Crossword Genius

Fuel line is operating at first after set-up (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

oil

'fuel' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'line is operating at first after set-up' is the wordplay.
'line' becomes 'l'.
'at first' indicates taking the first letters.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'set up' is a reversal indicator.
The initial letters of 'is operating' is 'io'.
'l'+'io'='lio'
'lio' back-to-front is 'OIL'.

(Other definitions for oil that I've seen before include "Type of fuel" , "painting" , "Valuable viscous liquid" , "Fossil fuel" , "Lubricant or petroleum" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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