Having actual engineers and mechanics talk about how they initially did not know how to do anything on their first day has really boosted my confidence about choosing engineering. Thanks guys.
@@johnbenson4927 going into college this year I Plan to study mechanical (automotive ) engineering but not really sure exactly what i want to do within automotive field if it makes any sense, any advice?
@@cloroxlysolbleachwhipes8658 Yeah sure bro. My advice is go for a broad field of engineering, like Mechanical engineering. If you enter a very specific branch (like automotive) you'll end up forced to find jobs that revolve around that specific engineering branch and you will struggle looking for other options. The broader the field, the better. That's why Mechanical is one of the best choices you can make 😎
As a retired mechanical engineer, I found during my career that the best engineers love doing some wrenching! There's a synergy bringing that hands-on feeling of parts & tools that relates equations to the real world. When I was a kid, I could not stay away from disassembling, tuning, repairing & re-assembling all kinds of mechanisms, wondering about how they were made and why they worked or didn't. Maths & physics schooling provided many 'Aha!' experiences that answered long-brewing questions coupled with a recall of why materials felt the way they do at the end of a wrench or in motion. During my long career, I've mostly built my own prototypes to get a sense of how machines are assembled & serviced without the expletive-drenched experience of knowing bad design. I've worked on my own cars to save money & get a better feel for their strengths & weaknesses, and even got into autocross racing with my own home-brew, heavily modified cars to test my skills at both cranking bolts & making creative changes to improve performance; I learned that there's plenty of thoughtless design that came out of some overly academic automotive designer's limited imagination! I so often thought that engineers should always spend considerable time busting knuckles in almost physically impossible body positions like mechanics do. If they did, they'd design more sensible systems that can be serviced without cursing the damn engineer! As an engineer myself, I've been fairly successful at avoiding being the brunt of that cursing. Having been an avid amateur mechanic helped immensely.
I get that same sort of buzz working with computer code. Learned most of what I know looking at others work and seeing how they solved problems I've been having; or have had in the past, those are my 'aha' moments, happens almost on a daily basis, which is always awesome! For me growing up it was more wondering how everything around us came into existence and how it all works, really wish I spent more time tinkering with things instead of destroying them haha, the potential was there, but that's how I grew up. Sounds like you have a couple centuries on me, so I have a lot of work to do :D
I'm a retired aerospace technician with engineering education (didnt care about finishing the degree, just the knowledge). The only engineers I met worth a crap always did their own vehicle repairs for fun if anything. The guys that were afraid to use a drill press were awful, awful engineers. I could eyeball calculations better and faster. I got in trouble one time for telling my boss the spring was improperly sized on a relief valve... from all the way across the test yard. I saw the greenie engineer install it and knew it wouldn't work with a glance based upon my knowledge of the operating pressure, the spring stock size in relation to the standard fasteners for that flange, and the oring that he had me order a week earlier. My boss said it "wasnt possible" for me to make that kind of judgement, but I did. That intuitive knowledge only comes with direct application of your physical senses. The imagination part follows.
As an engineer, my best tool is the technician I work with. And I'm not saying that in any derogatory, "you're just a tool" kind of way. I mean it in the most humble, "I value your input" type of way. I have turned wrenches and I have learned to use new tools. In my first year as an engineer, I got to try the jackhammer, acetylene torch, and sandblaster, among others. Usually I try these things for no other reason than to demonstrate my dedication, interest, and curiosity to the technicians I work with. Doing so helps me to determine a couple of things: 1) how proficient is the technician, 2) can the technician teach others to do mundane jobs, and 3) is this task more of an 'art' or more of a 'labor'? Over time, you can develop a great relationship with coworkers that builds mutual respect and allows for simple and efficient communication of problems. You get less of the "the technician assembled it wrong" and "the engineer designed it wrong" type of finger-pointing scenarios. There do exist bad technicians. There do exist bad engineers. But when good meets good, careers can be accelerated and innovation can really happen.
Jason, how did you skip the classic Mechanical vs. Civil engineer joke??? Mechanical engineers design cool things like fighter jets and missiles. Civil engineers design targets!
Pwmwaree yodkamol - Your happiness at his happiness at their happiness, just...Well it just made me Cry with Happiness 😂- But more importantly, Your Happiness - Being Soo Happy when you've got - Pwmwaree yodkamol - It's so tragic that in the midst of your own suffering, You can Still be So Happy !! 😃 Damn you Gawd ! Why is it Always the Happy Ones !?! 😅😂😓😟😦😢😭😭😭😭 Keep Thinking Happy Thoughts Little One !😉😣
I did this exact route, I worked as a technician for 8 years while I worked on my degree and the hands on experience that you receive gave me a HUGE advantage over my other class mates when it came to finding internships and getting entry level jobs.
I'm currently doing an apprenticeship to qualify as a Mechanician and further my studies thereafter. Just got to be motivated because one has to work and study.
Aashish Bharat Don't do you apprenticeship at a dealership if you already are, as you learn minimal. Dealerships just get apprentices to change oil and filter all day everyday making a lot of money but not concerned about weather you learn new things on not. Work on a workshop where they deal with all vehicles so you learn a lot more. Then every single day you get a new challenging job.
This video is so true... I'm working at a Toyota dealership as an entry level tech. I'm actually going to school to become an electrician but I like cars and enjoy working on them. Anyways I've been an dealership culture for a long time and TheHumbleMechanic is on point. It's really cool to see people rise through the ranks and get what they deserve. Working on cars is incredibly difficult if you have no reference. However I have a buddy who is majoring in computer science. He's very smart and understands complex math like its no problem. However he is clueless when it comes to anything mechanical. It's funny how intelligence varies from people. I would say both are impressive in there own right.
+ler John One thing I can tell you is that 99% of engineers were bad at math and science at some point. Very, very, very few, are natural born good at math and science. It's a skill that must be learned.
+Engineering Explained Please can you do a video about the differences between bike and car engines ? Why bikes are so light but still economy isn't so good. Why are single piston engines more economical? How can 600 cc bike engines make so much power VS car engine?
+Jean Claude Decelis Easy stuff. Bike economy is better, and they go faster even with smaller engines, because the bikes are under 600 pounds usually, versus cars that are 2000 pounds or more. Power/weight ratio. Single cylinder thumper putting out like >50hp can easily outrun a 350-400HP car. Idk what you mean about bike economy NOT being good. Bike economy is great, depending on bike and engine, and driving habits of course. But in general you can get more out of a bike engine. Single piston is injecting fuel into a single cylinder, versus 3+cylinder car engines, injecting fuel into MORE than one cylinder. More fuel being injected into cylinders=more fuel NOT in your tank. More fuel being burned.
+Jean Claude Decelis 1) There actually isn't that a big difference in the engine itself, but biggest difference between car and bike engines is weight and compactness. To save weight, bike engines have integrated alternators and gearbox, etc. More lightweight techniques and materials tend to be used. This is also used to make bike engines rev higher, so they get more horsepower than a similar capacity car engine. 2a) bikes have VERY VERY BAD aerodynamics compared to cars, this "airdrag" causes more fuel consumption 2b)most or at least a lot of bike engines are much higher revving than car engines, this too increases fuel consumption 3) I don't really think single piston engines are more economical, I thought the (V-)Twins were, but however, thing is: The more moving parts in an engine or drivetrain, the more mechanical losses appear. A V12 has way more powerlosses than a 4 cilinder... Car engines tend to go to 3cilinder designs nowadays for smaller cars... Motorcycle engines have two main engine designs, VTWIN for choppers and "offroad" or touring bikes Straight 4 engines for naked and super/sportbikes 4) as said before, the higer the engine revs, the more horsepower per CC capacity
Funnily enough, old mechanics and old engineers seem to tend to migrate toward each other's fields. Old mechanics get a better grasp on theory and old engineers experience application "in the wild" so as to speak. These young fellas seem to have an early insight to each other's perspectives.
Awesome! I'm graduating in 97 days with my Mechanical Engineering degree. Very excited. Thanks for all the videos. Last year I worked for this solar panel company and I loved it when the technicians from the shop would come over and discuss what they wanted and giving feedback on our designs!
Your comments at 4:30 really hit home. It wasn't until the final year that they finally gave us a hands on project to work on. Probably a school cost saving measure.
All in all an engineer creates the product by using mathematics (science) and a mechanic built/rebuilt the product by using knowledge (experience)... Both are exhausting jobs!
Lifelong amateur mechanic who currently owns a Volkswagen. Current mechanical engineering student. Humble Mechanic, you have saved my bacon several times on my GLI. Engineering Explained, your videos are relatively simple as compared to my school, BUT, your channel has saved my bacon many a time simply because you make engineering fun again when I'm burnt out on a long study session. I love you both. Thank you.
every engineering student should go work "on the tools" for a year on the 2nd year just to see what works and what doesn't. That would also make him/her a great heckler on those senior year lectures:) I'm a mechanical engineer (10yrs) myself and a lot of my designs got "humbled down" by the guys on the field over the years...
+Kris Mier THIS! It was a requirement to be allowed to study engineering at my university. But we only had to do two months. I did 5 because I had more time. And it was really great, to learn all about the tools and how they work. And what the challenges you have to work around really are. If you just learn about it, you never fully understand why this or that is not practical in the real world.
Amen, amen :) I had this one guy on my year that had worked as a pipe-fitter every summer vacation for like 3 years and always envied his practical knowledge. Without it you are a butt of all site guys jokes for a good while:)
+kingcool26ify I believe he means that yes throughout your time in college it is only theory but of course when you get a real job you then are thrown into the real world applications
My education was in Computer Science. It was the same problem. A few years of programming projects. All summed up senior year with make this more complicated problem. But even then we didn't have a finished product project ever. So you leave with your degree with no concept on how a piece of software goes from start to finish. There are SO many things you don't know, that the real world does all the time. How are the files organised? How will we be accessing and storing data? What will the finished product look like? None of those things are touched in school. It's about history of programming and architecture.
Alex Ferraro yea same here. I'm a senior Computer Science (BS) and basically it has all been basic optimization and architecture and a ton of math both CS based and general. I'm only now in a software design class applying some things a lot more. I feel going into the workforce next year is going to be really crazy
A comparison video of computer science and engineering would be a better video. At least both are within the STEM world, but they are very different at the same time.
Gotta hand it to you HumbleMechanic, you took the time to reply and give insight to almost every comment on this video, even if it isn't your channel. Im so excited to enter the world of being a mechanic. Im leaving to Nashville Tennessee to enter the high power automotive program at NADC in July. I know its going to be such a challenging experience, but ive never been so excited to learn and expand my knowledge.
+DeadlyMountainPro I am a NADC graduate. Great school Respect your instructors. Pay attention. Go get an entry level position at a local dealership while you are in school. Get you diploma there. Go to community college to finish degree (if you still can).
