Oil sits at the center of ARC Raiders’ explosive economy. It is a Topside Material, marked as Uncommon, used to craft weapons and explosives, and can be recycled into Chemicals. If you rely on Blaze Grenades or want to build weapons like Renegade I, a steady Oil flow matters more than almost any other basic resource.
There is no single “infinite” Oil room, but certain maps, sub-areas, and item types consistently yield more Oil per run. The most efficient approach is to combine targeted scavenging with smart recycling instead of chasing loose Oil cans one by one.
What Oil is used for in ARC Raiders
Oil feeds into both explosives and weapon crafting, so it disappears quickly if you play aggressively.
| Use | Recipe role | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Explosives | 2× Oil + 1× Explosive Compound (with Blaze Grenade blueprint) | 1× Blaze Grenade |
| Explosive materials | 2× Oil + 2× Crude Explosives | 1× Explosive Compound |
| Weapons | 5× Oil + 2× Advanced Mechanical Components + 3× Medium Gun Parts | 1× Renegade I |
On top of that, recycling or salvaging Oil gives Chemicals, so it is also a way to top up that crafting material when needed. Recycling Oil returns three Chemicals, while salvaging returns one.
Best maps and zones to farm Oil
Oil belongs to the Mechanical loot category, so any space dense with machinery, pumps, filters, and vehicles tends to pay out. A few locations stand out for high mechanical density and good recycling targets.
Dam Battlegrounds: scrap yard and hydroponic dome complex
Dam Battlegrounds is one of the most consistent places to stock up. Two areas are particularly efficient:
- Scrap yard on Dam – Packed with broken machinery and mechanical loot containers. Expect to find Motors, Water Pumps, Turbo Pumps, and Polluted Air Filters that can be recycled into Oil.
- Hydroponic dome complex – Players report that a large share of interactable items here convert to Oil. Coolant canisters, Water Pumps, Air Filters, and similar devices stack up quickly, and you can walk out with dozens of Oil after recycling everything.
Buried City: pumps, filters, and buses
Buried City is another strong choice if you know what to look for.
- Pumps and filters – The map regularly spawns devices such as Turbo Pumps, Water Pumps, Coolant containers, and Polluted Air Filters. These are all prime recycling targets for Oil.
- Big buses – Large buses can be breached and often yield at least one Oil per bus. The breach animation is slower than looting shelves, but the payout is reliable once you know typical bus spawn paths.
Because Coolant and similar mechanical items convert to Oil, Buried City runs can quickly fill your inventory with recyclable pieces even when you do not see many loose Oil cans on the ground.
The Spaceport: tunnels and underground routes
The tunnels under The Spaceport are a quieter but valuable option.
Underground routes concentrate machinery and utility structures, which in turn means more chances for Water Pumps, Motors, and filters. These tunnels are also a good place to loot without constant pressure from other squads, making them suitable for slower, methodical farming runs focused on dismantling everything mechanical.
Room types that spawn Oil and mechanical loot
Even outside specific maps, certain room archetypes tend to spawn more Oil or the items that break down into it.
- Garages and auto shops – These spaces often contain vehicles, Motors, and other mechanical assets. Always check workbenches, tool racks, and corners for loose Oil and recyclable parts.
- Shopping centers and stores with shelves – Supermarket-style interiors with lots of shelving can hide Oil cans, Coolant, and other useful containers among general loot.
- Pharmacies – While not dedicated mechanical locations, pharmacies can occasionally have Oil placed on shelves, making them worth a quick scan when you pass through.
- Dome structures – Dome complexes, especially in Dam Battlegrounds, contain many of the pumps and filter items that can be recycled into Oil.
Recycling items into Oil
Pure scavenging is only half of the equation. A lot of your Oil income comes from recycling the right loot. The following items can be recycled into Oil:
| Item | Oil gained when recycled |
|---|---|
| Blaze Grenade | 2 Oil |
| Coolant | 2 Oil |
| Explosive Mine | 2 Oil |
| Heavy Fuze Grenade | 1 Oil |
| Motor | 2 Oil |
| Polluted Air Filter | 2 Oil |
| Synthesized Fuel | 1 Oil |
| Turbo Pump | 3 Oil |
| Water Pump | 2 Oil |
Three patterns emerge from this list:
- Pumps and filters are top tier – Turbo Pumps, Water Pumps, and Polluted Air Filters turn into multiple Oil each. Prioritize them over low-yield clutter.
- Coolant and Motors punch above their weight – These items are common in industrial zones and underground areas and convert cleanly into Oil.
- Some explosives can be converted back – Blaze Grenade, Heavy Fuze Grenade, and Explosive Mine can be recycled into Oil, though it is usually more efficient to farm base materials than to craft and then break them down.
Buying Oil and related items from Celeste
Not all Oil has to come from the field. The trader Celeste sells a small amount of Oil each in-game day, along with Synthesized Fuel, which itself recycles into Oil. This gives you a baseline income even when matchmaking or time pressures limit your scavenging.
When visiting Celeste, pick up both direct Oil stacks and any Synthesized Fuel on offer. Fuel costs Raider Coins but can be turned into Oil later when you craft explosives or run into a dry spell.
Vehicles, buses, and “free loot kit” runs
Vehicles are a straightforward but slower way to build up Oil, which is why some players lean on them for runs with free loot kits.
- Cars and smaller vehicles – Breaching cars usually yields one Oil at a time. The breach animation makes this a grind-heavy approach, but it works when you have no better gear and simply need guaranteed gains.
- Big buses – Buses take longer to breach but often reward at least one Oil per vehicle. Planning a route that chains several bus spawns together can make this more competitive with standard scavenging.
For free loot kit runs, a simple loop of hitting garages, auto shops, and street-side vehicles on maps like Buried City can keep costs near zero while gradually filling your Oil stack.
Turning Oil into Chemicals
Sometimes the problem flips: you have more Oil than you need, but you are short on Chemicals.
| Action | Result | Cost / trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Recycle Oil | 3× Chemicals | Consumes 1× Oil and Raider Coins |
| Salvage Oil | 1× Chemicals | Consumes 1× Oil |
If you have excess Oil, recycling it is the most efficient way to convert it into Chemicals, though it costs some Raider Coins. Salvaging is less efficient but can make sense when you want a small Chemical top-up without spending extra currency.
Putting it all together: a practical Oil farming loop
Step 1: Queue into Dam Battlegrounds and aim your route through the scrap yard, then into the hydroponic dome complex. Focus on scooping up pumps, filters, Coolant, and Motors, not just loose Oil.
Step 2: On later runs, rotate into Buried City. Follow streets and industrial blocks where you regularly see pumps and big blue Coolant jugs, and breach large buses along the way for bonus Oil.
Step 3: When you have spare time or want low-conflict looting, run The Spaceport tunnels. Methodically clear mechanical loot along the tunnels, avoiding unnecessary detours.
Step 4: After each session, go back to your hideout and recycle high-yield items like Turbo Pumps, Water Pumps, Polluted Air Filters, Coolant, and Motors into Oil. Then, if needed, recycle or salvage extra Oil into Chemicals.
Step 5: Visit Celeste whenever possible and buy her limited daily Oil stock and Synthesized Fuel. Treat this as a passive income layer on top of your farming routes, not a replacement.
Running these loops consistently turns Oil from a fragile bottleneck into a reliable resource. Once you know where the mechanical loot lives and what to recycle, keeping your Blaze Grenades and crafted weapons online stops being a problem and becomes part of your normal rhythm in ARC Raiders.
