WI sheriffs warning of diesel gelling in recent freezing temps

Law enforcement in Wisconsin are warning truck drivers unfamiliar with freezing temperatures about the possibility of diesel gelling. 

This week, Portage County, Wisconsin Sheriff Mike Lukas says that officers have seen multiple cases of semi trucks stalling on the highway when their diesel gets too cold. 

“It is amazing looking on the interstate, seeing how many semis are gelling up,” Lukas said to Metro Wire. “We’ve seen quite a few of them in the last two days.”

Lukas admits he’s not an expert on diesel, but says many truckers from the southern states aren’t aware of the fuel additives or types of diesel available to prevent the diesel from thickening and clogging the fuel system if it gets too cold. Lately, semi trucks have been stalling out on the highways of Wisconsin a lot. 

“If you have summer fuel in it, they can freeze up and gel, and it won’t run through your machine,” Lukas said. “Then it has to be towed in and warmed up.”

“What happens is, a lot of these truckers are from down south, where they run number two diesel all the time, and number two diesel doesn’t have the cold additives to keep it from gelling up,” Ben Gaboda with Johnson Towing said. “So when they come up here from Florida and get up here in subzero weather, they’re using regular fuel that you would use during the summertime, and therefore it’s gelling up.”

“People need to make sure they thaw their vehicles and ensure good winter driving conditions before they get out on the road,” Lukas said.