Isaac RoDiesel at Auto Rescue Thank you for the advice! Whats really awesome is that they now have a program where you can get your associates while going through the trade school portion. I also was told they would be placing me in a job position while attending school which will serve as income and hands on experience, however its usually at a jiffy lube. Where you able to break away from that to get an entry level position at a dealership?
would you be willing to pay 5 grand extra in face value, it will probably save you thousands over the years. But how many people actually considers that when it comes to their finances.
Mohamed Osama it would probably be an electric car and be called a Tesla. Well, I believe their MPG is actually higher than 50, and I guess it would depend where you get your electricity. Hooking it up to a bunch of solar panels would essentially mean no fossil fuels are expended in the use of your car.
Thank you so much for making this video. I'm a sophomore engineering student and among these endless math and physics classes, it's easy to get lost and lose sight of what I'm working for. Hearing you both talk about your work is motivating.
Test engineer, field engineer, R&D engineer, grad student (in engineering), get involved at as a student, and later as a working engineer volunteer/advisor with Formula SAE... The old joke about engineers being stiffs in suits while mechanics have all the fun is eroding. There are myriad ways for an engineer to get "dirty" if you're willing to put the work in for the degree. Also, depending on where you live, there may be a school that offers "engineering technology" degrees at the associate and/or bachelors level. These are 85% as intense as engineering, but tend to be a bit more "practically" oriented with the idea that you'll be doing some hands-on work after graduation. There is also less "formal" math (but plenty of application-specific math).
Personally I find designing/engineering your own device a lot more satisfying than repairing another person's design. I'm not in the same field (pcb design and firmware programming), but huge portions of my work time are spend in the electronics lab and not doing administrative tasks. Before graduating I've worked as a repair technician in an engineering company, for me it was the most frustrating job I've ever had. I saw shortcomings in the engineers designs on daily basis but my opinion and/or ideas for improvement weren't appreciated by the R&D team and management at all. Where I worked a good technician didn't have any opinions, shut up and did the same repair over and over and over again for 8 hours a day without complaining. As technicians we weren't even allowed to park our van in front of the building, like the engineers and managers did. We had to park our van behind the building and walk the whole way back to the front entrance to batch in, while management and engineers didn't need to batch in but parked closer to the batchclock. My motivation to get a degree was very strong after that experience. Most technicians I've worked with also prefer me compared to most other engineers in my field, because I actually listen to what they say and appreciate their opinion. The more faults a technician detects in my designs, the more I learned to improve my future works quality. Sadly most engineers in my field are fed up with ego and very difficult to work with (imo).
Guys here , i wanna know , i love cars , bikes mostly , and i freaking love wrenching things ( specially automotive stuff ) , and i want to know whether, i should be a automotive technician , automotive engineering, or just a mechanic ( P.S : i don't wanna be that one office guy , i wanna be the wrenching guy but also wanna get good pay ) so please help
Thanks so much for making this video guys. After attending tech school I worked as an auto mechanic for several years. What I found out was that I really loved the diagnoses and problem solving portion of the job. I always wanted to do things the right way while everyone else was just cutting corners. The guys who cut corners were looked highly upon by management because they sent cars out faster than I did, even though a lot of there cars would come back. When I repaired a car I really solved the problem. Now I'm going to school for engineering with the hope that I can actually use my problem solving abilities as opposed to just doing mindless part swapping (what my management wanted).
funny thing is engineers have no idea how thing works when they get out of school. we do understand the physics behind it, I'm in my last year of civil engineering and I can tell you what type of concrete to use and have how much stress the structure can take, but don't ask me how to go about actually making it
+Marc Rogue It's ok, you won't go about actually making it. That type of thing is good to learn, but what you need to know you'll learn much easier than the higher level academic stuff you did in school.
George Rosebush yea, well my cousin graduated from civil already and he is telling me you really don't get that much liberty with designs and stuff because of all the construction regulations and coding. I probably wont even end up working as an engineer
I greatly enjoyed this video! Originally I planned to go into engineering, and I've always loved learning how things work and the theories behind it. However, I realized I couldn't sit at a computer for long periods, and that I needed to be physically active. I'm now a locomotive mechanic and electrician, going on 8.5 years in the industry, and I love it. I've also been in a unique position to work along side engineers in designing and modifying systems to eliminate complexity (in some cases), improve designs, increase efficiency, and hopefully reduce environmental impact. Again, this is a fantastic video, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of your videos. Keep up the good work!
+reshi pn Wrong. Mechanics don't create anything because wrenches don't create anything. Complainer mechanics = Monday morning quarterback. Some engineers suck, just like some quarterbacks, and most mechanics. Many mechanics just sit around pointing out how it could have been better if such and such was 1/4" over so the wrench fits right. They have zero clue about the engineer's thought process and they have no knowledge of material science. Furthermore, mechanics don't even consider that a guy in suit told the engineer to make it cheaper. By the way, I've been both a mechanic and an engineer. Mechanics bleed...engineers don't...unless they get a paper cut. Case closed.
@@amritk5173 if it's a one time item, engineers will design, assemble, and test and ship.... In the respective departments of course. The making will be done by a machine shop.
Going into college with the intent of becoming a mechanical engineer, this video really helped me solidify my decision. Cant thank both of y’all enough
Fantastic video! Really happy you posted this. I'm an aerospace engineer with a lot of friends in trades (plumbing, electricians mostly); there's a bit of flack between engineering and trades with immature people (on both sides), but thank you for this video that'll help a lot of people, especially high school students! If you're in High School and thinking about engineering, do shop classes! In the end, we need people in both fields. Do what you love, and don't talk down on people for not doing what you do!
When i was a kid growing up on a farm, we had to fix everything, and my family; cousins etc would bring me all kinds of electrical stuff to pull apart. Then i started putting broken items back together..... I was lucky to have such a hands on education with lots of tools and open places/workshops to create stuff. I wish every child had the same.
I love videos like these! College summers I was working as an electrician’s apprentice, and now I’m an electrical engineer. Both professions are incredibly important and difficult! On another note, I wouldn’t mind making engines tho haha!
when someone asks me what I am going to be as a mechanical engineer, I tell them I have no idea because it's such a broad field to the point that I can end up designing the paper towel dispenser for the restroom.
+asaikaly2 That's exactly my situation, I know I want to be an engineer but I can't give an answer to WHERE I want to work or WHAT I want to be doing. My main goal though is to be able to work with my hands like Jason did as a Test Engineer or at least with CAD.
Great video. I'm an Industrial Engineer and never really saw the job as a "typical" engineering position, but the more I learn about what other engineers do, the more I realize why it's an engineering job. If I compare an Industrial Engineer to your past experience as a Mechanical Engineer, I am the engineer who creates the operating plans and the operations management team are my technicians. They in turn use my "engineered" plans and their operations experience to execute the daily operation by managing their employees and equipment efficiently.
We have done a handful of videos together. Maybe Jason and I can create a cool playlist or something to put them all in one space. Thanks for the support, it's much appreciated
You really nailed the description of a new engineer's experience. I work for a Major supplier in the automotive field and from day one I was cast into projects more complex than anything I had ever dealt with in school. The thing school teaches you is how to approach problems from an engineering standpoint which allows you to take on projects that you would think are out of your capability. Anybody who is good or enjoys math that asks me if they should go into engineering I just give them an idea of what my salary is in order to seal the deal. Great videos by the way I really enjoy your insight. As an engineer, contrary to popular belief, I don't know everything so I am always trying to expand my knowledge base. You never know when something you picked up can help you on a future project. Keep it up!
As a marketing guy who has been inventing stuff since I was a kid - from CO2-powered spear guns to data storage equipment to hydraulic mechanisms used in my Chevy-Healey, I think it is important to understand that - after all is said and done - the task of civilization is to invent and build things that people actually want. Listening to what they want to buy to solve their problems is the key skill needed in the development process - whether engineering or mechanical construction. Many scrapes, blue thumbs, and solder burns later, I always strove to get built something of real worth to someone instead of an "epic" testimonial to imagination that sat in a corner unloved and unused. We're all in this together. Enjoyable video - marketing-bashing notwithstanding.
i have a BS in physics and math and ended up as a contractor having to fix fleet vehicles and found both science and hands on part go "hand and hand" you seem to be one of the few to explain things feom a science mechanic engineer background . good work
Great video. I'm a junior engineer myself and definitely feel the same about getting thrown into the deep end. One main difference I didn't see mentioned is the gratification of completing challenges. My projects have been high stress for 1 year or more with very little gratification in the end. I see sales of the products climbing and feel great about that of course but whenever I correctly diagnose and fix car problems, I get that great sense of pride and satisfaction with completing a much smaller task. The feedback is just so much more direct. I imagine that is a perk of being a technician. In engineering we're never truly satisfied with our products because we want the best. Faster, quieter, more efficient, more durable... but have to make sacrifices for the budget to keep management happy. It's a tough gig!
First of all good conversation guys! speaking from a technician's stand point, one other disadvantage is the stigma that goes with this type of job. Most people thinks a mechanic/technician is someone who has very little educational back ground and that is wrong even more so today, that is definitely not the case. Maybe back in the days that statement would have some validity...but to effectively repair today's vehicle it takes more than jus turning wrenches. Like the "Humble Mechanic" tee shirt where can I get them?
"OHH, I've never used a tool before". That is the motto of every engineer I've ever had to work with. Lots of ideas of what something needs to be, zero idea how to make it.
They're definitely not all that way, but really I think the educational system could be improved to address this, as often there's little emphasis on real world projects.
I love you interact with your community. I am a tool and die maker for a major automotive OEM. We have a lot of issues with them drawing up the perfect part that is impossible to produce how they want.
+Engineering Explained I fully agree. I thought I was well versed but I was immediately lost when I went into a machine shop for the first time. FSAE helps a lot!
I've worked with hundreds. From the automotive industry to the turbo machinery industry. I'm not saying they are not intelligent. Just tend to lack the practical sight at times
As a technician/Mechanic myself i very much agree with these points raised. I love the job, getting in there and trying to figure it all out, yes sometimes you get mislead when searching for the issues, other times you nailed it. But at the end of the day, we are still needed, as in engineers and mechanics alike. Without one there would not be another.
Damn that's like the perfect video for me right now, as I am going in car mechanic next spring and then in Mechanical engineering! Thanks a lot, very informative
I worked as a mechanic for Peterbilt while getting my B.S in mechanical engineering. My father was a diesel mechanic so I grew up learning how to diagnose/repair 18 wheelers. I have to say that engineers would greatly benefit from spending some time in a shop. Some engineers graduate not knowing the difference between a philips screw driver and a flat head. Both diciplines will always benefit from each others experiences. Great video!
