Elite Dangerous Beginner's Guide - Fuel & Fuel Scooping | Friendship Drive Guides

Confused about fuel or fuel scooping in Elite Dangerous? This Elite Dangerous beginner's guide is here to teach you the basics of fuel and fuel scooping.
- What to do if I run out of fuel in Elite?
- How do I find scoopable stars?
- How do I use a fuel scoop?
This video should hopefully answer all these questions for you. If you need any additional help, let me know!
I stream full-time on Twitch (Mon - Fri at noon UK time), and play a lot of Elite: Dangerous and other space, sandbox, or story games. We'd love to have you over there sometime! / psyche
First Elite Dangerous Beginner's Guide: • Elite Dangerous Beginn...
The full Elite Dangerous guides playlist: • Elite Dangerous Beginn...
My purple HUD colour comes from the NO2O list on the forum: forums.frontier.co.uk/threads... (I use the Medium Purple/Sandy Brown one.)
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Twitch: / psyche
Twitter: / psycheplays
Instagram: / psycheplays
Website: psycheplays.com
#EliteDangerous

[@PsychePlays]

Let's...pretend not to notice that my modules have legal issues and I'm hostile in at least one of the shots in the video. I promise I've not been misbehaving.

[@mokmo23]

It's thorough. Right to the point and covers the topic without going one any tangents, would watch again.

[@PsychePlays]

Thank you! I feel like it's important to stay on point and keep this videos really short and accessible. At least, those are the kinds of guides I prefer!

[@swirrllfolfsky9803]

Many thanks! I was on the verge of running out of fuel, but luckily was able to find an outpost on a moon. The information here will definitely help me from getting in that situation again. Many thanks 👍

[@scoogsy]

I’ll say it again, excellent content. Not only are you showing us how to do something, you’re also showing us how to avoid common pitfalls, and what to do should be make a mistake. Also, the way to remember the acronym for scoop-able stars is hilarious!

[@DannyGreenLifts]

Going through all of your guides as I'm a new player. These are very helpful!

[@trixer230]

This is hands down the best fuel scooping video! Thank you so much!

[@markrichardson6863]

Awesome Guide as usual! As an absolute beginner I’ve watched all of your guides multiple times and discover new gems each time. Thanks.

[@eyegameplays6732]

I just recently started playing ED on my PS4. Your tutorials have been super helpful. Thanks for your content!

[@jameshardmanjr2527]

Thank you! I just recently ran out of fuel. I died as well for lack of air. now i know what to do. Appreciate your video.

[@prodical666]

I started playing this game after watching your tutorials last week or so and just today I ran out of fuel and needed to get the help of the FuelRats. It was a great experience and actually really cool how organised and quick they were!

[@PsychePlays]

They're amazing! I'm so glad you had a great experience with them!

[@leroyjenkins2639]

I’m super new but I just attached the heat sink before watching this video and I can confirm it’s a godsend for continuous hyperdrive use and now I know it’s basically required to refuel safely as a noob. Thanks for the tips!

[@Izaiiyah]

I'm also a new player and these sets of vids honestly help me. Thanks and I hope I could see more in the future!

[@PsychePlays]

Welcome to Elite! I'm so glad these videos have helped you.

[@blzahz7633]

A week into this game, I love it

[@PsychePlays]

Welcome to Elite! o7

[@blzahz7633]

@@PsychePlays Thank you, o7

[@Nero7441]

Have been thinking of buying the game for a long time now. Looking at these beginner videos, I think its time to jump in. The guide is on point and educational and I would like to see more of these in the future.

[@PsychePlays]

Thank you, I'm working on the next one (though have been a bit delayed due to adopting two new kittens and they're a handful!) If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! We also have a Discord with a dedicated Elite section if you ever decide you want to join.

[@Z3rath]

With the exception of combat ships, Fuel Scoops are the perfect example of "Bigger is Better" for any other build. If the scoop is the same size as your fuel tank, your scoop time is generally at or around 1 minute, give or take. Every scoop size above your fuel tank is roughly 10 to 15 seconds shaved off your scoop time (assuming max capacity scooping).

[@PsychePlays]

Very true! With no mass, there's not really any reason not to have the biggest Fuel Scoop (assuming you can afford it and don't need the slot for something else.)

[@the-yomma]

God this guide is good. Seriously. Answered every question I had. Thank you!

