Check the Engine Oil Level

Lift the bonnet on a Volvo XC40 (536, 2017–present) and you will look in vain for a dipstick — there isn’t one. Instead the engine oil is checked electronically through the driver display, using a level sensor in the sump and a menu on the instrument screen. It is not a fault or a missing part; it is simply how the car is designed. The catch is that the reading is only accurate when you take it in the right state and in the right order, so it pays to know the routine before you rely on the number.

Why There’s No Dipstick

The XC40 uses an electronic oil-level sensor in place of a traditional dipstick. Rather than pulling a stick and reading a smear, you ask the car and it reports the level on the driver display. The trade-off is that the sensor cannot see oil you have just poured in or drained out until it has settled in the sump and the engine has run to circulate and warm it. That is why the reading depends so heavily on doing things in sequence — check too soon, on a slope, or on a stone-cold engine, and the number will mislead you.

Getting Ready

• Park on level ground — a slope tips the oil in the sump and skews the reading.
• Warm the oil first by driving, so it is at operating temperature and fully circulated.
• Switch the ignition off and let it settle for the stated wait before reading.
• Keep off the pedals when you power up for the check, so you switch on ignition rather than start the engine.
• Have the correct Volvo-approved oil ready if you expect to top up.

Getting an Accurate Reading

1. Drive about 30 km so the oil is warm and circulated.
2. Park on a level surface, switch the ignition off and wait 5 minutes.
3. Without pressing any pedal, press the start/stop button for ~2 seconds to switch the ignition on.
4. Scroll the driver-display menu to ‘Vehicle status’ → ‘Status’ → ‘Oil level’.
5. Read the level and top up if needed.

If the Reading Looks Off

• “Not available” or a wait prompt: the system needs the engine warm and time to settle — drive, then repeat the wait and re-check.
• Level seems low straight after a top-up: the sensor hasn’t caught up yet; give it a drive cycle and read again.
• Engine started instead of ignition-on: you pressed a pedal — switch off, keep your feet clear, and try the button again.
• Reading jumps between checks: confirm the car is genuinely level and you waited the full settle time each time.
• Menu path missing: make sure the display is awake and on the driver-information menu before scrolling.

Topping Up

Add the correct Volvo-approved oil a little at a time, re-checking between additions, and never overfill past the maximum — too much oil is as harmful as too little. Bear in mind that after an oil change the system needs a full drive cycle before it displays the new level accurately, so don’t chase the number immediately. Once it settles and reads within range, you are done.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the oil on a Volvo XC40 with no dipstick?

Drive about 30 km to warm the oil, park on a level surface, switch the ignition off and wait 5 minutes. Then, without touching a pedal, press the start/stop button for roughly 2 seconds to switch the ignition on and read Vehicle status → Status → Oil level in the driver display.

Why does the reading seem wrong after topping up?

The sensor cannot see freshly added oil until it has drained into the sump and the engine has run to warm and circulate it. Give the car a drive cycle after topping up, then repeat the settle-and-read routine; the level should then show correctly.

What oil does it take?

A Volvo-approved grade to the specification for your exact engine. Rather than guess, check the marking on the filler cap or the figure in your handbook, since capacity and grade vary between engines. Buying the correct approved oil avoids both an inaccurate reading and engine harm.

Engine running or off?

Off. You want the ignition switched on but the engine not running, taken after the stated wait so the oil has settled. Keep your feet off the pedals when you press the start/stop button so you power up the electronics rather than fire up the engine, then follow the on-screen prompt.

How often should I check it?

Check periodically between services and before long trips, just as you would with a dipstick car. Because the routine needs a warm engine and a settle period, it is easiest to fold into a normal drive — check when you get home, on level ground, after the car has been running.

Do I need any tools?

No tools at all. The whole check is done from the driver’s seat using the start/stop button and the display menu. The only thing to have on hand is the correct approved oil in case the reading shows you are low and need to top up.

Just done an oil change? Clear the reminder with our XC40 service reset, and for an oil-pressure or level warning code you can look it up on autodtcs.com.