I acfually became paranoid of becoming such a mechanical engineer myself. A so called engineer that sits at his desk and drafts impossible designs with no understanding of how manufacturing works or manufacturing equipment. At the end I decided to organise my study if mechanical engineering into five parts and I think every student should do the same *1 - The Sciences of Engineering* There are general to all Eng disciplines and are prerequisites for being able to make viable designs. this includes pure math, materials sci, thermo, fluid mech, mech, electronics, etc. *2 - Knowledge of Mechanism Construction* This is a database of every mechanism element you can think of. shafts, gears, pulleys, cams, springs, valves, belt drives, chains etc, with a geometric and physical system of equations attached to describe every existing model of each element. After that there is transmission design sequences, which I think can be solved via mathematical programming. ( example: you have a certain amount of space for a gearbox, an input shaft with known RPM and Torque, and your goal is to make the output shaft have a certain torque / Rpm. I think such a problem can be formulated as a purely mathematical problem) *3 - Mechanical Design Process* Here are kept ideation techniques, engineering drawing, CAD, Eng design optimization, performance estimation and especially knowledge of manufacturing. What you mentioned about an engineer not knowing the difference between a flathead and a philips is a deficiency in his knowledge of manufacturing equipment. The way I see it, CNC and philips screwdrivers occupy the same position in engineering. Their job is to help make a proposed design come to life by assembling the Parts, but they themselves are not part of the design. Allenkeys, wrenches and welders are in the same position. 4 - Fields of Mechanical Engineering
Great video. My son is planning to start college next year in Mechanical Engineering, and they start the students hands on in the lab from day one.We spoke with a Sophomore there when we went for a visit and he said by the end of his Freshman year he had used every machine in their shop.
Mechanics repair what the Engineers or Production failed at..... IF you rarely/never have to take your vehicle in for repair, Thank an Engineer. On older vehicles that are well outside their industry determined useful life span(planned obsolescence), the successful mechanics become engineers to keep vehicles on the road..
Good engineers design a car that is reliable for a long time. Great engineers design a car that will be reliable during the warranty period and then fall apart at the optimum time so you have to buy a new car.
actually good technicians will only look at the designed specs and tolerances, the actual repairs and what is acceptable is decided by that tech and repairs the vehicle as necessary, mechanics who simply read the instructions from the engineers is clear indication of what techs refer to as parts replacers which often costs customers a lot of money because instead of knowing how things work, they simply eliminate by replacing parts till its fixed, comparing techs to engineers is practically impossible, an engineer has to build, design the car within a set budget, and make it to the largest market, for instance whats good on a car in arizona (dry non humid weather with next to no rust) will not be particularly very good in atlantic canada ( extreme changes in temperatures, humid, high salt content on roads in winter), accountants for car companies will obviously target the american market over the canadian market based on population alone, other factors that mechanics have to deal with are altitude in which the vehicles operate, to sum it up, engineers do great jobs when all things considered, good technicians are unfortunately hard to find these days because getting good comes with experience, techs in dealerships don't get the experience that techs in aftermarket get, most mechanics got in the trade cause their friends where in it and they enjoy cars, i enjoy food, that doesn't make me a chef, also a note to engineers, a few inches from the firewall would be appreciated, and my hands aren't the size of a childs.
@@peterrobannsobrepena6029 But an experienced mechanic does more than what is on the service manual which can be an input for mechanical engineer to improve his design
I studied ME for years, got a BS and an MS and worked for three years in a manufacturing line machine company. I hated it. All the passion I had for math and science proved useless, I was expected to jocky a desk for 9 hours a day and wasted most of those on BS. I felt like I had just signed away the next 40 years to my life to meaningless drudgery and existential terror. My advice to aspiring ME students: do a lot of interships. Don't get blindsided into a corporate nightmare the year after you graduate.
You can also apply for other jobs while you're working their. You do not have to stay as it is not your only options. But I can understand what you're saying. Some "engineering" jobs like quality engineering doesn't really require and engineering degree. So you will end up doing things that you find boring because it doesnt really directly relate to what you've been studying for as a ME. It is general work that people from different educational background can do. You're not really using all your learned so you end up being bored with your work. I noticed that in my internship.
Just subscribed to @humblemechanic after seeing this. Owner of a '13 MK6 GTI with a K04 setup! Also an engineer with a dad who started as a union machinist who later went to Purdue to become a mech. engineer. Both avenues of vocation are great!
An Engineer is the one who designs a car around a single component, thus making the mechanic have to take everything apart to get at it, lol. they are also the ones who make the transmission fluid filter and drain pan plug look identical to what would otherwise be an oil filter and drain plug and then burries the drain plug behind a bunch of plastic and then puts the oil filter right next to the exhaust manifold...
First drain plug is part an internal combustion engine assembly, the other a transmission assembly. It doesn't matter what type of plug they choose to use on either.
Dwarfgrinder it does when they are identical and unless you knew to look behind a bunch of plastic and just see what looks like an "oil filter" and an oil pan drain plug. Granted it was more a problem of me being new and unsupervised, but having a car that had an oil filter and a transmission fluid filter be identical did not help.
Noah Kuzel dude the oil filter can be anywhere but they out on the side of the engine u if distinguish that from a automatic tranny drain u don't reduce tj be anywhere near a car
lmao Just picturing that guy standing next to his boss holding a trans filter like "I don't know why this oil filter is all flat, and the oil was a burnt orange color. I had a little trouble finding it behind that heat shield with the 14 bolts in it, but I got it out" I would have paid money to see his supervisors face at that moment.
I really appreciate that both of you mechanic and mechanical engineer try to make videos about the difference between your jobs or works. Greatly I watch this video that make me happy. Beside from the advantage and the disadvantage it reveal the truth from the reality on how it feel, how hard being a mechanical than mechanic
Performance engine builders, Engine tuners, Race car builders etc, regularly disregard automotive engineering and construct some amazing things. Some things defy textbook knowledge and are only learned from experience. An engineer can tell you what SHOULD work. Sometimes pretty accurately. A sharp, hands on guy will tell you what ACTUALLY works. And can tell you exactly why.
Having worked in both occupations I would say this is pretty much spot on. I went back to the tools in the end because I found it less stressful and more rewarding. I hated being in an office environment and was regularly bored. I also ended up making more money as a tech than an Engineer before I retired. I love hitting things with big hammers so it was a no brainer to be honest.
I have been a design engineer for over 20 years. The knowledge you learn in school is almost completely irrelevant as the theory does not usually have a practical application. I do not design automotive parts, my career has been completely designing hydrocarbon plant or power plants. To design those you learn about the different codes and standards related to those facilities .... university does not teach you anything about the codes and standards followed by working engineers. Engineering is the toughest undergrad degree you can enroll in. The math and other subjects they teach you will make most other students wince. Starting wage for me 20 years ago was $32,000/yr. Today new grad students are hired at $60,000 to $70,000/ year depending on how good they are at negotiating. It took me 7 years of working before my salary exceeded $60,000/year but that was just the way the market was. My salary has since gone above $170,000/year. Consulting is a tough and thankless job though.
+Davidjune1970 Starting wage in 1996 is irrelevant to today, just as my starting wage as an engineer in 1969 of $7,200 does not compare to today. In 1969 a new Corvette was $6,000 and not $60,000. Today the price of a new Chevy Tahoe would buy a nice three bedroom house in 1969. My 1969 Corvette's 14 mpg was acceptable when 100 octane was $0.28 per gallon.
+James Villano you totally miss the point. I was sharing what the wage is for the job today which is what they were discussing. If I were to compare that starting salary to average salaries ... Back when I started the wage was average, for today's starting wage it is 1.7 times average. So the pay has improved significantly .... and it pays significantly above other average income earners.
OK, define "average". Average for a college grad, 2 year degreed technician, construction worker? We comparing ME to EE or?? Salaries vary by locale and industry (what is left of industry).
+INFsleeper In the US there's typically 10-20+ mechanics in the average dealership. If all of those mechanics were sharing tools, then it'd be a disaster. Even if each tech had his own company owned box, it'd still be a disaster. Lost/Stolen tools, the investment, improper use of tools, etc. At a ma and pa shop, you'll see what they'd call "shop tools".
After being a mechanic for over 20 years, my take is simply this; all engineers must spend their first year in the field working with technicians on maintenance and trouble shooting. This will lay the ground work for an intelligent and maintenance friendly machine.
Man I wish youtube was around before I decided to be mechanic. If you see this comment and thinking about being mechanic...DON'T!!! I would have been an engineer just based off this video. Mechanics average 40k a year. Engineers starting at 60k going up to 75-80k range is not even in the same league. Even after 2 years school I still have to keep my master ASE up to date. I'm often sent to training classes for continued education. I would've been better off doing the 4 years and be done with it. The dirt and grime, heavy lifting, cuts in hands, being burned as occupation risk, expensive tools to pay for out of salary, certification to maintain, all for pay similar to a Liberian. Mechanic is a terrible field right now.
So glad to finally here some real world examples of what you can possibly do because I have always wanted to be a mechanical engineer and am going into college now to finally become one so i just wanted to say thanks so much for all of the different automotive videos you have made over the years because I really enjoy watch all of them and provides so many answers to all of the questions I've gathered over the years!
HumbleMechanic Yes -- he was playing with it for a while, but then said it was greasy :-) Poor Jason, he gets no respect -- he needs to bring out the dinosaurs suit again. But we still love his videos :-)
Hein Bence You are correct, back in the old days when I was training to be an Architect, you always knew the good one by the amount of eraser crumbs that were on their slacks :-)
I find this funny because A&P mechanics basically do both jobs on the daily. turns out the number of hours in schooling between an aviation engineer and A&P mechanic is but a couple hundred hours out of thousands if im not mistaken. I'll have to check CFR14 part 65 again to be sure. But you can't go wrong with some greasy papercuts eh?
Great show, whenI was in my teens I decided not to persue an engineering career. In my 40s now, thinking of going back as I spend all of my free time working on cars and educating myself on the topic. It was really fun listening to you two :)
+Philip Yurovskiyh Well that's because serviceability isn't top priority for companies. Not the Engineer's fault when a company doesn't have that as top importance.
Jason, thank you for posting this it was great to see! I'm 17 about to start college in the fall in hopes of becoming a mechanical engineer. As a fellow engine/car enthusiast it was really cool to get your perspective of what you went through going into mechanical. In addition it was also interesting to get another view from a technicians side.
1 year of tech school???? In Australia we do 3 years tech school and then a further year on the job before qualifying...... my Automotive Mechanics ticket, Auto electrician ticket, LPG ticket, Vehicle Safety Inspector ticket and Diesel ticket took far longer than 1 year of tech school.
Guys, I just love the way you make it look so simple regarding the difference in both areas, but more important is that you both realize how much both areas rely on each other, the just graduated is supported by the technical expert and technical expert learn some methodology as well! Cool humble video, congrats!
Finally i find people who explain what a mechanicle egineer is i need to start to plan what job i want to have because i am about to go into high school and soon collage.
