Asbestos is only dangerous for tradespeople, right? Wrong. Despite tradespeople like builders, plumbers, and electricians being at a high risk of exposure in NZ, car enthusiasts and mechanics can also be at risk. You can learn the ins and outs of asbestos in the automotive industry below.

What Automotive Products Contain Asbestos?  

There are so many news articles and stories about asbestos-containing building materials that it’s easy to assume that they are the only ­products that contain asbestos. However, many automotive components do, both in New Zealand and worldwide.

While some of these products below might not have made it to our shores, you’ll be shocked to learn just how many everyday classic car parts contain this hazardous natural material worldwide. 

• Brakes - Brake shoes, consisting of the brake lining and housing, both contain asbestos

• Clutches – The clutch lining of vehicle clutches can contain asbestos to assist with friction-resultant heat

• Hood liner sheets – Temperature control is a significant issue in the average engine bay, so some vehicle manufacturers applied asbestos as hood liners and around engines

• Gaskets and components – The heat seals, gaskets, packing, and valves, in vehicles can sometimes contain asbestos. This includes the sheet gaskets and rope used in cylinder heads, pumps, manifolds, and oil pans.

• Spark plugs – In the past, some spark plug brands used to contain asbestos

• Insulation – Electrical insulation, also known as wire loom, was once used around electrical components to stop them from overheating

• Air conditioning housing – Some vehicles had as much as 55% asbestos around their air conditioning units

• Heat shields – To prevent fires around mufflers, some automotive manufacturers installed heat shields containing asbestos

• Undercoating – Asbestos fibres were once used as a filler and strengthener in undercoat paint

• Mufflers and components – Mufflers and their components once contained asbestos, including the compound used to repair them

• Adhesive – While a wide range of materials are used in the average vehicle adhesive, asbestos cement was once mixed in

• Decal stripes – While pretty, decal stripes might be dangerous. Some decorative stripes have been known to contain asbestos in the past

• Body putty – Auto body filler compound is asbestos-free today, but some manufacturers used to add asbestos

• Soundproofing – To make your journey far quieter, some automobile manufacturers would use asbestos soundproofing on the inside of body panels

Who’s At Risk?

While our refusal to allow the import of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials into NZ means the average car enthusiast or mechanic is less at risk of exposure before, that doesn’t mean their industry is risk-free.

A number of workers in the automotive industry can still be at risk when working on older vehicles or those that have been imported with asbestos-containing materials.

Auto mechanics, auto body workers, auto assembly line workers, truckers, bus drivers, roadway workers, and heavy machine operators are a few of the many professionals who may face asbestos exposure in their lifetime.

Do Any Cars in NZ Contain Asbestos?

We have strict standards here in NZ regarding asbestos, but that doesn’t mean our entire vehicle fleet is asbestos-free. A number of classic cars here in Aotearoa New Zealand still contain original asbestos parts. This can mean that car enthusiasts and any mechanics working on them must take great care when performing repairs and maintenance.

However, asbestos isn’t even limited to old cars, so it seems. In 2012, thousands of Chinese-made Great Wall and Chery vehicles made their way into New Zealand with asbestos-containing gaskets. Australia made the call to recall the 24,000 vehicles that had entered Australia, but New Zealand opted against it. Instead, the asbestos-containing parts received warning stickers. Owners could also request a replacement.

Ateco Automotive spokesman Daniel Cotterill said in an NZ Herald article that the asbestos levels were ‘negligible’, and the amounts were small and bound in the matrix of the materials used.

After the asbestos was identified, the company said they wouldn’t import any more vehicles with asbestos-containing parts, and the manufacturers were told to use non-toxic alternatives.

MTA chief executive James McCall said asbestos had caused a great deal of damage to repairers and people in the industry for a number of years and believes the vehicles should have been recalled and all those parts replaced.

How to Handle Asbestos in Vehicles

Knowing that a number of classic cars in NZ contain asbestos, it’s essential for the average mechanic or vehicle enthusiast to know how to work with it and keep themselves safe. Here are a few helpful tips:

1. Invest in PPE – disposable booties, disposable coveralls, and a P2-rated mask

2. Dispose of single-use PPE appropriately

3. Never use air to remove dust – e.g., a blowgun to remove brake drum dust or transmission housing dust

4. Remove dust with a HEPA vacuum with a negative pressure attachment

5. Maintain a fine moisture mist when drilling or cutting parts

6. Double-bag asbestos-containing parts and dispose of them responsibly

7. Handle Asbestos Responsibly

Whether you’re working on your own classic vehicle as a weekend hobby or you’re a qualified mechanic working on other people’s cars, it’s crucial that you take care. A number of vehicle components can contain asbestos, and safe asbestos management practices can be pivotal for protection.