It's strange Carl, but I used to think the same way. Then, as my career morphed, it required more knowledge in a lot of areas. Lubrication was one of them. I found in my studies and research (and also practical experience), that there are very specific reasons for the multitude of lubricants, base stocks, and additive packages available to the consumer and professional today. I try to give the best advice I can not based solely on empirical data.
I like to think that we (collectively) are somewhat more sophisticated in our approach to tractor lubrication than the people that design the Chinese manuals.
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