An In-Depth Guide to Everything About Engine Shipping and Engine Shipping Cost

What's in this article?

Engine transmissions are complicated as they contain heavy and hazardous materials to transport. Moreover, the shipping process can be tough on machines, but engines are built to withstand it.

If you need to send auto parts, you have many shipping options.

You can use a regular shipping company, but specialized companies only deal with engines and transmissions. So it is always a better option to choose them to carry out your shipping. However, while transitioning, you need to take special precautions. Make sure the company you are using is experienced in engine shipping.

The shipping method you choose will depend on a few factors: their dimension and weight, the number of engines you are shipping, and how valuable they are.

Shipping an engine is not very complicated, but it is tricky. So in this article, we will disclose all the information about it, like the best method to choose, how to prepare your engine, and different types of engines that can be shipped. We will also tell you about some precautions you should take while shipping your engine.

Read more to know about engine transport.

Different Types of Engines That You Can Ship

There are different types of engines that you can ship. Some of them are listed below:

Diesel Engine

Diesel engines are often used as mechanical engines, power generators, and portable drives. They are popular in locomotives because of their superior torque.

Diesel engines use compression ignition to ignite the fuel, which is different from petrol engines – another type of engine that you can transport.

Petrol Engine Transport

A petrol engine is an engine that uses gasoline to create power. These engines are found in smaller to medium-sized vehicles. Petrol engines are 4-stroke engines, which means they are easier to tune and fix than other engines in cars.

Electrical Engine Shipping

There are two types of electrical engines:

Those that run on direct current (DC), like batteries in cars
The ones that use alternating current (AC) from a power grid, a generator, or an inverter!

Electrical engines are considered more effective than combustion engines, making them excellent for applications that need better fuel efficiency.

Thermal Engine Shipping

Thermal engines can be used to do work by converting heat into mechanical energy. These engines are used in various applications, like thermal power stations, steam locomotives, and heating.

They're also used in steam turbines and jet engines.

Radial Engine Transport

This type of engine is usually used in airplanes that are small in size. This type of engine has cylinders mounted around the crankshaft in a circle. Depending on the size of the engine, the number of cylinders can extend from five to twenty-eight.

Aircraft Engine Shipping

Aircraft engines are typically gigantic. Typically, aircraft engines can be divided into two types:

Lightweight pistons
Gas turbines

These two categories are further divided into four sub-categories. Such as turboprop, turboshaft, turbojet, and turbofan.

Electric Motor Engine Transport

Electric motors are being used more in vehicles because they are fuel-efficient and readily available. Electric motors are often used in small multi copter UAVs for military, research applications, and law enforcement. Electric motors also benefit ships, turbines, movers, power tools, and paper mills.

Jet Engine Transport

Jet engines come in the category of large cargo mainly transported by truck, ship, or on the loading area of a large plane. Transporting jet engines overseas is a complicated process that requires careful planning and professional handling.

Most jet engines are too big and heavy to be transported by anything other than a massive truck or cargo plane. Thus it is essential to have a transportation company specializing in shipping large and heavy items.

Motorcycle Engine Transport

A motorcycle engine's internal is similar to those of a car engine. However, if we compare it with the car engines, motorcycle engines use less gasoline as they have high RPM (Revolutions Per Minute). Motorcycle engine transport can be beneficial for people looking to save on fuel costs.

Car Engine Shipping

There are two types of car engines — one that uses diesel fuel and the other that uses petrol fuel.

Diesel engines are suitable for vehicles that need to tow things or overtake other cars. Petrol engines, which use a different kind of fuel, are more eco-friendly and better for people who only make short trips.

6 Safety Precautions To Take While Shipping Engines

It is necessary to take some precautions before shipping. The following are a few items to consider in the engine shipping precaution list.

Properly Drain Fluids

Liquid can escape from an engine, damaging the materials package. The leaks will make your components less safe, but they will also be less likely to survive severe bangs, jolts, or bumps during transit.

They can also cause freezing water in pipes and can cause them to crack, which can lead to further damage and potential injury.

Check for The Damages

Make sure to check your item over for damage before the carrier picks it up and before it is wrapped. If you find any damage to your engine, take pictures of it. It will help if something happens to your engine during transport, and you can also make an insurance claim with the help of those pictures.

Avoid Using Low-Quality Packing Material

One of the most common mistakes people make is using low-quality packing materials. Engines are too heavy to be packed in materials that have been used before and damaged or worn. Make sure to use new, high-quality packing materials to avoid any damage.

Secure The Engine To The Pallet

The engine's weight could cause it to break from the pallet and damage itself and even can cause harm to items that are present on the truck. So, ensure your item is adequately secured to the pallet before shipping. If necessary, use screws to ensure it does not move during transport.

Make Sure To Cover It Well

Cover it with a blanket or cardboard before putting an engine on the pallet. Additionally, it will help protect the engine from scratches or dents. So, it is necessary to cover the engine after you strap it down.

If you want to be extra careful, you can wrap the engine in shrink wrap to keep it in place on the pallet. It will help prevent the engine from getting damaged during transport.