While this video is two years old, I felt the need to comment on it. As an aspiring mechanical engineer (10 years ago), a car guy, potential car mechanic (5-6 years ago), and a subscriber to your channel: I am currently, and since my high school days a technician for different internet and TV/Internet services, and some car sales in between (Subaru Included), very happy with my current choice of career. I opted not to got to college for mechanical engineering due to financial reasons, and did not become an auto mechanic because I wanted to keep that a hobby (to hell with working on everyone else's car AND THEN have to deal with mine). This enforces my thought process of why I chose to do what I do. I watch your videos to learn, and figure out the why. And, I feel that makes me the nerd that I am in my field, especially. The what makes an engineer, the why makes a technician. I enjoy your videos, and have sent recommendations to a few other people. This video, is my favorite. You may have your S2K, and Crosstrek (vs STi), and videos about how you feel about hitting your garage shelving, THIS VIDEO IS PERFECT. It is why I am happy with what I do. I'm not designing things to work properly under certain circumstances, and I'm not fixing things for people, then fixing my own on my own time. I have the time to do what I need, when and how I want. Apologize for the long winded, and public comment, but I'm thrilled to have found your channel.
I would like to see a conversation between a group of mechanics and a group of automotive engineers. Have the engineers/designers explain why they built things a particular way. Did they ever think it might have be fixed or taken apart?
This video is so perfect! I am currently in a Mechanical Engineering program and am transferring to a different University to go in to Auto Mechanics. It was so helpful hearing about both of the careers I am/was considering from people in those careers. This video fits my situation perfectly. I love your videos and have learned a lot of helpful things i will be able to use in the future.
I'm an engineering student right now and you keep saying that starting at 60k is really good for a 4 year degree? Prior to going to school full time I worked in the Oilfield with absolutely no degree and a Ged. Making 80k. Just before I quit my boss offered me a 10% raise. So you're saying I'm getting an education to make less money?
He said it's average but really it varies wildly depending on your past experience, personal motivation, and the particular sector and location you're working. There are typically more opportunities for someone with a degree as well. Personally do software development and learned more practical information on my own and outside of school than in, but the degree is automatic credibility. May take a couple years out of school to get back to your old salary but specialization and location matter a lot.
Yep, that's exactly right. The college degree is useful, and in many cases required even to apply for a job. But it's not always worth the time and very considerable expense to get the degree. Many times over the years I've questioned myself why I went and got a Bachelor's degree. Years later I'm still paying student loans, and my salary isn't worth what I put into it, and what I'm getting paid, even though my job requires a technical science-based degree.
Great video, you both made some fantastic points, especially regarding hourly and salary. As an ex-engineer (electrically and computer) I will say my hours increased as my career flourished. As an entry level engineer, I was making about 60k and working about 60 hours a week, which ends up being about $19.25 an hour while paying back some school loans. You were smart to limit your time to 40 hours a week but not all projects allow that type of schedule. Thanks for airing this comparison.
I found this very useful as someone who is currently looking at different possible university courses (in the UK) and I am still unsure of what field of engineering I want to go into. PLEASE, if you could do more of these then I'd find it super useful thank you.
+Antivorg There are courses which let you specialise, I do Mech Eng at a UK University and you get a choice to specialise at the end of year 2 into: aerospace, automotive, innovative design, materials+manufacturing or just straight mechanical. Im a first year so if have any questions feel free to ask
+Antivorg Perhaps the best way to make your decision is to go talk to engineers who work in various capacities. Go to a nearby manufacturing facility and speak with the engineering staff there. It's the best way to see what engineers do in the real world.
He makes a good point. If you can not properly diagnose faults or problems but can throw on brake pads or light bulbs you are NOT a technician or a mechanic, you are a parts changer!!
Everyone... The engineer designs/innovates a new cylinder head using 3D modeling and a deep understanding of how heat transfer, hot spots, air/fluid flow, and material cross-sectional properties effect the combustion efficiency, pre-detonation, flow capability, and longevity of the cylinder head. The mechanic bolts the cylinder head on... An engineer is a designer, a mechanic is a laborer... Any GOOD engineer can do the mechanics job, but a mechanic can NOT do an engineer's job!!
Yeah I’m an engineering program at my hs currently, and I have no clue what I wanna do in the future, but you being confused too at one point in your careers gives me hope because you always hear of engineer having to always be knowing what to do at any given moment, nice talk glad I watched
If you guys had a talkshow I'd subscribe and listen in while I was working lol. I've been into Engineering explained's channel for about 2 years now every so often I encounter a problem or question that is well explained and answered. Now that I'm out of the Military I've become an entry-level Lube tech at ford and when I started I found humble mechanic on youtube. I just realized you two actually met up and had this discussion! I was just wondering the ins and outs of engineering while currently working as a tech at a dealership. How cool! Keep the channels going guys it's awesome that you guys can go out of your way to help educate and shed light on possibly not so well known things within the industry.
Jason, were you on any project teams in school, like FSAE? That's a super great way to learn the practicals of vehicle systems and engineering in general if classes aren't cutting it.
It's not. As he said in the video....an engineer starts out at 60k. No reason in going into debt if you can take the same classes at a CC. In more cases you will go into UNI more experienced
a lot of good uni have a transfer relationship with their nearby cc and that is great because they r recognizing that the curriculum is equivalent to their uni equivalency. also cc have smaller class sizes and I find that it's more beneficial to learn in that environment. (p.s. this is based on my experience in the u.s )
It's a great idea for many students to start at a smaller school where there will be a better student/teacher ratio. Also, one of my issues with basic classes at a 4 year school was that some the professors clearly resented teaching the intro classes as they preferred to spend their time on research and with grad students. So, when I needed help, I had to rely on friends and tutors when I got stuck. My friends who started at a tech school, got all their general classes out of the way, then came to the big school, all finished with a fantastic GPA, and no one cared that they didn't get all their credit hours from the same place. The other benefit you have in the tech schools is that you can usually stay close to home. Kind of a gentler introduction to College. Oh yeah, and you're likely to graduate without as much debt as the traditional 4-year college, as long as the credits all transfer. Lots of big schools have partnerships with local small schools so that there is no doubt what will transfer. Talk with your advisor, make a plan. If you need to adjust your plan, be sure the advisor is involved.
I am a big Fanboy of yours from Mumbai,India.. wanna meet you once... I am a second year Electrical Engineering student and i am in love for Hybrid Baja cars and Nascars... The way you explain the automobile technicalities and put up a critic point and also your judgements are more theoretical and relevant rather than the other Automobile Critics who just comment over the car periphery and the basic dynamics quality of the engine or efficiency(more of business aspects).. i like how you show the engineering a car is more technologically sound and how to drive it.
I can totally relate to both these guys. I was a mechanic for 7 years and then took an engineer degree which I finished last year. I never regretted going this way through the educations!
Having actual engineers and mechanics talk about how they initially did not know how to do anything on their first day has really boosted my confidence about choosing engineering. Thanks guys.
Likewise my friend!! I´m also an engineer (mechanical).
High school here, it does help
@@johnbenson4927 going into college this year I Plan to study mechanical (automotive ) engineering but not really sure exactly what i want to do within automotive field if it makes any sense, any advice?
@@cloroxlysolbleachwhipes8658 Yeah sure bro. My advice is go for a broad field of engineering, like Mechanical engineering. If you enter a very specific branch (like automotive) you'll end up forced to find jobs that revolve around that specific engineering branch and you will struggle looking for other options. The broader the field, the better. That's why Mechanical is one of the best choices you can make 😎
@@cloroxlysolbleachwhipes8658 see John's advice below.....I concur..... don't pigeonhole yourself so early
As a retired mechanical engineer, I found during my career that the best engineers love doing some wrenching! There's a synergy bringing that hands-on feeling of parts & tools that relates equations to the real world. When I was a kid, I could not stay away from disassembling, tuning, repairing & re-assembling all kinds of mechanisms, wondering about how they were made and why they worked or didn't. Maths & physics schooling provided many 'Aha!' experiences that answered long-brewing questions coupled with a recall of why materials felt the way they do at the end of a wrench or in motion.
During my long career, I've mostly built my own prototypes to get a sense of how machines are assembled & serviced without the expletive-drenched experience of knowing bad design. I've worked on my own cars to save money & get a better feel for their strengths & weaknesses, and even got into autocross racing with my own home-brew, heavily modified cars to test my skills at both cranking bolts & making creative changes to improve performance; I learned that there's plenty of thoughtless design that came out of some overly academic automotive designer's limited imagination! I so often thought that engineers should always spend considerable time busting knuckles in almost physically impossible body positions like mechanics do. If they did, they'd design more sensible systems that can be serviced without cursing the damn engineer! As an engineer myself, I've been fairly successful at avoiding being the brunt of that cursing. Having been an avid amateur mechanic helped immensely.
I hope that more people will read your comment, sir :)
I get that same sort of buzz working with computer code. Learned most of what I know looking at others work and seeing how they solved problems I've been having; or have had in the past, those are my 'aha' moments, happens almost on a daily basis, which is always awesome!
For me growing up it was more wondering how everything around us came into existence and how it all works, really wish I spent more time tinkering with things instead of destroying them haha, the potential was there, but that's how I grew up.
Sounds like you have a couple centuries on me, so I have a lot of work to do :D
As an engineering student, I really hope my life turns out similar to this. I love working on cars and tinkering with machines.
I'm a retired aerospace technician with engineering education (didnt care about finishing the degree, just the knowledge). The only engineers I met worth a crap always did their own vehicle repairs for fun if anything. The guys that were afraid to use a drill press were awful, awful engineers. I could eyeball calculations better and faster. I got in trouble one time for telling my boss the spring was improperly sized on a relief valve... from all the way across the test yard. I saw the greenie engineer install it and knew it wouldn't work with a glance based upon my knowledge of the operating pressure, the spring stock size in relation to the standard fasteners for that flange, and the oring that he had me order a week earlier. My boss said it "wasnt possible" for me to make that kind of judgement, but I did. That intuitive knowledge only comes with direct application of your physical senses. The imagination part follows.
Amen!
Great time chatting as always brother!
Always a pleasure my man!
+Engineering Explained I love these dual videos with you both. very informative
Thanks for existing
great guys!
+Engineering Explained Now kiss
I'm amazed how many people still think an engineer is a mechanic
Im a mechanical engineering student and I can't count how many times people have assumed I work on cars.
@@redballs can confirm. It's a bit disappointing when people don't realize you could be doing mechanisms, thermodynamics, fluid Dynamics, etc
Some people are very unaware about everything and assume things, we have to make people aware about our work without arguying!
They should have to do some hands on working on things they're designing to make things more serviceable....
@@redballs Yip, thats exactly me. I get people who know me asking me to fix their car. I'm a mechanical engineer, not a car mechanic!
