How fuel works in Arctic Drive

The fuel loop

Arctic Drive’s demo page calls it “a thin tank of fuel and a long way to go”. The loop is:

1. Top up at every gas station. Do not assume the next one is close; there is no map.
2. Pick up every jerry can you can carry. They are heavy, but a can in the trunk is a run saved.
3. Siphon from wrecks when you find one with fuel. Players report this works; it is not an official tutorial.
4. Keep the car light. Weight burns fuel faster and makes the car harder to control.
5. Craft a flare gun (60 gear/scrap) for an emergency air drop if you get stranded.

Where fuel comes from

• Gas stations — the classic stop; the demo has at least one gas-station POI. Fill the car and any jerry cans.
• Jerry cans — at cabins, stores and wrecks. The demo’s playthrough finds several; take them even if the tank is full.
• Wrecks — siphon fuel from abandoned cars; player-reported, not guaranteed.
• Emergency air drop — the flare gun’s official description says it calls an air drop in your surroundings. We have not confirmed what the drop contains; treat it as a rescue, not a guaranteed fuel delivery.

Weight and efficiency

The official demo page is explicit: every item is physical, weight slows you down and burns fuel faster, and a tight turn can spill your haul. That means:

• Recycle heavy junk at the first bench instead of carrying it.
• Put heavy items low and forward in the car; a trailer is for bulk, not for everything.
• Do not tow a full trailer on a long stretch unless you have the fuel for it.
• A lighter car climbs icy inclines better; a heavy car can get stuck.

Planning a route with no map

There is no map. The compass at the top of the screen gives direction, not distance. Use these habits:

• Note the direction of the road when you leave a POI; you may have to drive back.
• Stop at every building you can see — gas station, cabin, store, watchtower.
• Do not wander off-road for a shortcut; the snow hides rocks and you can get stuck.
• Turn back early if the fuel gauge is low; the next POI is not guaranteed.

Running out of fuel

If the tank is dry and you have no can:

1. Stop and assess — is there a POI within walking distance? Walking in the cold drains body temperature.
2. Take a jerry can if you have one and walk to the nearest station; do not carry the whole base.
3. Use the flare gun if you crafted one; its description says it calls an emergency air drop.
4. In co-op, send one player for fuel and keep the other in the car with the heater; do not let the driver freeze.

Fuel tips

• Fill every jerry can at a gas station, not just the car.
• Keep one can as reserve; do not burn it on a shortcut.
• Siphon wrecks before leaving an area.
• Craft the flare gun before a long empty stretch, not after you run out.
• Turn the engine off when you stop to loot; idling burns fuel.
• Travel with a full tank and a light car; a heavy car with a half tank is a bad combination.