Oil samples are found on the Terminal map in Road to Vostok, and the cleanest search pattern is to check the central pipes between the large tanks first. In practice, that is where the samples were found most often, with side pipes acting as the main fallback spots.
The route is not the hard part so much as the travel: expect heavy soldier patrols, Border Guards, and minefields before you even reach Terminal. Once you get there, the samples are heavy, so plan your carry weight before you start looting.
Road to Vostok Oil Sample Terminal Location
Oil samples are located on the Terminal map in Road to Vostok Permadeath.
Be careful in this area: there are many patrolling soldiers, around 10 NPCs in total, and they are all armed with KA-12 rifles (5.45). One of these weapons can also be useful for the Gunsmith quest.
Pay attention to the large tanks, since they may hold military NPCs. A safer approach is to move up to one of the tanks, use the height to scan the area, and pick off soldiers on other tanks or patrols moving along the roads.
The most reliable search area is the center of the map, especially:
- the pipes between the large tanks
- the ground under and around the central pipes
- the side pipes as a backup search area
I found most oil samples near the central pipes, but they can also appear near the side pipes.
It appears that all three samples spawn with a 100% chance, based on repeated raids where all three were found every time.
Each oil sample is heavy, so do not underestimate the weight. The source notes about 10 kg per oil sample, which adds up fast if you are carrying all three.
Terminal Combat And Scouting Tips
Terminal is not a quiet loot run. The biggest threats are:
- patrolling soldiers
- NPCs on or around the tanks
- road patrols
- Border Guards
- mines on the approach route
A practical way to handle the area is to stay patient and use the tank layout to your advantage. High ground and sightlines matter here more than speed. If you rush into the pipe area without checking the surrounding tanks first, you can get caught by multiple enemies at once.
If you are entering Terminal specifically for oil samples, it is worth clearing what you can before committing to a full loot sweep. That reduces the chance of getting pinned while you are overweight.
Best Search Spots Near The Central Pipes
If you want the fastest check, search in this order:
- Under the central pipes
- Around the base of the pipes between the large tanks
- Along the side pipes
- Nearby tank edges and walkways if the central area is already clear
This keeps the route tight and avoids wasting time wandering the full map. Since the samples are concentrated around the pipe network, there is no need to overcomplicate the search.
Route To Reach Terminal Safely
The route to Terminal goes:
Outpost → Minefield → Apartaments → Terminal
The source path follows the edge of the map, and that is the safer approach. Moving along the border tends to reduce mine exposure, though it does not remove the risk entirely.
Minefield And Border Guard Concerns
The minefields are a real problem, so watch the ground carefully and destroy mines when needed. If you stay near the map edge, you may only run into 4-6 mines along the way, which is manageable compared with cutting through the middle.
The bigger threat is usually the Border Guards. They are equipped with M4A1 rifles and can penetrate level 4 armor, so do not rely on armor alone to force your way through.
A good rule is to move cautiously, keep your route disciplined, and avoid exposing yourself unnecessarily while crossing the approach areas.
School Room Shelter
The school room shelter is a small room, but it is surprisingly useful.
It contains:
- 1 metal locker container with a lot of storage space
- 1 office cabinet
- 2 metal shelves
- a bed for sleeping
Its main value is storage and medicine farming. It is a strong shelter for collecting items, stashing them for later, and trading with the Doctor for medicine. It is also useful for storing loot before selling it to the Generalist or Gunsmith.
After leaving the shelter, the school instance refreshes. That makes it worth revisiting for extra loot runs, then trading the collected items for medicine or other useful supplies.
