High fuel consumption in your car: 3 common traps for beginners — and how to investigate safely

When a car starts using more fuel, many people think only about their wallet. The problem is that, in many cases, high consumption comes along with loss of performance, excessive overheating, or faults that compromise safety.

For beginners, the risk is falling for quick fixes or ignoring important signs. Below are three frequent traps — and practical ways to investigate without putting you or the car in danger.

Trap 1: Blaming only the fuel and keeping on driving

It’s common to hear that consumption got worse because of the gasoline or ethanol. Sometimes that’s true, but assuming it without checking the basics can hide mechanical problems.

Before blindly switching gas stations, observe:

- Whether the car has lost power on climbs or during acceleration - Whether starting has become longer or irregular - Whether there is a strong fuel smell after driving

These signs can indicate an incorrect mixture, sensor failure, or even a leak. Continuing to drive like this increases the risk of a breakdown while in motion.

How to investigate safely

- Record real consumption over a few tanks, always on the same route - Watch for warning lights on the dashboard, even if they turn off by themselves - Avoid improvised tests on the street; any strong smell calls for a stationary inspection

Trap 2: Ignoring tires and brakes as causes of high consumption

Underinflated tires or dragging brakes quickly raise fuel consumption. The mistake is thinking this only affects costs, when in practice it affects stability and braking ability.

Common warning signs:

- Steering wheel pulling to one side - Car does not roll freely on a gentle downhill - Excessive heat in the wheels after a short drive

Simple checks that make a difference

- Check tire pressure with cold tires, following the car’s label - After driving, bring your hand close to the wheels without touching: excessive heat is suspicious - If you notice resistance while rolling, avoid long trips until it’s evaluated

Trap 3: Changing driving habits without realizing it

For beginners, small habits go unnoticed and become the norm. Hard acceleration, wrong gear selection, or constant use of sport mode increase consumption — and reduce the safety margin.

Some behaviors that weigh heavily:

- Accelerating hard right after starting the engine - Keeping high revs unnecessarily - Driving very close to the car ahead, requiring constant braking

Practical day-to-day adjustments

- Wait a few seconds before demanding power from the engine, especially when cold - Anticipate traffic to accelerate and brake less - Use economy mode when available, especially in the city

When high consumption becomes a safety issue

If the increase happened suddenly or came along with noises, vibrations, or dashboard alerts, treat it as a priority. High consumption can indicate faults that lead to loss of power during overtaking or unexpected breakdowns.

Avoid:

- Turning off warning lights “to see if it goes back to normal” - Continuing to drive with a fuel smell or overheating - Relying only on a subjective feeling that “everything is fine”

A safer way to investigate

For beginners, the best method is to combine observation with basic checks and to record changes. A simple log of fuel consumption, car behavior, and usage conditions helps a lot in identifying the problem without guesswork.

High consumption isn’t just extra expense. It’s a warning that something may be less than ideal — and the sooner you investigate calmly, the lower the chance that the alert turns into a scare on the road.