Library: US-British Technical TermsConfused by the terms used in a manual or article written across the pond? You're not alone, so here's a handy English - American translation guide. Now you too can confuse your local mechanic!
| English | American | English | American |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerator | Gas pedal | Locks | Latches |
| Aerial | Antenna | Methylated spirit | Denatured alcohol |
| Anti-roll bar | Stabiliser or sway bar | Motorway | Freeway, turnpike etc |
| Big-end bearing | Rod bearing | Number plate | License plate |
| Bonnet (engine cover) | Hood | Paraffin | Kerosene |
| Boot (for luggage) | Trunk | Petrol | Gasoline (gas) |
| Bulkhead | Firewall | Petrol Tank | Gas tank |
| Bush | Bushing | 'Pinking' | 'Pinging' |
| Cam follower / tappet | Valve lifter / tappet | Prise (force apart) | Pry |
| Carburettor | Carburetor | Propeller shaft | Driveshaft |
| Catch | Latch | Quarterlight | Quarter window |
| Choke/venturi | Barrel | Retread | Recap |
| Circlip | Snap-ring | Reverse | Back-up |
| Clearance | Lash | Rocker cover | Valve cover |
| Crownwheel | Ring gear (of differential) | Saloon | Sedan |
| Damper | Sock absorber, shock | Seized | Frozen |
| Disc (brake) | Rotor/disk | Sidelight | Parking light |
| Distance piece | Spacer | Silencer | Muffler |
| Drop arm | Pitman arm | Sill panel (beneath doors) | Rocker panel |
| Drop head coupe | Convertible | Small end, little end | Piston pin or wrist pin |
| Dynamo | Generator (DC) | Spanner | Wrench |
| Earth (electrical) | Ground | Valve Collet | Lock (valve spring retainer) |
| Engineer's blue | Prussian blue | Split pin | Cotter pin |
| Estate car | Station wagon | Steering arm | Spindle arm |
| Exhaust manifold | Header | Sump | Oil pan |
| Fault finding/diagnosis | Troubleshooting | Swarf | Metal chips or debris |
| Float chamber | Float bowl | Tab washer | Tang or lock |
| Free-play | Lash | Tappet | Valve lifter |
| Freewheel | Coast | Thrust bearing | Throw-out bearing |
| Gearbox | Transmission | Top gear | High |
| Gearchange | Shift | Torch | Flashlight |
| Grub screw | Setscrew, Allen screw | Trackrod (of steering) | Tie-rod (or connecting rod) |
| Gudgeon pin | Piston pin or wrist pin | Trailing shoe (of brake) | Secondary shoe |
| Halfshaft | Axleshaft | Transmission | Whole drive line |
| Handbrake | Parking brake | Tyre | Tire |
| Hood | Soft top | Van | Panel wagon/van |
| Hot spot | Heat riser | Vice | Vise |
| Indicator | Turn signal | Wheel nut | Lug nut |
| Interior light | Dome lamp | Windscreen | Windshield |
| Layshaft (of gearbox) | Countershaft | Wing/mudguard | Fender |
| Leading shoe (of brake) | Primary shoe | ||
| English | American | English | American |
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