DieselPower, thanks for the phone discussion and reply..lots of good information! I learned an immense amount, including the following:
Summary for everybody: I'm going to switch to:
UTF RED for my hydraulic oil, it meets the Kubota SUDT specifications and is colored so you can see it on the dip stick and find leaks.
Moly XL Pro-Spec III synthetic blend multi viscosity engine oil 10W/30
for my engine oil. It, too, is uniquely colored for visibility of leaks and on the dip stick.
Moly 880 Crown and Chasis Grease
I'll consider switching to a grease gun loader pump ($50 or less) since this comes best priced in 45lb pails (6 gal)
Reasons
UTF RED is about $16.60/gal or less, SUDT = $17 best I could find on net. It also has components that help seals to retain/regain their function, thus avoiding/reducing/fixing leaks. Maximum pour point (F) = -40 (SUDT = -46F, but either way, it's too cold in Texas to be on a tractor
)
Moly XL Pro-Spec III engine oil = $101/6 gal = 16.95/gal = 4.24/quart = price comprable to the Mobile 1 synthetic diesel oil I have been using. I like the idea of adding Moly compounds to all metal surfaces for added protection.
Moly 880 Crown and Chasis Grease also provideds moly components for the extreme pressures of FEL work and I like that. My only concern is that quantities of 45lb ($222) will take a long time to use up, probably my lifetime. On the plus side, it's shelf life seems to be superb, with no oil leak out even after years of sitting.
The main selling point for me is that
free used oil analysis (UOA) is included in the price for any of the TRC lubricants. You take a sample at the regular drain interval, and then at intervals afterwards until the results indicate it is time to drain the product. This means that I can achieve the extended drain intervals that I want and can expect from the superior fluids.
This matches my scottish ancestery, busy schedule (and distaste for a messy project). In the past, I've purchased SUDT and Mobile 1 or Rotella T Synthetic oils, run them longer than the typical drain interval, but been forced to drain them without actually knowing if they had reached the end of their functional life. In fact, when I drained the products, they actually looked just fine. With the TRC products, it looks to me like you pay the same price or less, but drain only when needed, thus actually being able to benefit from the quality oils purchased and care/maintence I provide to my tractor.
Oh, yes, the final kicker is that when the total order is $300 or more, shipping to my front door is free as well. Under $300 is $20 handling. This isn't hard to achieve, 12 gal UTF RED + 6 gal of Moly XL Pro-Spec III = $300.90
That's exactly the quantity I need for 1 complete drain/fil, no surplusl
Oh, and another thing, I CAN GET WHAT I NEED WHEN I NEED IT. The Chevron synthetic THF product can't be had. The SUDT requires me to make a 80 mi round trip to get it.
So, what's not to like... well, I kinda wish I'd discovered all this before my 600 hour service that I just did..... but, there will be another one in the future and I'll already have the fluids on the shelf ready to go!
I know that there are many good lubricants out there that do just fine. However, when I looked at the TRC products, at every turn there seemed to be something that was just a tad better than it had to be and = or better than my alternatives. I've only listed a few of the items that caught my attention above, there are more but I can't remember them all. So, I'm gonna give them a try and expect to have extended drain intervals, early warning via UOA should engine or hydraulic component failure be beginning, and product availabllity when I need more.
My tractor is a big investment and I want to give it every chance to run superbly beyond the end of my lifetime. For those who may wonder, I have no relationship to DieselPower or TRC lubricants other than via TBN.