As an engineer, my best tool is the technician I work with. And I'm not saying that in any derogatory, "you're just a tool" kind of way. I mean it in the most humble, "I value your input" type of way. I have turned wrenches and I have learned to use new tools. In my first year as an engineer, I got to try the jackhammer, acetylene torch, and sandblaster, among others. Usually I try these things for no other reason than to demonstrate my dedication, interest, and curiosity to the technicians I work with. Doing so helps me to determine a couple of things: 1) how proficient is the technician, 2) can the technician teach others to do mundane jobs, and 3) is this task more of an 'art' or more of a 'labor'? Over time, you can develop a great relationship with coworkers that builds mutual respect and allows for simple and efficient communication of problems. You get less of the "the technician assembled it wrong" and "the engineer designed it wrong" type of finger-pointing scenarios. There do exist bad technicians. There do exist bad engineers. But when good meets good, careers can be accelerated and innovation can really happen.
Jason, how did you skip the classic Mechanical vs. Civil engineer joke???
Mechanical engineers design cool things like fighter jets and missiles. Civil engineers design targets!
Honey Badger Offroad Or the things that support your cool things like runways and anti aircraft sites
@@TBoy205 I rather design a jet than a darn runway.
SourStrawberrys without a runway you don't have a way to move your plane. Both are very challenging
@@alileevil sure you do, jump jets are cool
@@alileevil then i would design a jet that don't requires a runway!
you don't know how happy I am that you posted this video
+eel1331 I'm happy that you're happy!
+Engineering Explained New show Humble Engineer
Same!
eel1331 im happy that you are happy because he is happy
Pwmwaree yodkamol - Your happiness at his happiness at their happiness, just...Well it just made me Cry with Happiness 😂- But more importantly, Your Happiness - Being Soo Happy when you've got - Pwmwaree yodkamol - It's so tragic that in the midst of your own suffering, You can Still be So Happy !! 😃
Damn you Gawd ! Why is it Always the Happy Ones !?!
😅😂😓😟😦😢😭😭😭😭
Keep Thinking Happy Thoughts Little One !😉😣
Great video, the technician did a great job articulating his professional insight
Thanks!
Subscribed!
Become a Mechanic/Technician then study to become an Engineer. Best of both worlds.
I totally agree.
I am :D You Never have a problem finding a job
I did this exact route, I worked as a technician for 8 years while I worked on my degree and the hands on experience that you receive gave me a HUGE advantage over my other class mates when it came to finding internships and getting entry level jobs.
I'm currently doing an apprenticeship to qualify as a Mechanician and further my studies thereafter. Just got to be motivated because one has to work and study.
Aashish Bharat Don't do you apprenticeship at a dealership if you already are, as you learn minimal. Dealerships just get apprentices to change oil and filter all day everyday making a lot of money but not concerned about weather you learn new things on not. Work on a workshop where they deal with all vehicles so you learn a lot more. Then every single day you get a new challenging job.
"It's not the technician, it's not the engineer, it's marketing."
Truer words have rarely been spoken.
This video is so true... I'm working at a Toyota dealership as an entry level tech. I'm actually going to school to become an electrician but I like cars and enjoy working on them. Anyways I've been an dealership culture for a long time and TheHumbleMechanic is on point. It's really cool to see people rise through the ranks and get what they deserve. Working on cars is incredibly difficult if you have no reference. However I have a buddy who is majoring in computer science. He's very smart and understands complex math like its no problem. However he is clueless when it comes to anything mechanical. It's funny how intelligence varies from people. I would say both are impressive in there own right.
I would agree completely!
+ler John One thing I can tell you is that 99% of engineers were bad at math and science at some point. Very, very, very few, are natural born good at math and science. It's a skill that must be learned.
+Engineering Explained Please can you do a video about the differences between bike and car engines ? Why bikes are so light but still economy isn't so good. Why are single piston engines more economical? How can 600 cc bike engines make so much power VS car engine?
+Jean Claude Decelis Easy stuff. Bike economy is better, and they go faster even with smaller engines, because the bikes are under 600 pounds usually, versus cars that are 2000 pounds or more. Power/weight ratio.
Single cylinder thumper putting out like >50hp can easily outrun a 350-400HP car.
Idk what you mean about bike economy NOT being good. Bike economy is great, depending on bike and engine, and driving habits of course. But in general you can get more out of a bike engine.
Single piston is injecting fuel into a single cylinder, versus 3+cylinder car engines, injecting fuel into MORE than one cylinder. More fuel being injected into cylinders=more fuel NOT in your tank. More fuel being burned.
+Jean Claude Decelis
1) There actually isn't that a big difference in the engine itself, but biggest difference between car and bike engines is weight and compactness.
To save weight, bike engines have integrated alternators and gearbox, etc.
More lightweight techniques and materials tend to be used.
This is also used to make bike engines rev higher, so they get more horsepower than a similar capacity car engine.
2a) bikes have VERY VERY BAD aerodynamics compared to cars, this "airdrag" causes more fuel consumption
2b)most or at least a lot of bike engines are much higher revving than car engines, this too increases fuel consumption
3) I don't really think single piston engines are more economical, I thought the (V-)Twins were, but however, thing is:
The more moving parts in an engine or drivetrain, the more mechanical losses appear.
A V12 has way more powerlosses than a 4 cilinder...
Car engines tend to go to 3cilinder designs nowadays for smaller cars...
Motorcycle engines have two main engine designs, VTWIN for choppers and "offroad" or touring bikes
Straight 4 engines for naked and super/sportbikes
4) as said before, the higer the engine revs, the more horsepower per CC capacity
Funnily enough, old mechanics and old engineers seem to tend to migrate toward each other's fields. Old mechanics get a better grasp on theory and old engineers experience application "in the wild" so as to speak. These young fellas seem to have an early insight to each other's perspectives.
@Thomas Brennan Yeah... I miss being able to do simple repairs on my own stuff...
engineers design, technicians assemble, mechanics maintain
Technicians maintain but use more sophisticated equipment than mechanics.
all are equally important.
engineers design something, mechanics fix it after it's been worked to death 25 years later
Mechanic vs Engineer vs UA-camr
You guys forgot to go over your other career choice...
Awesome! I'm graduating in 97 days with my Mechanical Engineering degree. Very excited. Thanks for all the videos. Last year I worked for this solar panel company and I loved it when the technicians from the shop would come over and discuss what they wanted and giving feedback on our designs!
How did it turn up? How is it going?
Your comments at 4:30 really hit home. It wasn't until the final year that they finally gave us a hands on project to work on. Probably a school cost saving measure.
All in all an engineer creates the product by using mathematics (science) and a mechanic built/rebuilt the product by using knowledge (experience)...
Both are exhausting jobs!
Lifelong amateur mechanic who currently owns a Volkswagen. Current mechanical engineering student. Humble Mechanic, you have saved my bacon several times on my GLI. Engineering Explained, your videos are relatively simple as compared to my school, BUT, your channel has saved my bacon many a time simply because you make engineering fun again when I'm burnt out on a long study session. I love you both. Thank you.
every engineering student should go work "on the tools" for a year on the 2nd year just to see what works and what doesn't. That would also make him/her a great heckler on those senior year lectures:) I'm a mechanical engineer (10yrs) myself and a lot of my designs got "humbled down" by the guys on the field over the years...
+Kris Mier THIS! It was a requirement to be allowed to study engineering at my university. But we only had to do two months. I did 5 because I had more time. And it was really great, to learn all about the tools and how they work. And what the challenges you have to work around really are. If you just learn about it, you never fully understand why this or that is not practical in the real world.
Amen, amen :) I had this one guy on my year that had worked as a pipe-fitter every summer vacation for like 3 years and always envied his practical knowledge. Without it you are a butt of all site guys jokes for a good while:)
+Kris Mier so a mechanical engineer only works on theories and doesn't have a chance to apply anything in the real world?
+kingcool26ify yes. a useless job. sorta like a gender dance study PhD :)
+kingcool26ify I believe he means that yes throughout your time in college it is only theory but of course when you get a real job you then are thrown into the real world applications
My education was in Computer Science. It was the same problem. A few years of programming projects. All summed up senior year with make this more complicated problem. But even then we didn't have a finished product project ever. So you leave with your degree with no concept on how a piece of software goes from start to finish. There are SO many things you don't know, that the real world does all the time. How are the files organised? How will we be accessing and storing data? What will the finished product look like? None of those things are touched in school. It's about history of programming and architecture.
Alex Ferraro yea same here. I'm a senior Computer Science (BS) and basically it has all been basic optimization and architecture and a ton of math both CS based and general. I'm only now in a software design class applying some things a lot more. I feel going into the workforce next year is going to be really crazy
Welcome to the club. XD I'm CS and EE. It's going to be a wild ride when applying for jobs since I have experienced the same issues you both have.
A comparison video of computer science and engineering would be a better video. At least both are within the STEM world, but they are very different at the same time.
Gotta hand it to you HumbleMechanic, you took the time to reply and give insight to almost every comment on this video, even if it isn't your channel. Im so excited to enter the world of being a mechanic. Im leaving to Nashville Tennessee to enter the high power automotive program at NADC in July. I know its going to be such a challenging experience, but ive never been so excited to learn and expand my knowledge.
+DeadlyMountainPro All hail Charles, he's the man!
+DeadlyMountainPro I am a NADC graduate. Great school Respect your instructors. Pay attention. Go get an entry level position at a local dealership while you are in school. Get you diploma there. Go to community college to finish degree (if you still can).
Isaac RoDiesel at Auto Rescue Thank you for the advice! Whats really awesome is that they now have a program where you can get your associates while going through the trade school portion. I also was told they would be placing me in a job position while attending school which will serve as income and hands on experience, however its usually at a jiffy lube. Where you able to break away from that to get an entry level position at a dealership?
as a current mechanical engineering student, this video is extremely helpful in hearing some of the things to expect after college!
Six years later, how did it go?
Who says we don't want a car that gets 45 MPG? Let me speak to that marketer.
would you be willing to pay 5 grand extra in face value, it will probably save you thousands over the years. But how many people actually considers that when it comes to their finances.
Yayaya123 what if I want to make an awesome car that gets 50 mpg and has 350 horse power engine for the awesome people not the retarded ones
Mohamed Osama it would probably be an electric car and be called a Tesla. Well, I believe their MPG is actually higher than 50, and I guess it would depend where you get your electricity. Hooking it up to a bunch of solar panels would essentially mean no fossil fuels are expended in the use of your car.
Kabloosh '78 vw rabbit diesel got 55 mpg hwy.
I get 7.3 miles to the gallon.
Thank you so much for making this video. I'm a sophomore engineering student and among these endless math and physics classes, it's easy to get lost and lose sight of what I'm working for. Hearing you both talk about your work is motivating.
Man this really helped but I'm still so indecisive. I wanna work on cars more than working in an office but I wanna make great pay too. Ugggghhhh
Same
Test engineer, field engineer, R&D engineer, grad student (in engineering), get involved at as a student, and later as a working engineer volunteer/advisor with Formula SAE... The old joke about engineers being stiffs in suits while mechanics have all the fun is eroding. There are myriad ways for an engineer to get "dirty" if you're willing to put the work in for the degree.