[@ethreix800]

Fantastic explanation, thank you.

[@johnbradshaw7525]

The Fuel Rats are excellent. I've just had to call on their services. They were so quick to get to me and refill my fuel tanks. They also gave me me some really useful advice on then stars that you can fuel scoop and what type of systems you can find fuel to purchase.

[@rubryc1557]

Oh my god!!! Been scooping for years without realising that you don't have to be in motion to do it... thanks for the tip.

[@PsychePlays]

I feel like we all have our little techniques for it too, sometimes I zoom through, sometimes I just sit and let it scoop whilst I sip my coffee!

[@BamaChad-W4CHD]

Great video. Particularly great recommendation of always having a fuel scoop. If you are doing anything more than jumping around running quick missions then indeed always take a scoop! Even a little 1A could save your life

[@edwardo1973]

a fantastic guide, beautiful cinematics on the ships.. :)

[@PsychePlays]

Thank you, Paul!

[@Moobs2k]

Keep up the good work Psyche !

[@PsychePlays]

Thank you!

[@CenarosNL]

Your video’s are super helpful for this new player :)

[@PsychePlays]

Thank you! Welcome to Elite!

[@bethofwhitby]

thanks for the help.. looking forward to playing with my hubby

[@hisnibs7166]

Very helpful thanks.

[@PsychePlays]

I'm so glad! Thank you for the comment.

[@brkbtjunkie]

I like these videos, thanks

[@markhall3323]

Wow that is a good guide thanks, just the info and no lame humour

[@wtfpantera]

As someone who just started playing, it's really cool to see videos being done in the game as it is right now and divided into smaller chunks (every other beginner's guide I could find was at least 40 minutes) BTW what can you do if you run out of fuel while playing solo? You got me subbed, keep 'em coming!

[@PsychePlays]

Thank you so much! I am working on the next one, it's just been slow going because of my two new kittens who've been taking up a lot of my off-stream time haha. If you run out of fuel in Solo, you can still contact the Fuel Rats and hop into Open Play when they're coming to rescue you. You can play on the same CMDR in Solo, Private Groups and Open Play, so if you wanted to contact the Fuel Rats you can do so on their site and then switch game modes when the time comes! Always double check if there's a closer system with a scoopable star (if you have a Fuel Scoop) or a system with a station nearby, but if there's nothing you can reach unfortunately you'll need the help of another player to deliver you fuel.

[@wtfpantera]

@@PsychePlays Ooh, I didn't realise you can switch between play modes just like that - I literally just started, so I'm still figuring things out. Thank you for the reply, looking forward to the next part - and do give your kittens some cuddles from me, 'cause I'm squeeing and the bare mention of them 😊

[@FlugHerr]

excellent tutorial. new sub!! this game is crazy but oddly addictive. started last week already ran out of fuel and died of Oxygen starvation. thought i had a fuel scoop but alas didn't.

[@PsychePlays]

I'm so glad that this helped in some way! Welcome to Elite, please let me know if you have any questions or anything, as I know the game can be a bit overwhelming at the start.

[@christophermeans]

Just started playing this game in earnest recently and these videos are great. I literally uninstalled E:D because I got stuck in space with no fuel. Also because it's incredibly confusing, but I'm in VR now and making more of a college try. So thanks for putting these out!

[@PsychePlays]

I'm so glad you're giving it another go! I promise it gets easier. If you need any help with anything don't hesitate to ask. Welcome back to E:D! I'm working on the next of these videos now, hopefully done by the weekend.

[@brkbtjunkie]

I think you can clear your save in the main menu

[@christophermeans]

@@brkbtjunkie Thanks :-) I did eventually do that and now I'm happily shooting lasers at rocks.

[@jmaz975]

Good video

[@PsychePlays]

Thank you!

[@TeeTownVideos]

Amazing explanations, just picked up elite on the sale and I’m excited to sink my teeth into it. So far I’ve only done the starter mission after the tutorial, as well as one light supply run to get some extra starter pennies, what is a preferable route to take from there on out? I’ve heard that mining is the best way to make cash efficiently, but I’m not opposed to any kind of play style as long as I can get some new experiences out of them!

