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How to Manage Fuel in Iracing

Answers how to manage fuel in iRacing for drivers: clear steps to set fuel per stint, measure consumption, and pit smart so you can fix this issue fast.

If you’re dealing with how to manage fuel in iracing, the short answer: measure fuel per lap in practice, add a safety margin, set the fuel level in the garage, and use simple in-race saving techniques. You’re in the right place to fix fuel worries fast.

Quick Answer — how to manage fuel in iracing

Measure your car’s average fuel use in a clean practice run (gallons or liters per lap). Multiply by planned laps, add 1–2 laps (or ~5–10%) for safety, then enter that amount in the garage fuel box. During the race, monitor laps remaining on the dash and save fuel with light throttle/engine maps if needed.

What’s really going on

iRacing tracks fuel consumption based on car, track, laps, and driving style. The sim shows fuel remaining in the dash and lets you set starting fuel in the garage before the race. Problems happen when drivers guess consumption or skip a proper practice run — you’ll either carry too much weight (slow lap times) or run out late in the race. The solution is a short, precise math-and-practice routine.

Step-by-step fix

Do a fuel-run in practice: run 8–10 consistent laps at race pace with the same setup you’ll use. Note start and finish fuel or check the in-car fuel used per lap in the telemetry/driver info.
Calculate fuel need: average fuel per lap × number of race laps = base requirement.
Add margin: add 1–2 laps for short races, or 5–10% (or more if cautions are unlikely) for longer races or ovals.
Set fuel in the garage: in the garage fuel field (gallons or liters) enter the required value. Confirm in the pit box that your car is set to start with that fuel.
Monitor during the race: watch “laps remaining” and fuel gauge. If consumption is higher than practice, pit earlier or use fuel-saving measures.
Use in-race tools: swap to a leaner engine map or short-shift if the car allows it, and lift-and-coast into corners to gain fuel without massive lap-time loss.

Extra tips / checklist

Run fuel-only laps in the exact setup to avoid surprises from setup changes.
For qualifying short runs, start with less fuel; for race stints, always plan fuel for the stint length plus the lap to pit.
Use a conservative margin when you’re new to a car or track; get tighter as you gain trust.
On ovals, expect more variance from drafting — add an extra lap if you can.
Don’t overfill: every gallon costs lap time; target minimum safe fuel for the stint.

FAQs

Q: How do I see fuel usage in iRacing?
A: Use practice laps and the in-car dash or telemetry. The garage also shows fuel amount; note start and end values to calculate per-lap use.

Q: How much safety margin should I add?
A: Start with 1–2 laps or ~5–10%. Increase if cautions are unlikely or if you’re uncertain about consumption.

Q: Can I change fuel during a pit stop?
A: Yes. In the pit stop menu you can take fuel during stops and adjust fuel strategy in the garage before the session.

Q: Does fuel strategy affect safety rating or iRating?
A: Indirectly — running out or making unsafe pit moves can cost position or cause incidents, which affect safety rating (SR) and results (iRating).

Short wrap-up

Measure consumption in practice, calculate need, add a margin, and set fuel in the garage. Practice this routine once and it becomes fast and reliable — try a fuel-run in your next session and refine the margin.