Also, depending on where you live, there may be a school that offers "engineering technology" degrees at the associate and/or bachelors level. These are 85% as intense as engineering, but tend to be a bit more "practically" oriented with the idea that you'll be doing some hands-on work after graduation. There is also less "formal" math (but plenty of application-specific math).
Become an engineer, and buy as many project cars as you want with the cash you made and work on them on your own time
Personally I find designing/engineering your own device a lot more satisfying than repairing another person's design. I'm not in the same field (pcb design and firmware programming), but huge portions of my work time are spend in the electronics lab and not doing administrative tasks.
Before graduating I've worked as a repair technician in an engineering company, for me it was the most frustrating job I've ever had. I saw shortcomings in the engineers designs on daily basis but my opinion and/or ideas for improvement weren't appreciated by the R&D team and management at all. Where I worked a good technician didn't have any opinions, shut up and did the same repair over and over and over again for 8 hours a day without complaining. As technicians we weren't even allowed to park our van in front of the building, like the engineers and managers did. We had to park our van behind the building and walk the whole way back to the front entrance to batch in, while management and engineers didn't need to batch in but parked closer to the batchclock.
My motivation to get a degree was very strong after that experience. Most technicians I've worked with also prefer me compared to most other engineers in my field, because I actually listen to what they say and appreciate their opinion. The more faults a technician detects in my designs, the more I learned to improve my future works quality. Sadly most engineers in my field are fed up with ego and very difficult to work with (imo).
Guys here , i wanna know , i love cars , bikes mostly , and i freaking love wrenching things ( specially automotive stuff ) , and i want to know whether, i should be a automotive technician , automotive engineering, or just a mechanic ( P.S : i don't wanna be that one office guy , i wanna be the wrenching guy but also wanna get good pay ) so please help
As a marketing guy, I blame it on the population who would prefer to have a camery. And corporate.
Definitely corporate!!
Engineer: makes it happen Mechanic: keeps it happening
Thanks so much for making this video guys. After attending tech school I worked as an auto mechanic for several years. What I found out was that I really loved the diagnoses and problem solving portion of the job. I always wanted to do things the right way while everyone else was just cutting corners. The guys who cut corners were looked highly upon by management because they sent cars out faster than I did, even though a lot of there cars would come back. When I repaired a car I really solved the problem. Now I'm going to school for engineering with the hope that I can actually use my problem solving abilities as opposed to just doing mindless part swapping (what my management wanted).
funny thing is engineers have no idea how thing works when they get out of school. we do understand the physics behind it, I'm in my last year of civil engineering and I can tell you what type of concrete to use and have how much stress the structure can take, but don't ask me how to go about actually making it
+Marc Rogue It's ok, you won't go about actually making it. That type of thing is good to learn, but what you need to know you'll learn much easier than the higher level academic stuff you did in school.
George Rosebush yea, well my cousin graduated from civil already and he is telling me you really don't get that much liberty with designs and stuff because of all the construction regulations and coding. I probably wont even end up working as an engineer
So I'm assuming after you graduated what are you doing with all that engineering knowledge now?
Not looking forward to your first project
I greatly enjoyed this video!
Originally I planned to go into engineering, and I've always loved learning how things work and the theories behind it.
However, I realized I couldn't sit at a computer for long periods, and that I needed to be physically active.
I'm now a locomotive mechanic and electrician, going on 8.5 years in the industry, and I love it. I've also been in a unique position to work along side engineers in designing and modifying systems to eliminate complexity (in some cases), improve designs, increase efficiency, and hopefully reduce environmental impact.
Again, this is a fantastic video, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of your videos. Keep up the good work!
So to sum it all up;
Engineers make it
Mechanics fix it
Correct??
+reshi pn Wrong. Mechanics don't create anything because wrenches don't create anything. Complainer mechanics = Monday morning quarterback. Some engineers suck, just like some quarterbacks, and most mechanics. Many mechanics just sit around pointing out how it could have been better if such and such was 1/4" over so the wrench fits right. They have zero clue about the engineer's thought process and they have no knowledge of material science. Furthermore, mechanics don't even consider that a guy in suit told the engineer to make it cheaper. By the way, I've been both a mechanic and an engineer. Mechanics bleed...engineers don't...unless they get a paper cut. Case closed.
Bill Schlafly ...I can’t believe they actually tried to compare the two lol. Mechanics and engineers are apples and oranges.
Engineers design it, factories make it, mechanics fix it
@@amritk5173 if it's a one time item, engineers will design, assemble, and test and ship.... In the respective departments of course. The making will be done by a machine shop.
@Rich 91 i would say the machinists create the engineers design. the mechanics fix it
Going into college with the intent of becoming a mechanical engineer, this video really helped me solidify my decision. Cant thank both of y’all enough
Fantastic video! Really happy you posted this. I'm an aerospace engineer with a lot of friends in trades (plumbing, electricians mostly); there's a bit of flack between engineering and trades with immature people (on both sides), but thank you for this video that'll help a lot of people, especially high school students! If you're in High School and thinking about engineering, do shop classes!
In the end, we need people in both fields. Do what you love, and don't talk down on people for not doing what you do!
When i was a kid growing up on a farm, we had to fix everything, and my family; cousins etc would bring me all kinds of electrical stuff to pull apart. Then i started putting broken items back together..... I was lucky to have such a hands on education with lots of tools and open places/workshops to create stuff. I wish every child had the same.
This is perhaps the least toxic comment section I've ever seen on a youtube video, keep being awesome humans guys!
I love videos like these! College summers I was working as an electrician’s apprentice, and now I’m an electrical engineer. Both professions are incredibly important and difficult!
On another note, I wouldn’t mind making engines tho haha!
when someone asks me what I am going to be as a mechanical engineer, I tell them I have no idea because it's such a broad field to the point that I can end up designing the paper towel dispenser for the restroom.
+asaikaly2 That's exactly my situation, I know I want to be an engineer but I can't give an answer to WHERE I want to work or WHAT I want to be doing. My main goal though is to be able to work with my hands like Jason did as a Test Engineer or at least with CAD.
Great video. I'm an Industrial Engineer and never really saw the job as a "typical" engineering position, but the more I learn about what other engineers do, the more I realize why it's an engineering job. If I compare an Industrial Engineer to your past experience as a Mechanical Engineer, I am the engineer who creates the operating plans and the operations management team are my technicians. They in turn use my "engineered" plans and their operations experience to execute the daily operation by managing their employees and equipment efficiently.
I hope this collaboration between you (EE) and Humble can become a series, maybe on both channel ;)
We have done a handful of videos together. Maybe Jason and I can create a cool playlist or something to put them all in one space.
Thanks for the support, it's much appreciated
+HumbleMechanic where do you go to college? what are basics tools to have?
+Hugo Sanchez good video
You really nailed the description of a new engineer's experience. I work for a Major supplier in the automotive field and from day one I was cast into projects more complex than anything I had ever dealt with in school. The thing school teaches you is how to approach problems from an engineering standpoint which allows you to take on projects that you would think are out of your capability. Anybody who is good or enjoys math that asks me if they should go into engineering I just give them an idea of what my salary is in order to seal the deal. Great videos by the way I really enjoy your insight. As an engineer, contrary to popular belief, I don't know everything so I am always trying to expand my knowledge base. You never know when something you picked up can help you on a future project. Keep it up!
As a marketing guy who has been inventing stuff since I was a kid - from CO2-powered spear guns to data storage equipment to hydraulic mechanisms used in my Chevy-Healey, I think it is important to understand that - after all is said and done - the task of civilization is to invent and build things that people actually want. Listening to what they want to buy to solve their problems is the key skill needed in the development process - whether engineering or mechanical construction. Many scrapes, blue thumbs, and solder burns later, I always strove to get built something of real worth to someone instead of an "epic" testimonial to imagination that sat in a corner unloved and unused. We're all in this together. Enjoyable video - marketing-bashing notwithstanding.
i have a BS in physics and math and ended up as a contractor having to fix fleet vehicles and found both science and hands on part go "hand and hand" you seem to be one of the few to explain things feom a science mechanic engineer background . good work
This was a fantastic discussion. Thank you!
Thanks.
Great video. I'm a junior engineer myself and definitely feel the same about getting thrown into the deep end. One main difference I didn't see mentioned is the gratification of completing challenges. My projects have been high stress for 1 year or more with very little gratification in the end. I see sales of the products climbing and feel great about that of course but whenever I correctly diagnose and fix car problems, I get that great sense of pride and satisfaction with completing a much smaller task. The feedback is just so much more direct. I imagine that is a perk of being a technician. In engineering we're never truly satisfied with our products because we want the best. Faster, quieter, more efficient, more durable... but have to make sacrifices for the budget to keep management happy. It's a tough gig!
First of all good conversation guys! speaking from a technician's stand point, one other disadvantage is the stigma that goes with this type of job. Most people thinks a mechanic/technician is someone who has very little educational back ground and that is wrong even more so today, that is definitely not the case. Maybe back in the days that statement would have some validity...but to effectively repair today's vehicle it takes more than jus turning wrenches. Like the "Humble Mechanic" tee shirt where can I get them?
Auto mechanics are the most underappreciated trades out there. A good mechanic is so useful.
"OHH, I've never used a tool before". That is the motto of every engineer I've ever had to work with. Lots of ideas of what something needs to be, zero idea how to make it.
They're definitely not all that way, but really I think the educational system could be improved to address this, as often there's little emphasis on real world projects.
I love you interact with your community. I am a tool and die maker for a major automotive OEM. We have a lot of issues with them drawing up the perfect part that is impossible to produce how they want.
+User Name lol must of not worked with many engineers then.
+Engineering Explained I fully agree. I thought I was well versed but I was immediately lost when I went into a machine shop for the first time. FSAE helps a lot!
I've worked with hundreds. From the automotive industry to the turbo machinery industry. I'm not saying they are not intelligent. Just tend to lack the practical sight at times
As a technician/Mechanic myself i very much agree with these points raised. I love the job, getting in there and trying to figure it all out, yes sometimes you get mislead when searching for the issues, other times you nailed it. But at the end of the day, we are still needed, as in engineers and mechanics alike. Without one there would not be another.
Damn that's like the perfect video for me right now, as I am going in car mechanic next spring and then in Mechanical engineering! Thanks a lot, very informative
I worked as a mechanic for Peterbilt while getting my B.S in mechanical engineering. My father was a diesel mechanic so I grew up learning how to diagnose/repair 18 wheelers. I have to say that engineers would greatly benefit from spending some time in a shop. Some engineers graduate not knowing the difference between a philips screw driver and a flat head. Both diciplines will always benefit from each others experiences.
Great video!
Ain't that the truth!
