In ARK: Survival Evolved, gasoline is an essential resource. It keeps the fires of your industrial machinery burning,  powers essential tools, and fuels many late-game contraptions. But unlike the real world, where gasoline mysteriously appears at gas stations, in ARK, you’ll need to craft your own supply. 

This guide will equip you with all the knowledge you need to become a self-sufficient gasoline producer,  from gathering materials to optimizing your production.

Why You Need Gasoline in ARK

Gasoline has a multitude of uses in ARK. Here are some of the most important:

Powering Fabricators and Industrial Forges: These structures are essential for crafting advanced items, weapons, and structures. Without gasoline, you’ll be limited to primitive tools and basic shelters.

Fueling Generators: Generators provide a reliable source of electricity for powering various appliances and structures in your base.

Operating Tek Items: High-tech Tek Tier equipment, like the Jetpack and Tek Replicator, require gasoline to function.

As you progress through the game and unlock more sophisticated technology, your dependence on gasoline will only grow.

Gathering the Necessary Materials

Crafting gasoline requires two key ingredients:

Oil: This viscous black liquid can be obtained in several ways:

Mining Black Rocks: These dark, craggy rocks found near the ocean or in caves often contain oil deposits. Pickaxe them to harvest oil.

Using Oil Pumps: Placing Oil Pumps on oil nodes found underwater is a more efficient method, especially for large-scale production.

Harvesting Certain Creatures: Trilobites, found in the ocean depths, and some higher-tier creatures like Tech Raptors and Parasaurs, can yield oil when killed.

Hide: This common material is dropped by a variety of land animals. Hunting creatures like deer, sheep, and cows will provide a steady supply of hide.

Crafting Tip: While gathering resources, keep an eye out for explorer notes. These lore items scattered around the map often reveal resource-rich locations, including oil deposits.

The Refining Process: Forging Your Fuel

There are two main ways to craft gasoline in ARK:

Refining Forge: This is the earlier option available at level 20. It’s a good choice for beginners who need a steady supply of gasoline for basic needs.

Industrial Forge: Unlocked later in the game, the Industrial Forge is a powerhouse for crafting large quantities of gasoline.

Here’s a breakdown of the crafting process for both methods:

Refining Forge:

Light the Forge: Throw some thatch, wood, or another flammable material into the forge and light it.

Add the Ingredients: Once the forge is lit, put 6 Oil and 5 Hide into its inventory.

Wait and Collect: The forge will take approximately 30 seconds to process the materials. 

Once done, you’ll receive 5 Gasoline in your inventory.

Industrial Forge:

Light the Forge: Similar to the Refining Forge, light the Industrial Forge with a flammable material.

Add the Ingredients: Add a larger quantity of resources, 60 Oil and 50 Hide , to the Industrial Forge’s inventory.

Bulk Production: The Industrial Forge processes materials much faster, taking only 30 seconds to create a whopping 100 Gasoline.

Choosing the Right Forge:

The best forge for you depends on your stage in the game and resource availability.

Early Game: The Refining Forge is a good starting point. It’s easy to craft and requires fewer resources per batch.

Mid to Late Game: As your resource collection improves and your need for gasoline grows, the Industrial Forge becomes the more efficient option. Its larger capacity and faster processing time make it ideal for bulk production.

Optimizing Your Production

Here are some additional tips to maximize your gasoline output:

Tame Resource-Gathering Creatures: Consider taming creatures like Doedicurus or Ankylosaurus. These herbivores have a bonus to gathering resources like stone, which can often contain hidden oil deposits. They can significantly increase your oil collection rate.

Build Near Resources: Setting up your base near oil deposits or bodies of water with oil nodes will save you travel time when gathering resources.

Stockpile Materials: Don’t wait until you run out of gasoline to start gathering resources. Always keep a stockpile of oil and hide to ensure a steady flow of fuel.

FAQs

Got a burning need for gasoline in ARK? This FAQ will answer all your questions about crafting this essential fuel,  from gathering materials to optimizing production.

Q: Why do I need gasoline in ARK?

A: Gasoline is crucial for powering advanced structures like Fabricators, Industrial Forges, Generators, and even high-tier Tek equipment. Without it, you’ll be limited to basic tools and crafting.

Q: How do I make gasoline in ARK?

A: You can craft gasoline using two methods:

Refining Forge: This is the earlier option available at level 20. It’s good for beginners and produces smaller batches.

Industrial Forge: Unlocked later, the Industrial Forge is a powerhouse for crafting large quantities of gasoline.

Q: What ingredients do I need to make gasoline?

A: You’ll need two key resources:

Oil: Found by mining black rocks, using Oil Pumps on underwater nodes, or harvesting certain creatures like Trilobites and some Tech creatures.

Hide: This common material is dropped by a variety of land animals like deer, sheep, and cows.

Q: How much oil and hide do I need?

A: The amount depends on the forge you’re using:

Refining Forge: Requires 6 Oil and 5 Hide to produce 5 Gasoline.

Industrial Forge: Takes a larger quantity – 60 Oil and 50 Hide – but creates a bigger batch of 100 Gasoline.

Q:  Which forge should I use?

A:

Early Game: The Refining Forge is a good starter option with lower resource requirements per batch.

Mid to Late Game: The Industrial Forge becomes more efficient due to its larger capacity and faster processing time.

Q: How long does it take to craft gasoline?

A: Regardless of the forge, crafting time is always 30 seconds.

Q: How can I optimize my gasoline production?

A: Here are some tips:

Tame Resource-Gathering Creatures: Doedicurus and Ankylosaurus can boost your oil collection by gathering stone with hidden oil deposits.

Build Near Resources: Setting up your base close to oil deposits or bodies of water with oil nodes saves travel time.

Stockpile Materials: Keep a good supply of oil and hide to avoid running out of fuel.

Consider Alternative Fuels: Some late-game structures can run on Element instead of gasoline.

Q: Is there anything else I should know about gasoline?

A: Keep an eye out for explorer notes. These lore items often reveal resource-rich locations, including oil deposits.

Q: I saw a video about making gasoline in ARK, but it mentioned different crafting requirements.  Is this outdated?

A: The core crafting recipe (oil and hide) remains the same. However, some older videos might reference now-balanced values for resource quantities or crafting times. This FAQ reflects the latest information available.

Q: Can I cheat to get gasoline?

A: While enabling admin cheats allows you to spawn gasoline directly, it’s generally not recommended. It takes away the satisfaction of self-sufficiency and progression in the game.

With this knowledge in your arsenal, you’ll be a master gasoline producer in no time, keeping your ARK adventures fueled for success!

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