Australian testing on recalled VW cars has found they continue to use up to 14 percent more diesel and release noxious gas more than four times the legal limit.

The test, conducted by the Australian Automobile Association in partnership with the international motor body FIA, revealed VW could have found “a fix” for reducing the level of noxious emissions but “as a result, the amount of fuel used has increased”.

“The recall fix was implemented by VW after 2015 when it was revealed that more than 11 million VW diesel vehicles had been sold with a ‘defeat device’ installed, which detected when a vehicle’s engine was being tested and subsequently changed performance to improve emission results,” AAA said in a media statement.

The AAA said the result suggests a 2010 model Euro 5 VW Golf used an average of 7 percent more fuel on rural roads and 14 percent while driving on highways after the recall.

It also found that both power and torque of the vehicle had slightly increased after the recall.

The AAA said the results backed its calls for the introduction of a “real-world” emissions testing program.

The AAA tested 30 cars on a 90-minute real-world testing circuit. The circuit was divided into urban, rural and highway conditions.