Parts stockpile
 

Is anyone else considering/starting to store parts and consumables?

I have 20L of engine oil, 6 filters, enough diff oil for a full change of everything, another set of spark plugs, full set of brake discs and pads, and I am considering another 20L barrel of ATF and a pair of front calipers. (Rears are new)

You don't explain why.
Are you anticipating a shortage of such parts/consumables?

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I'm expecting shortages or at least long lead times for nearly everything...

At the very least, it's an inflation hedge even if supply chains continue functioning.

Yes, I already have a 40,000 mile supply of all the consumable maintenance items and fluids for the 4R. Even when the supply chain recovers and this stuff is once again widely available, it won't be any cheaper, given our crazy inflationary environment.

I just wish I could stockpile fuel!

What do you have in your supplies, anything additional to mine?

All the fluids except gasoline and windshield washer. OEM filters, belt, OEM alternator, starter, Denso plugs.

Belt, that's a good call. I should probably get an air filter too, although they don't really get dirty or wear out here.

I was wondering about a spare fan clutch too. What do you think?

Ah. Yes. Hoard all the parts to make shortages worse for everyone else. Nice.

Get the stuff you need for a year, maybe two, then leave it at that. If everyone gets this idea it makes it significantly harder for supply chains to keep up, let alone recover.

Hoarding is irrational. Preparation isn't. Don't blame others for your failure to prepare, it's simplistic and childish.

As I drive the only 4th gen in the whole country I don't think I will be depriving anyone of anything. My concern is parts unavailability outside of my control.

I usually end up with extra service and maintenance items, not for any purpose per se but because I buy when there's a good deal. For example, I got a 10-pack of OEM oil filters from Toyota for ~$40, so that's a ~60K mile supply with my OCI.

No, not me. Every time I do that, my car usually gets sold or wrecked before I use it up. Then just toss it in the trash along with my money. I may pre buy motor oil when mobil1 goes on sale, but never more than what I need on the next oil change.

Yes that is a concern!

Yeah, hoarding has definitely made supply chain problems worse and in some cases has been the sole problem with getting things. We had major problems with toilet paper in the US in the early pandemic days due exclusively to hoarding. Despite my advanced education through zombie apocalypse movies/games/etc., I never saw that coming.

I do keep about a year's worth of consumables like oil and air filters. But I only do so because I use Toyota OEM parts that I must order and getting oil filters 4-6 at a time is the only way to keep the shipping reasonable. I don't sweat the rest. We've already seen that getting gas to make the vehicle move is much more likely to be a problem than finding something like brake pads.

I keep several oil filters on hand, enough oil for 2 to 3 oil changes, 3 or 4 gallons of coolant, brake fluid, etc. etc. mainly just regular maintenance items for the most part.

I have always done this because I do all my own mechanical work as well as my family's vehicles and have done so for well over 50 years, I have more then one vehicle so most item can be used for more than one vehicle, you also never know when you can get a bad coolant leak or other fluids leaking, so I always have extra of all fluids on hand, I also keep various types of hoses, vacuum line, tubing, on hand, I also keep old but still good V-Belts and serpentine belts etc. in case one breaks and I need to install it to get it up and running until I get a new one.

After all my vehicles are not new, I have actually never bought a new vehicle (I don't like making payments and throwing money away on interest) and one never knows what could happen tomorrow and needs to be fixed pronto!!