Difference between engine and transmission

The main difference between the engine and the transmission is that an engine is a machine that converts different forms of energy into mechanical energy, while the transmission is the machine that controls the use of the energy produced by an engine in a transmission system of power.

Engine versus transmission

We use different types of machines in our daily life to facilitate our work. For example, a car, a washing machine, a sewing machine, etc. These machines are made up of different parts that have different functions.

Similarly, the engine and transmission are two systems that are present in larger machines. Here, the motor is a machine that is used to convert different forms of energy into mechanical energy to perform different functions. On the other hand, a transmission is a machine that is used to control energy use in a power transmission system.

There are different types of engines like a heat engine; produces mechanical energy through heat by burning fuel in a combustion chamber. Also, the electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical motion, etc. On the other hand, the transmission refers to the gearbox that includes gear trains and gears. They play their role in converting torque and speed from a rotating power source to another device.

The engine is rated by power input and output, while the transmission is rated by how the gear shift is accomplished, that is, manual or automatic.

Comparative chart

The term “motor” comes from an Old French word ” engin” and from the Latin “ingenium”, that is, the root of the word ingenious. It is a machine that is used to transform different forms of energy into mechanical energy.

A motor is also known as a motor. These two words have different meanings, but are used interchangeably. The term motor is derived from the Latin word ‘moto’, which means ‘to set in motion’ or ‘to keep moving’. So the motor is a device that causes movement. The term engine was first used at the time of the invention of the internal combustion engine to separate it from the steam engine.

Engine types

A motor can be classified on the basis of two different criteria, that is, the form of energy that a motor can use to cause movement, and the second is the type of movement produced by the motor. Therefore, there are different types of motors, that is, heat motors, physical power motors, electric motors, and hydraulic motors, etc.

• A heat engine causes the combustion of fuel to produce heat. This heat then turns into strength. Some common examples of heat engines are present in nuclear rockets, automobiles, wristwatches, and submarines.
• Electric motors are motors that run on electricity, that is, they use electrical energy to cause mechanical movement. Dynamo, machine tools, household appliances, industrial fans and generators, etc. are examples of electric motors.
• Myosins or molecular motors are found in muscles. They use chemical energy to produce force to cause movement.
• A hydraulic motor is a type of motor that uses pressurized fluid to get it moving. They are used primarily to cause movement and move heavy loads.
• Physical propulsion engines are those that run on kinetic or potential energy. These motors include rubber bands, air motors, and clockwork motors, etc.

A machine in a power transmission system that controls the use of the power produced by an engine is known as a transmission. According to British English, the term transmission refers to the entire powertrain consisting of a gearbox, driveshaft (for rear-wheel drive), clutch, differential, and final drive shafts, etc. But, according to American English, transmission refers to the gearbox alone.

The simplest transmissions are also known as gearboxes. The transmission uses different gears and gears to divide the speed and torque conversions coming from a rotating power source to a different device.

A typical transmission system is made up of a large number of gears or multiple gear ratios with the ability to shift between these gears with increasing or decreasing speed. Gear shifting can be done automatically or manually. The transmission is classified according to how the gear shift is accomplished, that is, manual or automatic. In most motorized vehicles, forward and reverse control can also be integrated.

In cars, the transmission is primarily linked to the engine crankshaft with the help of a clutch coupling, flywheel or fluid, etc. The wheels are driven by the transmission output which is transferred through the driveshaft to the differentials. In addition to gear reduction, the main function of a differential is to allow the wheels to rotate at changing speeds at both ends of an axle, while causing the change in the direction of rotation.

Key differences

1. A machine that converts different forms of energy into mechanical energy to perform different functions is known as a motor, while a machine that controls the use of the energy produced by a motor in a power transmission system is known as a transmission.
2. There are different types of motors, for example, heat engine, electric motor, and hydraulic motors, etc. These motors convert different forms of energy into mechanical energy to do different jobs. On the other hand, transmission refers to the gearbox that includes gear trains and gears etc. They change the torque and speed from one rotating power source to another device.
3. The motor is classified by the energy input and output. On the other hand, the transmission is classified by how the gear shift is achieved, that is, manual or automatic.

The above discussion summarizes that a motor is a machine that is used to convert different forms of energy into mechanical energy to perform different functions, for example, heat engine, electric motor, etc. On the other hand, the transmission is the machine that is used. to control the application of the power produced by the motor.