diff --git a/actix-rt/src/arbiter.rs b/actix-rt/src/arbiter.rs
index 20f147d8..f3413b17 100644
--- a/actix-rt/src/arbiter.rs
+++ b/actix-rt/src/arbiter.rs
@@ -60,19 +60,19 @@ impl Default for Arbiter {
 }
 
 impl Arbiter {
-    pub(crate) fn new_system<E: ExecFactory>(exec: &mut E::Executor) -> Self {
+    pub(crate) fn new_system<Exec: ExecFactory>(exec: &mut Exec::Executor) -> Self {
         let (tx, rx) = unbounded();
 
         let arb = Arbiter::with_sender(tx);
         ADDR.with(|cell| *cell.borrow_mut() = Some(arb.clone()));
         STORAGE.with(|cell| cell.borrow_mut().clear());
 
-        let controller: ArbiterController<E> = ArbiterController {
+        let controller = ArbiterController::<Exec> {
             rx,
             _exec: Default::default(),
         };
 
-        E::spawn_ref(exec, controller);
+        Exec::spawn_on(exec, controller);
 
         arb
     }
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ impl<Exec> Drop for ArbiterController<Exec> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<E: ExecFactory> Future for ArbiterController<E> {
+impl<Exec: ExecFactory> Future for ArbiterController<Exec> {
     type Output = ();
 
     fn poll(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Self::Output> {
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ impl<E: ExecFactory> Future for ArbiterController<E> {
                 Poll::Ready(Some(item)) => match item {
                     ArbiterCommand::Stop => return Poll::Ready(()),
                     ArbiterCommand::Execute(fut) => {
-                        E::spawn(fut);
+                        Exec::spawn(fut);
                     }
                     ArbiterCommand::ExecuteFn(f) => {
                         f.call_box();
diff --git a/actix-rt/src/builder.rs b/actix-rt/src/builder.rs
index c1a273f4..46aef974 100644
--- a/actix-rt/src/builder.rs
+++ b/actix-rt/src/builder.rs
@@ -15,21 +15,21 @@ use crate::system::System;
 /// Either use `Builder::build` to create a system and start actors.
 /// Alternatively, use `Builder::run` to start the tokio runtime and
 /// run a function in its context.
-pub struct Builder<E> {
+pub struct Builder<Exec> {
     /// Name of the System. Defaults to "actix" if unset.
     name: Cow<'static, str>,
 
     /// Whether the Arbiter will stop the whole System on uncaught panic. Defaults to false.
     stop_on_panic: bool,
-    exec: PhantomData<E>,
+    _exec: PhantomData<Exec>,
 }
 
-impl<E: ExecFactory> Builder<E> {
-    pub(crate) fn new() -> Builder<E> {
+impl<Exec: ExecFactory> Builder<Exec> {
+    pub(crate) fn new() -> Self {
         Builder {
             name: Cow::Borrowed("actix"),
             stop_on_panic: false,
-            exec: PhantomData,
+            _exec: PhantomData,
         }
     }
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ impl<E: ExecFactory> Builder<E> {
     /// Create new System.
     ///
     /// This method panics if it can not create tokio runtime
-    pub fn build(self) -> SystemRunner<E> {
+    pub fn build(self) -> SystemRunner<Exec> {
         self.create_runtime(|| {})
     }
 
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ impl<E: ExecFactory> Builder<E> {
         self.create_runtime(f).run()
     }
 
-    /// Create runtime with a given instance of type that impl `ExecFactory::Executor` trait.
-    pub fn create_with_runtime<F>(self, mut rt: E::Executor, f: F) -> SystemRunner<E>
+    /// Create runtime with a given instance of `ExecFactory::Executor` type.
+    pub fn create_with_runtime<F>(self, mut rt: Exec::Executor, f: F) -> SystemRunner<Exec>
     where
         F: FnOnce() + 'static,
     {
@@ -75,26 +75,26 @@ impl<E: ExecFactory> Builder<E> {
 
         let system = System::construct(
             sys_sender,
-            Arbiter::new_system::<E>(&mut rt),
+            Arbiter::new_system::<Exec>(&mut rt),
             self.stop_on_panic,
         );
 
         // system arbiter
         let arb = SystemArbiter::new(stop_tx, sys_receiver);
 
-        E::spawn_ref(&mut rt, arb);
+        Exec::spawn_on(&mut rt, arb);
 
         // init system arbiter and run configuration method
-        E::block_on(&mut rt, async { f() });
+        Exec::block_on(&mut rt, async { f() });
 