[@PsychePlays]

So sorry for the late reply, my notifications were a bit broken. I would suggest trying a few different activities to see what you enjoy. A good starting point is running data courier missions to earn a little extra money at the beginning. If you're interested in exploration, there's also the Road to Riches which allows you to jump around nearby systems and scan valuable planets for a little bit of starter credits. Mining is the most lucrative at the moment, but it does require a little bit of extra money to get started (as you'll want a ship with at least a little cargo space, and the slots to have a Refinery, a Collector Limpet Controller or two, and the other mining tools.)

[@TeeTownVideos]

@@PsychePlays hey thanks for the reply, since my question I’ve decided to focus on exploration and scanning/planet mapping! I think I’m planning on saving up for an ASP explorer as I’m already halfway there, that play style has really worked for me so far and I’m having a great time! I’d like to be able to handle some basic combat as well but for the meantime I’m waiting to get that new ship before I really worry about advanced builds. Your tutorials absolutely helped me get the basics and I’m incredibly thankful for them! :^)

[@Prof.Pwnalot]

Appreciate the upload :) Nice upload and personality!

[@elishamartinthechannel1859]

whoa...Im overwhelmed. Lol day 3 of Elite Dangerous for me and I feel so small

[@devildonkey3482]

this was very helpful for me, the entire series but thats where i ask, wheres the next episode 😅

[@PsychePlays]

I'm so glad! The next guide should be up on Wednesday evening. I'm hoping to get a few up this week. If there are any particular topics you need help with let me know!

[@LaughingAndy]

To help combat the heat you get hit with while scooping have a look at your power plant. Try to make sure that you have one that can run all your systems and is at least a B or preferably an A. The plant has a lot of heat distribution systems in it and an A can lower it by 40%.

[@doommaker4000]

When the star turns red on your radar, the heat will start rising up to 100% and more. If you have a low rated fuel scoop (pretty much any ship but the ones dedicated for exploration), try getting as close to the red "zone" without entering it - it usually means you'll scoop at half the max rate, but you won't have to manage heat in any way.

[@dieselgaming7961]

I ran out of fuel yesterday, only been playing for about 6 hours. Called the fuel rats after learning about them from this video. So I can any of the nearest stations labeled LHS and dock and refuel?

[@wmgthilgen]

I prefer to stay on course to my vector, which is always on the other side of the star. Maintaining my speed I keep the nose just below the corona that circle's the star. Never heating up to any more than 75. Though I'll get a warning, it's only a warning. No damage done.

[@mythic2750]

Hahahahaha! Oh be a fine giraffe and kiss me, EPIC LMAO! Another good video CMDR Psyche, keep at it, keep bringing us awesome content about this massive space sandbox verse. Love your work ❤️

[@disaadalwulf4670]

How did you get a purple interface? Mine is only stuck as orange

[@louis4679]

(On Xbox) Not sure atm, but I think the latest version of the game have bots that come to your rescue, however they don't refill all your fuel, or is I doing something wrong🤷‍♂️. I need to know how do I get more fuel from them and or how to increase the main fuel tank / super cruise fuel with a fuel scoop?

[@MarkFennjewellery]

Hi, I'm a newbie to ED ( thou I did play Privateer back in the 90's) so your video are a great help so thanks. So I have an issue with mining ! how do I change the setting on my seismic charges to low/medium/high? as I cant seem to get to blow up Void Opal asteroids. thanks in advance

[@PsychePlays]

Hi! Thank you so much for the kind comment. I have a mining basics video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqnRg5qcfpuSlaM But with regards to the seismic charges, hold down your assigned fire button for the seismic charge launcher to "charge" it up! Three is the max and will be "high", and if you accidentally overshoot it by applying too high a charge to a fissure, you can always disable it in your left menu and reapply elsewhere. Hope this helps!

[@MarkFennjewellery]

@@PsychePlays Hi, thanks for getting back to me :-) I'll give it go tonight as I've just landed in Borann 2 which has both LDT & Void opals a 25 jump journey so this video on fuel scooping came in very handy too. many thanks and you never know we might bump into each other. be well and keep safe with kind regards Mark AKA CMDR Longshanks ps I'v subscribe too

[@semibiotic]

Routing thru scoopable stars only isn't the best strategy. One could route thru any stars, but need to keep making sure that there is "fuel star" en-route before dotten line (and final destination is scoopable/habitable or close enough). If there is no scoopable star en-route (which is very rare condition), one need to manually find scoopable system near the route or partially return turn back to find alternative route. Sometimes, one could switch to "economical" router (intead of "fast" one), which often allows fly futher (f/ex. to reach nearest scoopable star).

