You are of course correct, but good luck with that.  The principal culprits 
with that are European countries and manufacturers, who are more metric than we 
are (Same is true of the misused kilogram-force, directly, in pressure units, 
and "metric horsepower.").  They will probably not accept correction from a 
country that can't legally weigh an apple in kilograms (for sale).  (FPLA 
requires Customary, allows supplemental metric for random-weight goods.)

The liter is well accepted for larger engine displacements and used nearly 
universally by American car manufacturers.  Although some metric style guides 
would suggest the liter only be used for liquid volumes, it is commonly used 
for cargo capacity (trunk) as well as engine displacement.  Why is it "heresy" 
to use the milliliter for small engine displacements?  If it is that hard to 
get people to use cm³ or say cubic centimeter, perhaps we should conclude that 
mL is at least superior to cc.




________________________________
From: Bill Hooper <[email protected]>
To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Mon, June 14, 2010 9:42:36 PM
Subject: [USMA:47790] Re: Metric motors in the USA


On  Jun 14 , at 8:52 PM, Brian White wrote:

But Bill, regardless-- (1800cc is) pronounced eighteen hundred see see. And, 
That's hardly a problem.

I agree that it IS done the way you say. What I am saying is, that it is not 
correct SI to say it that way. Therefore, it should NOT be said that way. Those 
who DO say it that way need to be informed why it is bad practice and 
encouraged to use correct practice.

You seem to think a mish-mash of various SI and non-SI measures and their 
expressions is "hardly a problem". 
I maintain that it is a BIG problem.

If everyone makes up his or her own pet ways of using SI (by altering the way 
they write or pronounce the measures) then we will quickly degenerate into the 
same miserable mess we have had with all the varieties of old English measures. 
Everybody wants to have his or her own "special unit" or special way of saying 
or writing it. When everybody has a different way of using/saying/writing the 
measures, then NO ONE will be able to understand anyone else.

Mutual understanding is far more important than mere ease of writing or 
speaking the measures. 

Regards,
Bill Hooper
Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA

==========================
Make It Simple; Make It Metric!
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