         SystemRunner { rt, stop, system }
     }
 
-    fn create_runtime<F>(self, f: F) -> SystemRunner<E>
+    fn create_runtime<F>(self, f: F) -> SystemRunner<Exec>
     where
         F: FnOnce() + 'static,
     {
-        let rt = E::build().unwrap();
+        let rt = Exec::build().unwrap();
         self.create_with_runtime(rt, f)
     }
 }
@@ -102,20 +102,20 @@ impl<E: ExecFactory> Builder<E> {
 /// Helper object that runs System's event loop
 #[must_use = "SystemRunner must be run"]
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct SystemRunner<E: ExecFactory> {
-    rt: E::Executor,
+pub struct SystemRunner<Exec: ExecFactory> {
+    rt: Exec::Executor,
     stop: Receiver<i32>,
     system: System,
 }
 
-impl<E: ExecFactory> SystemRunner<E> {
+impl<Exec: ExecFactory> SystemRunner<Exec> {
     /// This function will start event loop and will finish once the
     /// `System::stop()` function is called.
     pub fn run(self) -> io::Result<()> {
         let SystemRunner { mut rt, stop, .. } = self;
 
         // run loop
-        match E::block_on(&mut rt, stop) {
+        match Exec::block_on(&mut rt, stop) {
             Ok(code) => {
                 if code != 0 {
                     Err(io::Error::new(
@@ -130,11 +130,12 @@ impl<E: ExecFactory> SystemRunner<E> {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Spawn a future on the system arbiter.
     pub fn spawn<F>(&mut self, fut: F)
     where
         F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static,
     {
-        E::spawn_ref(&mut self.rt, fut);
+        Exec::spawn_on(&mut self.rt, fut);
     }
 
     /// Execute a future and wait for result.
@@ -142,6 +143,6 @@ impl<E: ExecFactory> SystemRunner<E> {
     where
         F: Future<Output = O>,
     {
-        E::block_on(&mut self.rt, fut)
+        Exec::block_on(&mut self.rt, fut)
     }
 }
diff --git a/actix-rt/src/runtime.rs b/actix-rt/src/runtime.rs
index a79ec46b..fcc96e86 100644
--- a/actix-rt/src/runtime.rs
+++ b/actix-rt/src/runtime.rs
@@ -32,41 +32,23 @@ pub trait ExecFactory: Sized + Send + Sync + Unpin + 'static {
     /// complete execution by calling `block_on` or `run`.
     fn block_on<F: Future>(exec: &mut Self::Executor, f: F) -> F::Output;
 
-    /// Spawn a future onto the single-threaded runtime without reference it.
+    /// Spawn a future onto an executor without reference it.
     ///
     /// See [module level][mod] documentation for more details.
     ///
     /// [mod]: index.html
     ///
-    /// # Examples
-    ///
-    /// ```rust,ignore
-    /// # use futures::{future, Future, Stream};
-    /// use actix_rt::Runtime;
-    ///
-    /// # fn dox() {
-    /// // Create the runtime
-    /// let mut rt = Runtime::new().unwrap();
-    ///
-    /// // Spawn a future onto the runtime
-    /// rt.spawn(future::lazy(|_| {
-    ///     println!("running on the runtime");
-    /// }));
-    /// # }
-    /// # pub fn main() {}
-    /// ```
-    ///
     /// # Panics
     ///
     /// This function panics if the spawn fails. Failure occurs if the executor
     /// is currently at capacity and is unable to spawn a new future.
     fn spawn<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(f: F);
 
-    /// Spawn a future onto the single-threaded runtime reference. Useful when you have direct
+    /// Spawn a future onto an executor reference. Useful when you have direct
     /// access to executor.
     ///
-    /// *. `spawn_ref` is preferred when you can choose between it and `spawn`.
-    fn spawn_ref<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(exec: &mut Self::Executor, f: F);
+    /// *. `spawn_on` is preferred when you can choose between it and `spawn`.
+    fn spawn_on<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(exec: &mut Self::Executor, f: F);
 
     /// Get a timeout sleep future with given duration.
     fn sleep(dur: Duration) -> Self::Sleep;
@@ -105,7 +87,7 @@ impl ExecFactory for ActixExec {
         tokio::task::spawn_local(f);
     }
 
