Im just not sure....

[Meat]

Really stupid question but I was working on my website and this has been buggin' me...... what is the proper word to use when talking about the "powerplant" of an ATV?

 

Should it be called a "motor" or an "engine" ?

 

When I think "motor" I think electrical motors. Engine just doesnt sound right either.....

 

proper English isnt never been me strong point.

[FlatTrackin]

I always thought of a motor as an electrical motor. And an engine as anything that uses combustion, fuel, and spark.

 

I was into R/C cars a couple years ago.... The electric cars they were referred to as motors, never engines,, and with the Gas cars, they were always engines,, never called motors. Even in the magazines and ads, they never called the gas cares,,,,, motors,, they always used engine. So thats why i think that way.

[MULLET~BOY]

i call it a motor it's easy to spell too lol :oops:

[Battttttttt]

The correct terminology is engine. Instructors at schools I have attended in the past hated it when you referred to an internal combustion engine as a motor.

 

But, the majority of people will call them motors, I usually know what they are referring to, however the correct terminology is engine.

 

Bat

[blk02banshee]

I use both, depending on the situation, or conversation. Mostly motor, though.

example;

My banshee MOTOR runs like a top.

I put a new MOTOR in my truck.

 

Internal combustion ENGINES make a lot of power.

I dropped an ENGINE block on my foot.

[Holyman]

It would seem that according to RZ's definition a motor is an engine but an engine is not a motor.

Kinda like the whole square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not a square thing.

[BenBB]

I think you're safe either way, I've always preferred more colorful terms like "mill", and "jugs" for cylinders, "slugs" for pistons, etc.

 

As long as you're not using the more feminine descriptions like "doohickey" or "thingamabob" you won't catch any flak...

[boonman]

I was always taught that an internal combustion device was to be called an engine. A motor is an electrical motor, or that of the sort. Seeing Rz's description there, makes me thing twice though. I will have to research further to make my final choice, but untill then, it's an engine to me!!!!

[Nightrider]

I agree Boonman.

A motor runs on electricity and an engine runs on a type of fuel.

Thats also how I was taught.

 

But I do like the more colorful terms like mill,jugs,slugs,crashbox,hairdryers,laughing gas,flamethrower,pushers.

I spent waay to much time at the track when I was a kid.

[ledofthezep]

Motor would be appropriate,...But I kinda like Jimmy!

[clintopher-]

I heard from an electrician years ago that motors are electrical so I usually go with engine, but here's one for you. Anyone ever ridden an engincycle? Me either, rode plenty of motorcycles though.

 

Clint

[azsandrat]

I think that engine is the correct term, but I use motor. I think something like MONEY PIT is more appropriate. Its endless isn't it.

[mcaf29]

I agree with az. I think engine is the correct term but I use motor anyways. Its like when I was younger I would say "Change the station(TV) and my Dad would tell me its "Change the channel, stations are for radios" Its kinda the same deal where most people won't care but the few who are into semantics will call you on it.

[DUNE-A-TIC]

A motor doesn't have to be electrical,the term motor is something that is driven by another source of energy(other than its own).But,as it is used by so many in the other word usage,your not going to catch any flack(imo).The advertisement folks have been calling engines motors for many many years...

 

i.e.motorcycle/enginecycle sounds kinda' funny..

 

go for it.....