The combine probably had three hours on the oil change. So, it was loosing about a gallon an hour out the rear main seal Denver. Too much. Consumption and loss of about a gallon a day is tolerable when you are busy.
We run some of the oldest combines around here Rich. The 8820 is an 82 model and the 9600 is an 89. Just never had enough margin in the last 20 years to upgrade! I mean shit, Dad sold 4 dollar wheat when Nixon was president! Everyone had new or newer stuff.
That was with fuel under a dollar, fertilizer was 60 bucks a ton and a cultivator shovel was three bucks. A new combine was under 40 thousand.
Now with 4 dollar wheat again fuel is three bucks, fertilizer is 700 dollars a ton and a cultivator shovel is 22 bucks. A new combine is almost 400,000!
The local pharmacist says you would not believe how many big burly farmers are on anti depressants!