[@WarpRulez]

There are two types of commanders: Those who have accidentally run out of fuel, and those who _will_ accidentally run out of fuel.

[@Blazeww]

That escape vector to escape the star itself. I flew for a long time with boost and didn't get anywhere. Lol Wish I knew about the fuel Before I lost all fuel and all power. Then suffocated just admiring how detailed the controls still move and the gasping at the last moments.... And what's with the explosion?? There's no fuel and it'd be kinda crazy with how odds stack against many many self destruct devices all not exploding in a hanger.... To have those but they are there.... But to explode after running out of air... Could give like half the time that a drowning victim has been without oxygen and survived and send out a highly visible beacon for that time... That's like 20 minutes..... Or maybe 30... And it makes some sense cause the suits still pressurized the air just doesn't recalculate in the cockpit or the suit.... So its not exposure a vacuum. Anna Elisabeth Johansson Bågenholm (born 1970) is a Swedish radiologist from Vänersborg, who survived after a skiing accident in 1999 left her trapped under a layer of ice for 80 minutes in freezing water.

[@OldManPaxusYT]

BRILLIANT guides! Exactly the right amount of comprehensive (not to mention, well-explained) without being too long! ← ↑ Comment for algorithm + 👍 'd #OldManPaxus Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

[@mrmalcolm]

I'm about 4 or 5 days into playing this on PS4 and I'm absorbing information like a sponge. Learning new stuff every single day. Currently loitering around Duamta in the Inner Orion spur if anyone wants to say hello. It's quite close to Sol.

[@lilgrifo1841]

What if I’m out of fuel and I don’t have the scoop fuel module ?

[@evilways961]

Well, I cannot get out of the start area of Odyssey as you cannot plot just scoopable starts.. This option seems to have been REMOVED. Only work around I can think of is switch to Horizons.. plot the course get to where I am going.. then switch back to Odyssey lol.. Already got stuck 5 times out of fuel... just trying to get somewhere... you would need a jump range of 100 to get out of the start area of Odyssey as it seems to plot every Non Scoopable Star, and empty system FIRST. lol

[@ScottElliott888]

But how do I mount my newly bought fuel scoop? Basic I know but I'm that new.

[@PsychePlays]

This is a late reply, sorry! In case you still haven't figured it out in the meantime, once you select a slot and then buy a module, it gets automatically installed into that slot. Fuel Scoops automatically deploy (as long as they are online, check your right-hand panel > Modules) when you're near a scoopable star.

[@diverspudph1310]

Would love to see a fine Giraffe Lol!

[@zzzzzzzzz220]

After a one time I was in a system without station nor planets i always have fuel scoop with me...

[@OldManPaxusYT]

Oddly enough,. i have never run out of fuel... maybe coz i'm an actual pilot hahaha - it just seems _crazy_ to me to go flying without planning!

[@emeraldknight5522]

First of all, if you're going to be out exploring the galaxy and even out toward the outer rims and even beyond the galaxy itself.. you should carry a fuel scoop. That's just common sense. As another player once said, there's literally no reason why your ship shouldn't have a fuel scoop if you plan to do deep star exploration. Even if you're just using a starter ship for ED. Fuel scoops literally take up little to no space at all. If you don't plan on carrying a fuel scoop, I wouldn't wander outside habitable star systems so that you stay close to a station for refueling purposes. While it may not seem like it, the more jumps you make, the more fuel your ship eats up. And pretty soon, you're out of fuel and stranded with no way to get to a station for help.

[@RosssRoyce]

Thanks for vid! Since you are a girl, could you give me your opinion on why there are mostly men in all sorts of domains, including aviation? I want to see a mixed world.

[@fistsofsnake5475]

She lie. If you goes out of fuel the only option is to take a bucket and go to nearest station or scoopable star ( you also need little scoop for this) on your foot.

[@PsychePlays]

BRB walking to the nearest station with my bucket

[@nullx8]

it's not exactly a great idea for a beginner to stop for scooping! the time it takes to gain speed again & charging the FFS drive can easy destroy you. just turn off auto throttle off and keeps gliding over the planet.