On thinking about this, I think you need to understand cold weather issues related to Diesel fuel and especially the ULSD now mandatory in the US before purchase.
Your problems will not be as severe as in Minnesota and ND winters I have to deal with. However it is cold enough in
Kentucky that you need to really understand this post before you buy a diesel vehicle. What I will share with you is the most important information you need to understand before you and you wife own a diesel vehicle. Having your wife on board and understanding this is crucial.
I mention this as my wife never got over the terror of owning diesel vehicles in ND. She would never fuel a vehicle and would never venture out longer than the fuel range.
At one time we had a diesel VW Rabbit and a Suburban diesel at the same time.
In the end I had to part with the VW and get a Honda Accord primarily for winter fuel reasons.
You need to understand cloud, pour points, and water contamination of diesel fuel and what to do about it. You need to understand how the new ULSD has aggravated the problem.
Here is what I found out about the Kentucky winter climate.
Winters are rarely harsh. In January, average daily high temperatures increase from 38 F in the north to 44° F in the south. Cloudy skies are more frequent in winter, as most areas receive near 40 percent of available sunshine. Polar air masses occasionally affect Kentucky for short periods. Temperatures dip below 0° F an average of about five days in the north and two days in the south. Spring and fall are generally pleasant seasons, though temperatures can change dramatically with the passage of frontal systems. The diurnal temperature range is about 20° F during the summer and winter but increases to near 25° F during the spring and fall, when warm days and cool nights are prevalent.
Avg Annual Temp
Avg # days > 90F Avg # days < 32F Record High Temp Record Low Temp
Jackson 65.9 47.1 56.5 14 79 101 / 1988 -18 / 1985
Lexington 64.9 45.4 55.2 22 95 103 / 1952 -21 / 1963
Louisville 66.6 47.0 56.8 36 86 105 / 1954 -22 / 1994
Paducah 67.8 47.2 57.5 44 88 106 / 1952 -15 / 1985
Kentucky's annual average temperature - 55.59 degrees, 15th warmest state in the U.S.
This is from the petroleum performance technology.
This from Enertech Labs.
This from
Howes
who make the anti gelling agent I have trusted my life to.
As you will see the ULSD has virtually no lubricant properties. I strongly advise the use of Howes year round. I have always used lubricants ever since the introduction of low sulfur fuel and I regard the use of lubricants with ULSD fuel as mandatory, no matter what dealers and manufacturers say.
At over 200K miles the injector pump has never been off my suburban and the injectors are still perfect. It does not smoke at all. People who drive behind it swear I must have changed the engine for a gas one! This would not be the case without obsessional use of lubricants.
In the winter you don't want to let your tank get low. The more diesel you keep in the tank, the less likely you are to get water in the diesel from condensation. Buy the way never use gas line antifreeze used for treating gasoline, it will cause severe engine damage and quite likely right away.
Women have resistance to blending winter fuel. It is best to blend it yourself. I can tell you from bitter experience that you can not trust fuel stations to have fuel of the blend they say they have.
Women are also resistant to handling the lubricants. They do not like the smell on their hands of handling diesel hoses and lubricants.
Bottom line: - you and your wife need to understand what I have told you.
