Importing an engine - msds?

[zero 1162]

I'm trying to import an engine from Australia for my project car, and I've run into a roadblock.

The freight company needs a Material Safety Data Sheet of the engine before it can be sent.

 

I've tried looking online but can find one for engines - just ones for bmw oils, antifreeze, paint etc.

 

Can someone tell me where to look or who to ask? 

[KwS 2425]

Can you prove it has no fluids in it or something?

[zero 1162]

It will be drained of fluids anyway, but apparently they want a msds of the engine itself to make sure it has no hazardous materials.

[Young Thrash Driver 1020]

Get your kids to draw a cock and balls and attach it as a .pdf, chances are it is never even looked at

[zero 1162]

15 minutes ago, Young Thrash Driver said:

Get your kids to draw a cock and balls and attach it as a .pdf, chances are it is never even looked at

I would, but I really want this engine.

Its been really hard tracking one down in decent condition.

[andrewm 236]

I used to deal with these for work, I cant imagine you will find one for an engine.

They are particular to hazardous substances so you cant disprove hazardous with one, as if it isnt hazardous or atleast wouldnt seem hazardous to a person, it wont have one.

It would be hilarious to read one though

Hazard type: heavy

Skin exposure: will squash you

Eye exposure: will squash them.

Exposure limits: depends how nice the engine is...

Mobility in soil: limited

 

We only ever had SDS for liquids and lubricants contained in machiney and perhaps handling instructions like 'do not invert' on a seperate document.

[zero 1162]

Thanks Andrew.

 

Is it possible they are asking for something that doesnt exist?

 

i can understand it for things like asbestos in brake pads and dangerous chemicals in oil and antifreeze, but I cant see why there would be one for a big lump of aluminium?

 

[kiwi535 538]

i wonder if BMWNZ can help.They would have such for the cars they import?

[zero 1162]

Thanks Paul.

I was hoping someone on here would know where to look, as I think we have a few BMW employees on here?

I think @E30 325i Rag-Top might be in the know?

Edited March 18, 2020 by zero

[andrewm 236]

6 minutes ago, zero said:

Thanks Andrew.

 

Is it possible they are asking for something that doesnt exist?

 

i can understand it for things like asbestos in brake pads and dangerous chemicals in oil and antifreeze, but I cant see why there would be one for a big lump of aluminium?

 

We brought in parts for manufacturing facilities and I never saw one for the part itself, i.e large rotating assemblies came with oil and grease or occasionally for a coating SDS but nothing specific to the part. 

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2957]

I would highly doubt there is a data sheet for an engine, and I’m pretty sure there isn’t one for the cars coming in.

Going back to a previous life and H&S, I seem to recall that Data Sheets only need to be provided for items or substances that are marked as some kind of hazard, ie flammable, toxic, corrosive, etc. So, as an engine isn’t marked as a hazard it wouldn’t have one.

I will talk to the guys in the parts warehouse to see if they have ever seen one for an engine...

Not that it would make any difference in this context, but which type of engine is it? I guess it’s used?

[zero 1162]

Yes its a used m62b46.

 

Thank you so much Jon.

[nick496 268]

Mighty car mods had an issue importing an engine into Australia, as it potentially contained asbestos in its head gasket. 

I think they planned to get the engine disassembled and then reassembled overseas with new non asbestos gaskets. 

So this is likely where the msds comes in. Weird that you would have to do it for an export though. 

But given the age of the engine, this shouldn't be a factor in your instance. 

[Driftit 2078]

Yeah was going to say the same thing about Mighty Car Mods. The same went for brake pads. Couldn't say they didn't have asbestos in them so they were not allowed in. 

The restrictions don't seem designed to protect people. But protect the market.

Obviously the restrictions extend to the freight companies. Saves the government having to police it. 

Edited March 19, 2020 by Driftit

[Tulle 6]

Suggest try another forwarder

Were handled like motorbikes in the past , fuel tank drained, no battery, was certified done by a mechanic , re just an engine as below

I asked for current info and got “If there’s no fuel, battery or other haz product we can accept as non haz with no MSDS required.”

Companies are super careful with potential DG these days and it's a specialist area with trained staff but sometimes misunderstandings can happen

[C-130 Hercules 571]

An (M)SDS is only applicable to substances and solutions. Articles, such as engines, do not have a SDS nor is there a requirement on the manufacturer to provide such. Normally there are product data sheets for articles. Again, these will tell you little about any associated hazards. 

 

I would only expect a SDS for any particular hazardous substances contained in the engine. 

 

If you ship by sea, then I believe the correct classification for engines falls under UN3166 in the current IMDG code (39-18). Special provision 961 (or 962) would lift provisions of the IMDG code if drained of hazardous liquids. Fuel lines or tank is not required to be purged, but engine must not be able to start with amount of fuel left in system. 

 

Hope this helps. You used to deal with this in my previous life...