cárter
/kaɾteɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "oil pan" is translated into Spanish as cárter.
cárter refers to the metal reservoir at the bottom of an engine that holds the lubricating oil.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Cárter de aceite is a form commonly used in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
cárter is a masculine noun, and its definite article is el.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaɾteɾ/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, cárter refers to both the oil pan and the entire engine block housing that protects the crankshaft, unlike English where 'oil pan' is specifically the bottom reservoir.
- While cárter is used globally, in some Caribbean dialects you may hear the term bandeja de aceite, which treats the engine part as a common household 'tray'.
- In some Latin American regions, a mechanic might use cárter to refer to the engine's protective skid plate, which is a separate structural component from the oil reservoir.
Examples in context
- La bandeja de aceite es una parte esencial del motor.The oil pan is an essential part of the engine.
- Desatornillas el cárter de aceite y lo reemplazas por uno nuevo.You unscrew the oil pan and replace it with a new one.
- La charola de aceite tiene una fuga.The oil pan has a leak.
- Hay que cambiar el cárter.The oil pan needs to be changed.
- El mecánico golpeó el cárter.The mechanic hit the oil pan.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are looking at a car engine in a garage.
- JavierMira, el cárter está muy sucio.Look, the oil pan is very dirty.
- Lucía¿Crees que esté roto, Javier?Do you think it is broken, Javier?
- JavierNo parece roto, solo tiene grasa.It doesn't look broken, it just has grease.
- LucíaEntonces vamos a limpiarlo ahora.Then let's clean it now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