Keep The Fluid Intake Accessible

Ensure you keep access to the fluid intake when wrapping the engine. It will allow carriers to ensure the fluids have been drained properly with the help of dipsticks. If they cannot check these things, it could lead to problems.

Proper Way To Prepare Engine for Shipping: Step-by-Step

Engines do not take up as much space. Still, shipping engines can be tricky as engines are not as easy to secure as cars. However, you need to know the rules and procedures for importing and exporting engines. Let's discuss the appropriate method to ship engines in detail.

Step 1: Choose A Perfect Shipping Mode

There are two types of shipping service modes that you can utilize when sending an engine. You can choose an LCL or LTL.

LCL (less-than-container load) is when the engine is shipped with other items in a container. It is good if you are shipping to a far away country. LTL (less-than-truckload) is when the engine is shipped with other items on a truck. This type of shipping is suitable if you are shipping within a country. It also depends on the engine type and where you are sending it. (More about these two methods later!)

Step 2: Ensure the Engine is Empty

Before transporting an engine, you need to prepare it. The first step is draining all of its fluids. Empty the engine and ensure that no liquids will leak out during shipping.

No matter which service you choose, Your engine will be inspected, so make sure to follow this step.

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Step 3: Choose the Right Securing Options

There are two ways to secure the engine that you need to transport.

Pallets
Engine shipping crates.

It is essential to know that crates are the safer option because they are more secure.

You should use a crate to ship your engine as the engine is less likely to get damaged if you use a crate.

On the other hand, a pallet is not considered the best idea for securing engines during transport.

You need to find the right size pallet, and it should be enormous if we compare it with an engine. The engine should fit on the right pallet, with at least four inches of space between the pallet perimeter and the edges of the engine.

Step 4: Secure The Engine with Additional Accessories

We recommend using chains, plastic straps, ropes, or ratchet straps. You should also use cardboard and shrink wrap to protect it during transport. Finally, it's ready for transportation, and you can hand it over to your shipping carrier.

The Potential Cost of Engine Shipping

Engines are less likely to be damaged in transport. They are also easy to move, so the shipping rates tend to be not so expensive. The cost of shipping an engine will depend on the size and weight of the engine and the distance it needs to be sent.

Shipping an engine cross-country will be more expensive than sending it a shorter distance. However, the average cost to ship an engine is around $120 to $380.

Cheapest Way to Ship an Engine

If you want to ship an engine without spending much money, using a freight service is often the cheapest way. There are many freight services available for engine shipping. It would help if you compared prices to find the best and most reasonable one. Freight services can ship engines to both domestic and international locations. There is likely a service that can ship your engine no matter where you are.

Make sure to ask about any restrictions or limitations, if there are any. It could be anything from size limitations to weight restrictions. Also, ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork ready when shipping your engine. It includes proof of insurance and a bill of lading. If you do not provide this information, freight service may delay or refuse your engine's shipping.

The Two Most Common Engine Shipping Processes in Detail

As mentioned earlier, we shall cover the two most common shipping processes — LCL and LTL in detail and highlight the benefits of using each method.

LTL Shipping vs. LCL Shipping: A Quick Comparison

LTL shipping is shipping smaller, individualized shipments that are Less Than Truckload (LTL). On the other hand, LCL shipping is the process of shipping more extensive shipments that are Less than the Container Load (LCL). Both methods have their unique benefits, so it's essential to understand the difference before deciding which shipping method suits your business.

LCL Shipping Process

The complete form of LCL is less than the container load. You are only reserving part of a container for your engine. The other container will be filled with the goods of other people. This specific shipping process or model cannot handle as many types of goods as other shipping processes. It can be not easy to find less than container load shipping for goods that need special care.

This type of shipping also means that your goods will be opened and closed many times. LCL shipping is most suited for ocean shipments only.

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LCL Shipping Benefits:

LCL shipping is significantly cheaper than total container load shipping. LCL shipping will be best if you want to ship a small engine that doesn't take too much space. If you are shipping something overseas and can't use LTL shipping, LCL shipping is the right choice for your engine's move.

LTL Shipping Process

LTL shipping is when you send less than a truckload shipment. LTL freight shipping is an excellent option for businesses that need to ship small-to-medium-sized shipments.

LTL shipment is more secure and faster than LCL.

LTL Shipping Benefits:

LTL freight shipping is cheaper than total truckload shipping. It makes it a good choice for goods that do not need to be treated carefully or delivered quickly.

If you have a lot of goods to ship, it might be worth paying a little more for total truckload shipping. And will help ensure that your goods arrive quickly and without any damage or theft.

Pro Tip: For engine transport, we will always recommend LTL shipping for its reasonable cost, convenience, and flexibility.

Conclusion

That was all about shipping an engine. When sending an engine, there are several things to consider, from the packaging materials you use to the type of shipping service you select. If you need to ship an engine, it is best to talk to a professional. Only a professional can help you find a shipping container and choose the best way to transport your engine.

Plus, if you take the time to package your engine correctly and choose a reputable shipping company, your engine will arrive at its destination in good condition.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your engine shipping process started today.

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