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How to Control Fuel Burn in Iracing

Learn how to control fuel burn in iRacing: clear step-by-step fixes for fuel usage, in-sim settings, and simple setup changes. iRacing drivers — fix this issue fast.

If you’re dealing with how to control fuel burn in iRacing, the fix is usually a mix of two things: check the car’s fuel/engine settings and practice simple driving changes. You’re in the right place to stop wasting fuel and finish races without an extra pit stop.

Quick Answer — how to control fuel burn in iracing

Lower fuel consumption by using the car’s fuel or engine map (lean settings), binding and toggling the fuel-mix/save button during the race, and adjusting driving style (short-shift, lift-and-coast). Test one change at a time and measure fuel per lap in a practice session.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing models fuel consumption realistically: richer engine maps and higher RPMs use more fuel. Some cars expose a fuel-mix lever or engine map in the cockpit or on your dash; others use a “Fuel Save” button you can bind to a wheel or keyboard. If you don’t control these settings, the sim runs the default (usually richer) map and your tank empties faster than expected.

You won’t damage the engine by running lean in iRacing, but you will lose power and lap time. The goal is to balance pace and fuel so you hit your pit window or finish the race.

Step-by-Step Fix

Do a short practice run: start with a full tank and run 5–10 consistent laps to see fuel used per lap in the pit or telemetry. Record the number.
Calculate target fuel: fuel per lap × laps remaining, add 0.5–1.0 liters/gallons as a safety margin.
Check car controls: find the fuel-mix/engine map control in the cockpit, dash, or setup screen. If there’s a fuel-save button, bind it to a button on your wheel or keyboard.
Try fuel map changes: switch to a leaner map or toggle fuel-save for a few laps, then compare fuel per lap and lap time. If lap time loss is acceptable, keep it.
Adjust driving: short-shift (change up earlier), lift-and-coast into braking zones, and roll on throttle more gently out of corners to save fuel without toggling settings constantly.
Final pit strategy: set fuel to add in pit setup to the calculated target, or top up manually if you run the session and know exact consumption.

Extra Tips / Checklist

Use the in-car fuel gauge and the pit window prediction to confirm your math.
Practice fuel-saving laps in quiet sessions to learn the lap-time tradeoff.
Don’t over-lean: if lap times drop too much, you may lose more positions than you gain.
Bind fuel map and pit-limiter buttons to easy-to-reach controls before a race.
In long races, plan a fuel-saving stint mid-race rather than always running lean.

FAQs

Q: Can I change fuel mix during a race?
A: Yes — most cars allow swapping engine maps or toggling fuel save. Bind the control so you can flip it without fumbling.

Q: Will running lean break the engine in iRacing?
A: No. iRacing won’t simulate engine damage from leaning out, but lean = less power and slower lap times.

Q: How do I see fuel per lap?
A: Watch the fuel gauge in pit or use the session/telemetry overlay after a run. Subtract tank levels between laps or check the fuel used in the garage screen.

Q: What’s a safe margin when calculating fuel to add?
A: Add about 0.5–1.0 liters/gallons as a buffer, or one extra lap’s worth if you’re unsure.

Short Wrap-Up

Controlling fuel burn is a mix of setup and driving. Test fuel maps, bind the fuel-save control, and practice fuel-saving techniques so you can hit strategy windows reliably. Next session: run a 10-lap fuel test and adjust one variable at a time.