SKIPPING GEARS . . BAD HABIT OR ENERGY SAVING ??

[banditboy]

I HAVE ...ACCORDING TO MY WIFE , A BAD HABIT OF SKIPPING UP THROUGH - MISSING GEARS i.e FROM 3RD - 5TH , OR 2ND -4TH .... WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS TO BE A BAD HABIT - THAT WILL COST MONEY AS IT PUTS STRAIN ON THE CLUTCH ECT , OR ..AS I DO IN MY DEFENCE ... ITS SAVING ENERY , AS I DEPRESS THE CLUTCH LESS- AND ACCELERATE LESS TIMES.
I REMEMBER BEING SHOWN - ENCOURAGED TO CHANGE DOWN AND SKIP GEARS AS YOU SLOW DOWN WHEN I WAS LEARNING 25 YEARS AGO !!!...BUT NOT SURE WHERE I PICKED THIS UP FROM

I HAVE SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF MECHANICS AND THEY BACK MY SIDE OF THE STORY , BUT DON T THINK THERE IS AN EXACT SCIENCE

[Stranger]

Please turn off your CAPS lock

[joeishmather]

I'd have said bad habit, you still have to get to the same speed as you would going up gears normally and therefor you'll be revving it higher in lower gears rather than using the gears properly, the only situation I could see this saving energy would be going down hill where the car would gain speed and momentum faster anyway and therefor they'll could skip a gear as the cars turning faster anyway..
Just my oppinion tho and I maybe wrong!!

[banditboy]

opinions are valid and welcome .heaven knows my dear wife gives me her's on most things

guess i ll keep trying to alter my habit

[davelowe]

There is nothing wrong with skipping gears, provided you don't labour the engine. Wide open throttle at low revs is bad - aim for a medium throttle at 1,500 RPM with a diesel, a tad higher - 2k on a petrol. Obviously., don't slip the clutch to compensate: that is considered VERY bad practice.