When you're talking about the mechanical device that you use to power something, they're the same thing. People just tend to use "engine" to refer to gasoline-powered ones and "motors" for electrical ones. They're interchangeable, though, you can talk about your gasoline-powered "car motor", or you can call the electric motor in your electric car an "engine".
2007-03-13 14:18:54
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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It's really just a matter of size, but it's not very scientific. Both use a power source (gasoline, electricity, etc) and create motion.
Motors are usually small to medium, while engines are medium to large in size. The motor on an electic fan is a motor; the motor on a car is either a motor or an engine; the motor on a locomotive is definitely an engine.
2007-03-13 14:19:04
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answer #2
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answered by Rando 4
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If I look in a car, I will usually find something that is powered by a liquid fuel such as gasoline, diesel, propane or natural gas. So I would call it a gasoline engine. I would also say that there is a motor in the vehicle - same device.
However, if I drive a golf cart powered from batteries, I would say that it has an electric motor, but I would not call it an electric engine.
2007-03-13 14:20:12
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answer #3
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answered by Thomas K 6
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Both provide rotational mechanical power.
However, a motor refers to an electric motor, which uses current and magnetism to rotate a rotor.
An engine generally refers to a thermodynamic device that converts chemical energy into mechanical rotation. For example, internal combustion engines burn gasoline to generate mechanical power.
One big difference is that an engine will generate a great deal of heat as a by product of the chemical reaction, while a motor only generates heat due to electrical or mechanical dissipation of heat.
2007-03-13 14:22:08
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answer #4
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answered by gaurav19671031 2
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For most people a motor is electrical and an engine is fuel powered. In fact, like motor cars and outboard motors, they are interchangeable.
2007-03-13 14:18:07
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answer #5
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answered by Mike1942f 7
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It goes way back to the history of the words themselves, has nothing to do with electricity or anything like that.
Engine is derived from German texts, where it means to power up.
Motor is derived from British to make motile or mobile thus to drive or power up also.
And due to fact that both were instrumental in development of power means they have been used interchangeably and mean about the same thing nowdays.
2007-03-13 15:56:02
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answer #6
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answered by James M 6
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Seems to me motors are electric but not all engines are.
2007-03-13 14:18:25
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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examine with vehicle Zone, NAPA or any vehicle factors keep. If the vehicles have been outfitted after 1996, they might desire to have a "D" connector (Mandated by employing regulation) which will reveal a diagnostic code while related to the code reader. interpreting the code will contain somewhat analyze.
2016-12-19 04:52:44
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answer #8
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answered by ? 3
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usaually motors are electric
2007-03-13 14:18:37
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answer #9
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answered by MrKnowItAll 3
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