Join hundreds of racers just like you! We love to help answer questions and race together.

How to Pick Starting Fuel in Iracing

How to pick starting fuel in iRacing: fast, practical steps for iRacing drivers to set correct fuel, avoid extra pit stops, and finish races without running out.

If you’re asking how to pick starting fuel in iRacing, the short answer is: pick fuel that covers your planned stint length plus a safety margin (laps or minutes), based on your car’s consumption shown in the garage. You’re in the right place — these steps get you from confusion to a safe fuel number quickly.

Quick Answer — how to pick starting fuel in iracing

Pick a fuel amount equal to the laps you plan to run, multiplied by the fuel used per lap (shown in the garage), plus 1–3 laps’ worth as a safety buffer. Use practice/qualifying to read consumption, then enter the liters/gallons in the garage fuel box before the race.

What’s really going on

iRacing doesn’t auto-fill fuel for race strategy — it gives you a starting value you must set. The game reports fuel usage in the garage and on your HUD. Fuel per lap varies with setup, draft, and driving style. If you start too light you’ll need extra pit stops or run out; too heavy and your lap times suffer from extra weight. So the goal is a balance: enough to finish your plan without overfilling.

Step-by-step fix

Do a short practice run at race pace (3–10 laps) and note fuel used per lap in the garage or telemetry.
Multiply fuel-per-lap by your target stint length (laps you want between stops).
Add a safety margin: +1 lap for short races, +2–3 laps for longer races or if you expect caution periods.
Convert to the correct units if needed (iRacing shows liters or gallons depending on series) and enter that number in the garage “Fuel” field before the session starts.
If you can pit with fuel during the race, plan whether you’ll top up mid-race; subtract planned top-ups from starting fuel.
If unsure, err on the side of +1 lap rather than risking running out; practice laps with different loads to see lap-time impact.

Extra tips / checklist

Check consumption with traffic and full throttle sections — solo laps understate usage.
Use the “time to empty” readout in the pit or garage as a second check.
If the series forces pit fuel limits, follow series rules and calculate accordingly.
For ovals, expect higher consumption at full throttle; add an extra lap.
When in doubt, compare your planned stint fuel to a teammate or pace car data.

FAQs

Q: How many laps worth of fuel should I add as a buffer?
A: 1 lap for short sprint races, 2–3 laps for longer races or if you’re not confident with consumption numbers.

Q: Where do I find fuel used per lap?
A: In the garage fuel/usage panel or the telemetry after a run. It may be listed as “fuel used” per session—divide by laps.

Q: Does setup change fuel consumption?
A: Yes. More downforce or drag can increase fuel use slightly, and a richer engine map (if available) uses more fuel. Re-check after setup changes.

Q: What if I can’t change fuel after grid?
A: Most series allow fuel edits until the session starts. If locked, you must follow whatever was set in the garage; use conservative numbers in future.

Wrap-up

Set starting fuel by measuring fuel per lap, multiplying by planned laps, and adding a safety margin. Practice one short run to get the numbers and enter the value in the garage before the session. Next session: test one lap heavier and one lap lighter to learn how fuel weight affects your lap times.