I acfually became paranoid of becoming such a mechanical engineer myself. A so called engineer that sits at his desk and drafts impossible designs with no understanding of how manufacturing works or manufacturing equipment.
At the end I decided to organise my study if mechanical engineering into five parts and I think every student should do the same
*1 - The Sciences of Engineering*
There are general to all Eng disciplines and are prerequisites for being able to make viable designs. this includes pure math, materials sci, thermo, fluid mech, mech, electronics, etc.
*2 - Knowledge of Mechanism Construction*
This is a database of every mechanism element you can think of. shafts, gears, pulleys, cams, springs, valves, belt drives, chains etc, with a geometric and physical system of equations attached to describe every existing model of each element. After that there is transmission design sequences, which I think can be solved via mathematical programming. ( example: you have a certain amount of space for a gearbox, an input shaft with known RPM and Torque, and your goal is to make the output shaft have a certain torque / Rpm. I think such a problem can be formulated as a purely mathematical problem)
*3 - Mechanical Design Process*
Here are kept ideation techniques, engineering drawing, CAD, Eng design optimization, performance estimation and especially knowledge of manufacturing. What you mentioned about an engineer not knowing the difference between a flathead and a philips is a deficiency in his knowledge of manufacturing equipment. The way I see it, CNC and philips screwdrivers occupy the same position in engineering. Their job is to help make a proposed design come to life by assembling the Parts, but they themselves are not part of the design. Allenkeys, wrenches and welders are in the same position.
4 - Fields of Mechanical Engineering
Wow I'm studying mechanical engineering thinking I would have more involvement with cars lmao
Great video. My son is planning to start college next year in Mechanical Engineering, and they start the students hands on in the lab from day one.We spoke with a Sophomore there when we went for a visit and he said by the end of his Freshman year he had used every machine in their shop.
make a video on difference between mechanical engineering and automobile engineering reason to select which engineering to study
Watching after 5 yrs. Still epic!
Not only passion will help, but skills. Balance those two and money will come.
Mechanics repair what the Engineers or Production failed at..... IF you rarely/never have to take your vehicle in for repair, Thank an Engineer. On older vehicles that are well outside their industry determined useful life span(planned obsolescence), the successful mechanics become engineers to keep vehicles on the road..
Foxboss9 *That's a point!!!!* ☺️
Foxboss9
Wrong, mechanics does a job in the service manual provided by engineers
Good engineers design a car that is reliable for a long time. Great engineers design a car that will be reliable during the warranty period and then fall apart at the optimum time so you have to buy a new car.
actually good technicians will only look at the designed specs and tolerances, the actual repairs and what is acceptable is decided by that tech and repairs the vehicle as necessary, mechanics who simply read the instructions from the engineers is clear indication of what techs refer to as parts replacers which often costs customers a lot of money because instead of knowing how things work, they simply eliminate by replacing parts till its fixed, comparing techs to engineers is practically impossible, an engineer has to build, design the car within a set budget, and make it to the largest market, for instance whats good on a car in arizona (dry non humid weather with next to no rust) will not be particularly very good in atlantic canada ( extreme changes in temperatures, humid, high salt content on roads in winter), accountants for car companies will obviously target the american market over the canadian market based on population alone, other factors that mechanics have to deal with are altitude in which the vehicles operate, to sum it up, engineers do great jobs when all things considered, good technicians are unfortunately hard to find these days because getting good comes with experience, techs in dealerships don't get the experience that techs in aftermarket get, most mechanics got in the trade cause their friends where in it and they enjoy cars, i enjoy food, that doesn't make me a chef,
also a note to engineers, a few inches from the firewall would be appreciated, and my hands aren't the size of a childs.
@@peterrobannsobrepena6029 But an experienced mechanic does more than what is on the service manual which can be an input for mechanical engineer to improve his design
engineers work with technicians? they must've locked the techs up in the bathroom when bmw came out with their twin turbo v8s
I studied ME for years, got a BS and an MS and worked for three years in a manufacturing line machine company. I hated it. All the passion I had for math and science proved useless, I was expected to jocky a desk for 9 hours a day and wasted most of those on BS. I felt like I had just signed away the next 40 years to my life to meaningless drudgery and existential terror. My advice to aspiring ME students: do a lot of interships. Don't get blindsided into a corporate nightmare the year after you graduate.
You can also apply for other jobs while you're working their. You do not have to stay as it is not your only options. But I can understand what you're saying. Some "engineering" jobs like quality engineering doesn't really require and engineering degree. So you will end up doing things that you find boring because it doesnt really directly relate to what you've been studying for as a ME. It is general work that people from different educational background can do. You're not really using all your learned so you end up being bored with your work. I noticed that in my internship.
Just subscribed to @humblemechanic after seeing this. Owner of a '13 MK6 GTI with a K04 setup! Also an engineer with a dad who started as a union machinist who later went to Purdue to become a mech. engineer. Both avenues of vocation are great!
An Engineer is the one who designs a car around a single component, thus making the mechanic have to take everything apart to get at it, lol.
they are also the ones who make the transmission fluid filter and drain pan plug look identical to what would otherwise be an oil filter and drain plug and then burries the drain plug behind a bunch of plastic and then puts the oil filter right next to the exhaust manifold...
First drain plug is part an internal combustion engine assembly, the other a transmission assembly. It doesn't matter what type of plug they choose to use on either.
Dwarfgrinder it does when they are identical and unless you knew to look behind a bunch of plastic and just see what looks like an "oil filter" and an oil pan drain plug.
Granted it was more a problem of me being new and unsupervised, but having a car that had an oil filter and a transmission fluid filter be identical did not help.
Noah Kuzel dude the oil filter can be anywhere but they out on the side of the engine u if distinguish that from a automatic tranny drain u don't reduce tj be anywhere near a car
Lmao I feel your pain
lmao Just picturing that guy standing next to his boss holding a trans filter like "I don't know why this oil filter is all flat, and the oil was a burnt orange color. I had a little trouble finding it behind that heat shield with the 14 bolts in it, but I got it out" I would have paid money to see his supervisors face at that moment.
I really appreciate that both of you mechanic and mechanical engineer try to make videos about the difference between your jobs or works. Greatly I watch this video that make me happy. Beside from the advantage and the disadvantage it reveal the truth from the reality on how it feel, how hard being a mechanical than mechanic
Performance engine builders, Engine tuners, Race car builders etc, regularly disregard automotive engineering and construct some amazing things.
Some things defy textbook knowledge and are only learned from experience. An engineer can tell you what SHOULD work. Sometimes pretty accurately.
A sharp, hands on guy will tell you what ACTUALLY works. And can tell you exactly why.
No.
Having worked in both occupations I would say this is pretty much spot on. I went back to the tools in the end because I found it less stressful and more rewarding. I hated being in an office environment and was regularly bored. I also ended up making more money as a tech than an Engineer before I retired. I love hitting things with big hammers so it was a no brainer to be honest.
I have been a design engineer for over 20 years. The knowledge you learn in school is almost completely irrelevant as the theory does not usually have a practical application. I do not design automotive parts, my career has been completely designing hydrocarbon plant or power plants. To design those you learn about the different codes and standards related to those facilities .... university does not teach you anything about the codes and standards followed by working engineers.
Engineering is the toughest undergrad degree you can enroll in. The math and other subjects they teach you will make most other students wince.
Starting wage for me 20 years ago was $32,000/yr. Today new grad students are hired at $60,000 to $70,000/ year depending on how good they are at negotiating. It took me 7 years of working before my salary exceeded $60,000/year but that was just the way the market was. My salary has since gone above $170,000/year. Consulting is a tough and thankless job though.
+Davidjune1970 Starting wage in 1996 is irrelevant to today, just as my starting wage as an engineer in 1969 of $7,200 does not compare to today. In 1969 a new Corvette was $6,000 and not $60,000. Today the price of a new Chevy Tahoe would buy a nice three bedroom house in 1969. My 1969 Corvette's 14 mpg was acceptable when 100 octane was $0.28 per gallon.
+James Villano you totally miss the point. I was sharing what the wage is for the job today which is what they were discussing. If I were to compare that starting salary to average salaries ... Back when I started the wage was average, for today's starting wage it is 1.7 times average. So the pay has improved significantly .... and it pays significantly above other average income earners.
OK, define "average". Average for a college grad, 2 year degreed technician, construction worker? We comparing ME to EE or?? Salaries vary by locale and industry (what is left of industry).
The ends of Jason's sleeves not being ironed correctly is bothering me but this is still a great video
What US mechanics need to buy their own tools? That's completely different here in the Netherlands
Yeah it's crazy! But at least we own them.
HumbleMechanic True. No worries about that when you switch workplaces
+INFsleeper Ik hoefde er altijd maar om te vragen
g4rr377 Thta's normal here. We have 2 mechanics and neither have their own tools
+INFsleeper In the US there's typically 10-20+ mechanics in the average dealership. If all of those mechanics were sharing tools, then it'd be a disaster. Even if each tech had his own company owned box, it'd still be a disaster. Lost/Stolen tools, the investment, improper use of tools, etc. At a ma and pa shop, you'll see what they'd call "shop tools".
After being a mechanic for over 20 years, my take is simply this; all engineers must spend their first year in the field working with technicians on maintenance and trouble shooting. This will lay the ground work for an intelligent and maintenance friendly machine.
Man I wish youtube was around before I decided to be mechanic.
If you see this comment and thinking about being mechanic...DON'T!!!
I would have been an engineer just based off this video. Mechanics average 40k a year. Engineers starting at 60k going up to 75-80k range is not even in the same league.
Even after 2 years school I still have to keep my master ASE up to date. I'm often sent to training classes for continued education. I would've been better off doing the 4 years and be done with it.
The dirt and grime, heavy lifting, cuts in hands, being burned as occupation risk, expensive tools to pay for out of salary, certification to maintain, all for pay similar to a Liberian. Mechanic is a terrible field right now.
Jay Smith ITS never to late
I'm majoring in Mechanical Engineering in China, these videos makes me optimistic. I like this
15:34 logical efficiency
So glad to finally here some real world examples of what you can possibly do because I have always wanted to be a mechanical engineer and am going into college now to finally become one so i just wanted to say thanks so much for all of the different automotive videos you have made over the years because I really enjoy watch all of them and provides so many answers to all of the questions I've gathered over the years!
You forgot the biggest difference -- Mechanics get dirty !!!! And Engineers can get paper cuts :-)
Love these talks. Keep them coming.
Hahaha one of the other videos Jason and I did, he held a wrench.
HumbleMechanic Yes -- he was playing with it for a while, but then said it was greasy :-) Poor Jason, he gets no respect -- he needs to bring out the dinosaurs suit again. But we still love his videos :-)
+Todd Dembsky There is a balance. A good engineer will get a little bit dirty. But not too dirty hehe.