-    fn spawn_ref<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(exec: &mut Self::Executor, f: F) {
+    fn spawn_on<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(exec: &mut Self::Executor, f: F) {
         exec.1.spawn_local(f);
     }
 
diff --git a/actix-rt/tests/integration_tests.rs b/actix-rt/tests/integration_tests.rs
index dcf70f25..e7e072ac 100644
--- a/actix-rt/tests/integration_tests.rs
+++ b/actix-rt/tests/integration_tests.rs
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ impl ExecFactory for TokioCompatExec {
             .unwrap();
     }
 
-    fn spawn_ref<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(exec: &mut Self::Executor, f: F) {
+    fn spawn_on<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(exec: &mut Self::Executor, f: F) {
         exec.spawn_std(f);
     }
 
@@ -103,27 +103,26 @@ impl ExecFactory for TokioCompatExec {
 
 #[test]
 fn tokio_compat() -> std::io::Result<()> {
-    // manually construct a compat executor.
-    let rt = TokioCompatExec::build()?;
+    let exec = TokioCompatExec::build()?;
 
-    // do some work with rt and pass it to builder
     actix_rt::System::builder::<TokioCompatExec>()
-        .create_with_runtime(rt, || {})
+        .create_with_runtime(exec, || {})
         .block_on(async {
             let (tx, rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
-            tokio_01::spawn(futures_01::lazy(|| {
-                tx.send(251).unwrap();
-                Ok(())
-            }));
-
+            use futures_01::Future;
+            tokio_01::spawn(
+                tokio_01::timer::Delay::new(Instant::now() + Duration::from_millis(1))
+                    .map_err(|e| panic!("tokio 0.1 timer error: {}", e))
+                    .map(|_| tx.send(251).unwrap()),
+            );
+            TokioCompatExec::sleep(Duration::from_millis(1)).await;
             assert_eq!(251, rx.await.unwrap());
         });
 
-    // let the system construct the executor and block on it directly.
     actix_rt::System::new_with::<TokioCompatExec, _>("compat").block_on(async {
         let (tx, rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
         tokio::spawn(async move {
-            tokio::time::delay_for(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
+            TokioCompatExec::sleep(Duration::from_millis(1)).await;
             tx.send(996).unwrap();
         });
         assert_eq!(996, rx.await.unwrap());
diff --git a/actix-server/examples/custom_executor.rs b/actix-server/examples/custom_executor.rs
index 2aac5690..6f4f5ee0 100644
--- a/actix-server/examples/custom_executor.rs
+++ b/actix-server/examples/custom_executor.rs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ impl FromStream for AsyncStdTcpStream {
     }
 }
 
-// impl trait for custom executor so server can/block_on spawn tasks
+// impl trait for custom executor so server can block_on/spawn tasks
 impl ExecFactory for AsyncStdExec {
     type Executor = ();
     type Sleep = Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = ()> + Send + 'static>>;
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ impl ExecFactory for AsyncStdExec {
         async_std::task::spawn_local(f);
     }
 
-    fn spawn_ref<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(_: &mut Self::Executor, f: F) {
+    fn spawn_on<F: Future<Output = ()> + 'static>(_: &mut Self::Executor, f: F) {
         async_std::task::spawn_local(f);
     }
 
diff --git a/actix-server/src/builder.rs b/actix-server/src/builder.rs
index 03b15b54..5df4a9e7 100644
--- a/actix-server/src/builder.rs
+++ b/actix-server/src/builder.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ pub struct ServerBuilder<Exec = ActixExec> {
 
 impl Default for ServerBuilder {
     fn default() -> Self {
-        Self::new()
+        ServerBuilder::new()
     }
 }
 
@@ -52,16 +52,8 @@ impl<Exec> ServerBuilder<Exec>
 where
     Exec: ExecFactory,
 {
-    /// Create new Server builder instance with default tokio executor.
-    pub fn new() -> Self {
-        ServerBuilder::<ActixExec>::new_with()
-    }
-
     /// Create new Server builder instance with a generic executor.
-    pub fn new_with<E>() -> ServerBuilder<E>
-    where
-        E: ExecFactory,
-    {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
         let (tx, rx) = unbounded();
         let server = Server::new(tx);
 
diff --git a/actix-server/src/server.rs b/actix-server/src/server.rs
index 54930529..eeef8a77 100644
--- a/actix-server/src/server.rs
+++ b/actix-server/src/server.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ impl Server {
 
     /// Start server building process with a custom executor
     pub fn build_with<Exec: ExecFactory>() -> ServerBuilder<Exec> {
-        ServerBuilder::<Exec>::new_with()
+        ServerBuilder::<Exec>::new()
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn signal(&self, sig: Signal) {