You can do a Star Citizen refuel in two ways: move fuel between the pods on your own ship, or pump fuel from another ship alongside you. Both methods matter because fuel decides how far you can go before you need to stop. Imagine a long run where one pod is nearly empty while another is full. Moving fuel between pods can even that out before you leave. You may also find this useful: How to Refuel Your Ship in Starfield.
Pumping fuel between pods happens at the bridge refueling console. [1] Ship-to-ship refueling arrived with Alpha 3.17. [2] That gives you a way to top up while you are out in space, not only during a stop you planned in advance. You may also find this useful: Star Citizen Ship Showdown: Who Won 2956 and How Voting Works.
The steps below cover both methods, so you can pick the one that fits your flight. If you are new, work through the pod method first, since it involves only your own ship.
What do you need before you refuel?
Before you refuel, you need to know which pods on your ship actually hold fuel. Each ship stores fuel in its own pods, and you can only move fuel between the ones it has. Check your ship’s layout first so you know which pod to fill and which to empty.
The pumping work happens at the refueling console on the ship’s bridge. You have to be seated there, so plan to walk to the bridge before you start. If you are in a gunner seat or on the deck, you cannot reach the controls. [1]
Steps can change between versions, so check the current game version before you follow any ship-to-ship instructions. Ship-to-ship refueling was introduced in Alpha 3.17, and older builds will not have it. Confirm your version in the launcher so you do not chase buttons that are not there. [2]
How do you move fuel between pods on your ship?
You move fuel between pods on your own ship from the refueling console on the bridge. [1] The steps below take you through the process from start to finish.
Walk to the refueling console on the ship’s bridge. [1]
Press Pump on the pod you want to fill. [1]
Use the console to choose the pod you want to empty and move the fuel into the pod you filled in step 2. [1]
Before you start, look at which pods are low. That tells you which pod to fill and which one has fuel to spare.
For example, say your forward pod is nearly empty and your aft pod is full. You would press Pump on the forward pod, then pick the aft pod as the one to empty. If one transfer is not enough for the trip ahead, repeat the steps until your pods are balanced.
How do you refuel one ship from another?
Ship-to-ship refueling takes just two pod commands, because the Starfarer does the moving once you set them. [2] Work through these steps in order.
Press Pump on the pod you want to fill with another ship’s fuel. [2]
Press Open on the pod you want to empty. [2]
The Starfarer moves the fuel between those pods automatically. [2]
Think of the Pump pod as the tank you are filling and the Open pod as the tank you are draining. Double-check the labels before you commit, since it is easy to swap the two roles in a hurry.
Once the transfer starts, you do not need to move the fuel yourself. Keep an eye on both pod levels so you know when to stop. That quick check is worth doing before a long route, where running low far from a refuel point can leave you stuck.
What should you check before your next flight?
Before you leave on a long route, check your pods. Fuel is what decides how far you can go, so a quick look at the tanks saves you from getting stranded mid-trip.
Spend two minutes on the pod levels before you undock. If one pod is low and the others are full, move fuel to the empty one first, so the ship has range where you need it most. Then pick your stops on the way, not after the tanks run dry.
Also confirm the game version. Refueling steps can change between updates, so the menu names and button prompts you see in a guide may not match what is on your screen. Checking the version first keeps you from following outdated steps in the middle of a flight.
Next time you plan a trip across the map, run a pod check at the start, note your planned refueling stops, and only then take off. Learn more in Star Citizen Map Size: How Big the Playable Universe Really Is.