vehicle; especially : automobile

 

AGREED 100%.

 

A motor consumes energy to do work while an engine develops it to do work.

Vernon

 

I guess the "DMV" f#cked up on their name, huh?

 

Where did u come up with that.???

 

Only LSx engines are engines. All other devices are motors.

 

I've always thought of "motors" as an electrical motor. But that doesn't go to say that I've never called my engine a motor

 

maybe burns gasoline for building energy????????/

 

this is a ridiculous poll since both engine and motor can be used interchangeably

 

Its not ridiculous. Its and interesting controversial poll. Some people wont agree with you that they can be used interchangeably as you said. So who's to say you're correct?