All the Gear No Idea

So you’ve picked this great environmentally friendly car, might have cots a few pounds more but you’ve done your bit. Well actually all the manufacturers’ hard work by eager boffins can be undone by your gear selection and we’re not talking about those flares.
By selecting the highest gear possible, without letting our engine labour, you can not only save fuel but also reduce clutch wear and tear. The same is true if you smoothly change from 2nd to 4th or 3rd to fifth. The Green Car Guide reckons that a car travelling at 40mph in 3rd gear can use 25% more fuel than at the same speed in 5th gear. It’s all about road craft unlike coating in neutral downhill which means that you aren’t in control of the vehicle and the savings are negligible, particularly if you crash.