
In the game Elite Dangerous, players can use additional fuel tanks to increase their fuel range. While some players argue that adding extra fuel tanks is unnecessary due to the availability of fuel scoops, others have found that extra fuel tanks can be useful for deep-space exploration. The number of extra fuel tanks that can be used depends on the number of free slots in a player's ship. While the fuel tanks themselves do not add mass, the fuel inside them does, so players must manage their fuel levels to maintain their desired jump range.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of additional fuel tanks | As many as there are free slots in the ship |
| Use of additional fuel tanks | Can be used to increase fuel range |
| Fuel tanks and jump range | The more fuel carried, the shorter the jump range |
| Fuel tanks and weight | Fuel tanks have 0 mass, but the fuel in them does |
| Fuel scoop | Can be used instead of an extra fuel tank |
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What You'll Learn
- Fuel tanks can be fitted in the Fuel Store or as an Internal Compartment
- Additional fuel tanks will likely use the same principle as cargo racks
- You can increase fuel range by adding a smaller fuel tank
- Fuel tanks themselves don't add mass, but the fuel you fill them with does
- Fuel consumption is displayed on the ship's fuel indicator on the HUD

Fuel tanks can be fitted in the Fuel Store or as an Internal Compartment
In Elite Dangerous, fuel tanks can be fitted in the Fuel Store compartment or as an Internal Compartment. All ships come standard with the biggest fuel tank they can fit.
While you cannot switch out the default fuel tank on any ship, you can downgrade it to a smaller tank in its assigned slot. This can be helpful if your ship is overweight, as it reduces the mass and increases the jump range. For instance, the ZP Hauler can be fitted for a ridiculous jump range/fuel efficiency if you downgrade the fuel tank and fit all D-class modules except for the FSD.
Players have speculated that future updates may allow the installation of additional fuel tanks, potentially by making fuel tank slots into regular internal compartments. This could increase fuel range, although it would also take up space needed for other modules.
Some players have suggested fitting a ship with multiple fuel tanks and a fuel scoop to scoop stars, fill up, and sell the fuel. This could create a new occupation within the game.
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Additional fuel tanks will likely use the same principle as cargo racks
In the game Elite Dangerous, players have been discussing the possibility of adding extra fuel tanks to their ships. While the game currently does not allow players to touch the fuel tank in any ship, there are speculations that future updates may introduce additional fuel tanks as modules that take up module slots.
One player, Unbroken_Pariah, speculates that these additional fuel tanks will likely use the same principle as cargo racks. They suggest that, similar to how cargo racks fit into normal internal compartments without a dedicated slot, additional fuel tanks could become regular internal compartments. This would mean that players could add extra fuel tanks to their ships without having to worry about dedicated fuel tank slots.
Another player, Mephane, agrees with this idea and expects the fuel tanks to fit the current cargo rack sizes. For example, they suggest that a class 4 fuel tank would equal 16 tons of fuel. This solution would provide players with more flexibility in managing their fuel reserves and increase their jump range.
However, some players have expressed concerns about the balance of the game if players are allowed to add excessive amounts of fuel tanks to their ships. For example, one player points out that adding 200 tons of fuel tanks to a Python ship might not change the jump range but would reduce the need for scooping fuel.
It is important to note that fuel and the commodity hydrogen fuel are not interchangeable in Elite Dangerous. Players cannot transfer cargo to or from the fuel tank. Additionally, fleet carriers require an alternate fuel, such as the commodity tritium, to undertake hyperspace jumps.
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You can increase fuel range by adding a smaller fuel tank
In Elite Dangerous, players can increase their fuel range by strategically adding a smaller fuel tank to their ship. While it may seem counterintuitive to add a smaller tank, this strategy can offer significant benefits for deep-space exploration.
Firstly, it's important to understand that fuel tanks themselves have zero mass, meaning that only the mass of the fuel contributes to the ship's overall weight. Therefore, by having a smaller fuel tank, players can reduce the total fuel capacity and, consequently, the maximum fuel weight. This reduction in fuel weight directly translates to an increased jump range, allowing players to travel farther on a single jump.
