Drivers warned of common bad habit which makes your car 'consume 25% more fuel'

18 October 2023 , 11:57

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Drivers could be wasting fuel and money due to this one driving habit (Image: Getty Images)

Drivers have been warned about a common driving habit which could waste fuel and money.

Experts at Quotezone said petrol and diesel drivers could increase the fuel consumption of their cars by a staggering 25% by driving in the wrong gear, The Express reports.

A vehicle’s engine is designed to be most fuel-efficient at a certain RPM (revolutions per minute) range. According to car telematics provider Transpoco, cars are designed to start in the lowest gear as that's where you get the most power for acceleration. However, driving in the highest gear increases the fuel economy.

Greg Wilson, spokesperson for Quotezone explained that higher revs result in more fuel used, meaning that keeping revs down is key when trying to save money. Therefore, changing to higher gears as quickly as possible can have a big impact on fuel consumption.

Greg said: “Switching into the highest possible gear keeps the revs low which saves petrol. For example, at a 40 mph speed, the car will consume 25% more fuel in third gear compared to fifth. Under normal conditions, the gears should be changed when the revs are between 1,500-2,000 rpm.”

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Paul Maynard, technical training manager at ATS Euromaster, backed up this claim adding that motorists should "always look at their revs" if they want to save fuel.

He said: “The way you drive affects your fuel consumption. The more you accelerate, the more fuel you use. Ideally, stay under 3,000 revs, as a rough rule. Always drive in the highest gear possible without labouring the engine and change the gear much earlier than feels natural. Try not to hit the brakes too rapidly, as this leads to more acceleration, thus using more fuel.”

Wasting petrol is something many drivers want to avoid as much as they can at the moment. Earlier this month, the RAC reported that fuel prices had risen for the fourth month in a row. Unleaded went up by 4.5p from about £1.52 to £1.57 in September, pushing the cost of filling a family car to over £86.

The RAC said increased fuel costs were being driven by higher global oil prices, but it also claimed that petrol was being "overpriced".

Ruby Flanagan