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