Hein Bence You are correct, back in the old days when I was training to be an Architect, you always knew the good one by the amount of eraser crumbs that were on their slacks :-)
I find this funny because A&P mechanics basically do both jobs on the daily. turns out the number of hours in schooling between an aviation engineer and A&P mechanic is but a couple hundred hours out of thousands if im not mistaken. I'll have to check CFR14 part 65 again to be sure. But you can't go wrong with some greasy papercuts eh?
Great show, whenI was in my teens I decided not to persue an engineering career. In my 40s now, thinking of going back as I spend all of my free time working on cars and educating myself on the topic. It was really fun listening to you two :)
I feel like car engineers make life harder for mechanics :/
Because of the improvements in the technology on the cars?
Make their life's hard so your car can perform
+Ando no because of the really important parts or systems in really stupid places
+Philip Yurovskiyh Well no car engineers would mean no cars to work on for mechanics so no more job :(
+Philip Yurovskiyh Well that's because serviceability isn't top priority for companies. Not the Engineer's fault when a company doesn't have that as top importance.
Jason, thank you for posting this it was great to see! I'm 17 about to start college in the fall in hopes of becoming a mechanical engineer. As a fellow engine/car enthusiast it was really cool to get your perspective of what you went through going into mechanical. In addition it was also interesting to get another view from a technicians side.
1 year of tech school???? In Australia we do 3 years tech school and then a further year on the job before qualifying...... my Automotive Mechanics ticket, Auto electrician ticket, LPG ticket, Vehicle Safety Inspector ticket and Diesel ticket took far longer than 1 year of tech school.
Guys, I just love the way you make it look so simple regarding the difference in both areas, but more important is that you both realize how much both areas rely on each other, the just graduated is supported by the technical expert and technical expert learn some methodology as well! Cool humble video, congrats!
I could instantly tell you have more than 60 frames per second at the first two seconds of watching this video
Finally i find people who explain what a mechanicle egineer is i need to start to plan what job i want to have because i am about to go into high school and soon collage.
Since I'm an engineer I have a biased coming into this video
Since I'm a techy I completely grok that...
While this video is two years old, I felt the need to comment on it. As an aspiring mechanical engineer (10 years ago), a car guy, potential car mechanic (5-6 years ago), and a subscriber to your channel: I am currently, and since my high school days a technician for different internet and TV/Internet services, and some car sales in between (Subaru Included), very happy with my current choice of career.
I opted not to got to college for mechanical engineering due to financial reasons, and did not become an auto mechanic because I wanted to keep that a hobby (to hell with working on everyone else's car AND THEN have to deal with mine).
This enforces my thought process of why I chose to do what I do. I watch your videos to learn, and figure out the why. And, I feel that makes me the nerd that I am in my field, especially. The what makes an engineer, the why makes a technician.
I enjoy your videos, and have sent recommendations to a few other people.
This video, is my favorite. You may have your S2K, and Crosstrek (vs STi), and videos about how you feel about hitting your garage shelving, THIS VIDEO IS PERFECT. It is why I am happy with what I do. I'm not designing things to work properly under certain circumstances, and I'm not fixing things for people, then fixing my own on my own time.
I have the time to do what I need, when and how I want. Apologize for the long winded, and public comment, but I'm thrilled to have found your channel.
I would like to see a conversation between a group of mechanics and a group of automotive engineers. Have the engineers/designers explain why they built things a particular way. Did they ever think it might have be fixed or taken apart?
This video is so perfect! I am currently in a Mechanical Engineering program and am transferring to a different University to go in to Auto Mechanics. It was so helpful hearing about both of the careers I am/was considering from people in those careers. This video fits my situation perfectly. I love your videos and have learned a lot of helpful things i will be able to use in the future.
I'm an engineering student right now and you keep saying that starting at 60k is really good for a 4 year degree? Prior to going to school full time I worked in the Oilfield with absolutely no degree and a Ged. Making 80k. Just before I quit my boss offered me a 10% raise. So you're saying I'm getting an education to make less money?
Yeah the average starting wage is about 60K for engineering. Maybe working at the oilfield pays more because it is dangerous and labor intensive?
Maybe more dangerous but I did t work very hard. It was more of fly out there. Tell people how to fix something. Stay until it's fixed then go home.
He said it's average but really it varies wildly depending on your past experience, personal motivation, and the particular sector and location you're working. There are typically more opportunities for someone with a degree as well. Personally do software development and learned more practical information on my own and outside of school than in, but the degree is automatic credibility. May take a couple years out of school to get back to your old salary but specialization and location matter a lot.
Shaun Husain yes, average starting salary..... some make 30 , some make 100K
Yep, that's exactly right. The college degree is useful, and in many cases required even to apply for a job. But it's not always worth the time and very considerable expense to get the degree.
Many times over the years I've questioned myself why I went and got a Bachelor's degree. Years later I'm still paying student loans, and my salary isn't worth what I put into it, and what I'm getting paid, even though my job requires a technical science-based degree.
Great video, you both made some fantastic points, especially regarding hourly and salary. As an ex-engineer (electrically and computer) I will say my hours increased as my career flourished. As an entry level engineer, I was making about 60k and working about 60 hours a week, which ends up being about $19.25 an hour while paying back some school loans. You were smart to limit your time to 40 hours a week but not all projects allow that type of schedule. Thanks for airing this comparison.
I found this very useful as someone who is currently looking at different possible university courses (in the UK) and I am still unsure of what field of engineering I want to go into. PLEASE, if you could do more of these then I'd find it super useful thank you.
Awesome. Jason and I try and get together as often as we can.
+Antivorg Hey, I don't know if you looked at this before but it might help www.howdoesacarwork.com/p/should-i-become-mechanic-mechanical.html
+Wilton Ricardo thanks man really interesting
+Antivorg There are courses which let you specialise, I do Mech Eng at a UK University and you get a choice to specialise at the end of year 2 into: aerospace, automotive, innovative design, materials+manufacturing or just straight mechanical. Im a first year so if have any questions feel free to ask
+Antivorg Perhaps the best way to make your decision is to go talk to engineers who work in various capacities. Go to a nearby manufacturing facility and speak with the engineering staff there. It's the best way to see what engineers do in the real world.
He makes a good point. If you can not properly diagnose faults or problems but can throw on brake pads or light bulbs you are NOT a technician or a mechanic, you are a parts changer!!
Everyone... The engineer designs/innovates a new cylinder head using 3D modeling and a deep understanding of how heat transfer, hot spots, air/fluid flow, and material cross-sectional properties effect the combustion efficiency, pre-detonation, flow capability, and longevity of the cylinder head. The mechanic bolts the cylinder head on... An engineer is a designer, a mechanic is a laborer... Any GOOD engineer can do the mechanics job, but a mechanic can NOT do an engineer's job!!
You sound pretty arrogant. I'm a mechanical engineer. I've met a lot of engineers who can't do the work of a mechanic!
Agree with Mark. Not likely an engineer can troubleshoot a system failure. Mechanics aren't just parts changers.
Nolan Mann why u tryna make it a vs. competition....
Yeah I’m an engineering program at my hs currently, and I have no clue what I wanna do in the future, but you being confused too at one point in your careers gives me hope because you always hear of engineer having to always be knowing what to do at any given moment, nice talk glad I watched
Hey! I'm a marketer! Nice vid guys like both your channels
Hahahha. ;)
Oh god, I needed this vid since a kid. I was always into cars. I swear with all ur knowledge u could build a car with your videos and tools alone.
2:12 reading from your left hand I see lol
Hahahha it sure looks that way doesn't it.
+SimplyCRehZ if you look closely, there is nothing written in his hands
Except the camera catches his hand and it's blank *-*
+SimplyCRehZ Anyone smart takes notes. You don't really need to hide it.
+SimplyCRehZ It's his video, he could use a teleprompter if he needed to. Why would he write on his hands like a 12 yr old?!
If you guys had a talkshow I'd subscribe and listen in while I was working lol. I've been into Engineering explained's channel for about 2 years now every so often I encounter a problem or question that is well explained and answered. Now that I'm out of the Military I've become an entry-level Lube tech at ford and when I started I found humble mechanic on youtube. I just realized you two actually met up and had this discussion! I was just wondering the ins and outs of engineering while currently working as a tech at a dealership. How cool! Keep the channels going guys it's awesome that you guys can go out of your way to help educate and shed light on possibly not so well known things within the industry.
Jason, were you on any project teams in school, like FSAE? That's a super great way to learn the practicals of vehicle systems and engineering in general if classes aren't cutting it.
+Brandon Amat I was not. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about automotive engineering though!
+Engineering Explained Could you make a video about Tyre evolution ? I never realised they could have evolved that much...
+ipissed Try again.
+Brandon Amat SAE Baja FTW
+Brandon Amat I'm currently in the Formula Hybrid team!
videos like these would make an excellent podcast to listen too on my daily commutes to college. I really like watching these videos, thanks.
I hope I didn't make a mistake because I 'm getting my A.A. (Associates) degree from a community college to transfer to uni
But im trying to become a mechanical engineer
It's not. As he said in the video....an engineer starts out at 60k. No reason in going into debt if you can take the same classes at a CC. In more cases you will go into UNI more experienced
a lot of good uni have a transfer relationship with their nearby cc and that is great because they r recognizing that the curriculum is equivalent to their uni equivalency. also cc have smaller class sizes and I find that it's more beneficial to learn in that environment. (p.s. this is based on my experience in the u.s )
It's a great idea for many students to start at a smaller school where there will be a better student/teacher ratio. Also, one of my issues with basic classes at a 4 year school was that some the professors clearly resented teaching the intro classes as they preferred to spend their time on research and with grad students. So, when I needed help, I had to rely on friends and tutors when I got stuck. My friends who started at a tech school, got all their general classes out of the way, then came to the big school, all finished with a fantastic GPA, and no one cared that they didn't get all their credit hours from the same place. The other benefit you have in the tech schools is that you can usually stay close to home. Kind of a gentler introduction to College. Oh yeah, and you're likely to graduate without as much debt as the traditional 4-year college, as long as the credits all transfer. Lots of big schools have partnerships with local small schools so that there is no doubt what will transfer. Talk with your advisor, make a plan. If you need to adjust your plan, be sure the advisor is involved.
I am a big Fanboy of yours from Mumbai,India.. wanna meet you once... I am a second year Electrical Engineering student and i am in love for Hybrid Baja cars and Nascars... The way you explain the automobile technicalities and put up a critic point and also your judgements are more theoretical and relevant rather than the other Automobile Critics who just comment over the car periphery and the basic dynamics quality of the engine or efficiency(more of business aspects).. i like how you show the engineering a car is more technologically sound and how to drive it.
Wait, I thought engineers drove trains.
One hopeful overlap its that they both have a full understanding of how a component works!
Mechanical Engineers build weapons and Civil Engineers build targets.
I can totally relate to both these guys. I was a mechanic for 7 years and then took an engineer degree which I finished last year. I never regretted going this way through the educations!