What is the Difference Between an Engine and a Transmission?
2 Answers
Engine and transmission differ in their nature: the engine is the power source of a car, with most automotive engines being thermal power devices, commonly referred to as heat engines; the transmission changes the gear ratio to expand the torque and speed of the driving wheels. The car engine is the device that provides power to the vehicle, serving as the heart of the car, determining its power, fuel efficiency, stability, and environmental friendliness. Depending on the power source, car engines can be categorized into diesel engines, gasoline engines, electric vehicle motors, and hybrids, among others. The transmission mainly refers to the car's gearbox, which is divided into manual and automatic types. Manual transmissions primarily consist of gears and shafts, achieving speed and torque changes through different gear combinations; automatic transmissions (AT) are composed of a torque converter, planetary gears, a hydraulic torque variation system, and a hydraulic control system, achieving speed and torque changes through hydraulic transmission and gear combinations.
I've been driving for many years. The engine is like the heart of a car. It burns gasoline or diesel to generate power, making the car accelerate when you press the gas pedal. In contrast, the transmission is like a smart assistant. It uses sets of gears to adjust the speed and power delivered by the engine—more force is needed when climbing hills, while cruising on flat roads is easier. With a manual transmission, I shift gears myself, while an automatic transmission does the work for me. A bad engine means the car won't move at all; transmission problems might cause slipping or rough shifting. For maintenance, the engine needs regular oil and filter checks, while the transmission requires periodic fluid changes—otherwise, repairs can be extremely costly. I think understanding this difference is practical for safer driving, especially when handling emergencies on long trips.
