Does driving in a lower gear use more gas?

Question

Enough said. :)

Answer 1

No! This puts a lot of strain on the tranny. Not a good idea!

Answer 2

Uses the same but u will mess up the transmission though...

Answer 3

higher rpm's at the same speed - of course it uses more gas!

Answer 4

Yes it uses more gas. The engine is turning more RPM's and is working harder.

Answer 5

If you constantly drag your rpm above certain limit say 3000 or more, no matter on flat road or uphill, you will use more gas. The reason being is you are forcing your car by using more energy.

Answer 6

Yes it does burn more because you are making the motor work harder.  Lower gear is good for when your going up a hill or pulling.

Answer 7

Read your owners manual.  All cars equipped with an automatic transmission suggest using a lower gear when climbing a hill or pulling a trailer.  Yes, it does use more gas but that is the payoff for maintaining control of the vehicle.

Answer 8

Yes, you will use more gas.  The engine has a certain band at which it operates most efficiently.  That's why cars have gears.  The car goes faster, but the engine is kept at about the same speed.

If you're in a lower gear than you need to be, the engine is having to spin more times to make the car travel a certain distance.  Higher gears allow the engine to turn less times, and go the same distance.