Additionally, the ability to install multiple fuel tanks in a ship further enhances fuel management strategies. Players can opt to keep these additional tanks empty, only filling them up when encountering a string of unscoopable stars. This approach ensures that players have the necessary fuel reserves to continue their journey without sacrificing jump range when scoopable stars are scarce.
However, it is worth noting that adding too many fuel tanks or filling them excessively can negatively impact jump range. The key to optimizing fuel efficiency lies in finding the right balance between fuel capacity and fuel weight. Players should carefully manage their fuel levels and adjust their fuel loadouts as needed to ensure their ship maintains the desired jump range.
While some players suggest that using a fuel scoop instead of carrying extra fuel tanks is a more efficient approach, having additional fuel tanks provides a safety net during deep-space exploration. It grants players the flexibility to explore without constantly worrying about finding scoopable stars to refuel. This freedom to venture beyond known scoopable star systems can greatly enhance the exploration experience in Elite Dangerous.
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Fuel tanks themselves don't add mass, but the fuel you fill them with does
In the game Elite Dangerous, fuel tanks themselves have zero mass, but the fuel you fill them with does. This means that a full tank of fuel will increase the total mass of your ship, impacting its jump range and fuel efficiency.
Fuel tanks can be fitted in the Fuel Store compartment or as an Internal Compartment. All ships in Elite Dangerous come standard with the biggest fuel tank they can fit. While it is possible to downgrade to a smaller tank, this is not recommended as it will reduce your jump range.
If you're looking to increase your fuel range, there are a few options available. One option is to keep your tank half-full, which will give you the same effect as having a full tank of half the size while still allowing you to fill up for longer trips. Another option is to add a fuel scoop, which will allow you to collect fuel from scoopable stars without having to dock at a station.
Additionally, you can increase your fuel efficiency by reducing your ship's total mass. This can be done by removing unnecessary modules or opting for lighter alternatives. It's important to note that removing certain modules, such as the Life Support module, will result in reduced ship functionality.
Overall, while having additional fuel tanks can increase your fuel capacity, it's important to consider the trade-off between fuel range and ship mass to optimize your performance in Elite Dangerous.
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Fuel consumption is displayed on the ship's fuel indicator on the HUD
In Elite Dangerous, fuel consumption is displayed on the ship's fuel indicator on the HUD. The HUD displays the ship's fuel information as a number, a thin line, and a segmented bar. The number indicates how much fuel, in tons, the ship is using per hour. For instance, 0.22/h means the ship will use 0.22 tons of fuel every hour at the current rate. This number changes based on the ship's speed and whether it is in supercruise or normal space.
The thin line on the HUD represents the current running fuel that the ship has and is consumed when in supercruise or normal space. The segmented bar (or solid line for ships with fuel capacity of 16 tons or more) shows how much fuel is in the ship. Additionally, the waveform in the heat signature display indicates the amount of heat emitted by the ship. A flatter waveform means less heat is emitted, making it harder for other ships to detect the ship's signature.
Players can increase their fuel range by adding a smaller fuel tank. While ships come standard with the biggest fuel tank they can fit, downgrading to a smaller tank can increase jump range. This is because tanks have 0 mass, so only the mass of the fuel is considered. Keeping the tank half full will have the same effect as a full tank of half the size.
Fuel is consumed when the ship activates its Frame Shift Drive, with a large amount of fuel used to jump to hyperspace. Ships can refuel at stations with the Refueling service or by skimming main sequence stars with a Fuel Scoop.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can have as many fuel tanks as you have free slots in your ship.
Additional fuel tanks can be fitted in the Fuel Store compartment or as an Internal Compartment.
Additional fuel tanks can be useful for deep-space exploration. They can also be helpful if you encounter a large "brown field" with no scoopable stars.
Yes, the more fuel you carry, the shorter your jump range becomes. Fuel tanks themselves don't add mass, but the fuel you fill them with does.











































