These instructions apply to the Land Rover Range Rover Mk4 (L405) 2013-2022.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Your Range Rover (2013–2022) has no dipstick — you check the engine oil level electronically, through the driver display. It catches a lot of owners out, because there’s nothing under the bonnet to pull out and wipe. Instead a sensor in the sump reports the level straight to the instrument cluster, and you read it from a menu. Once you know where to look it takes a minute, and it’s routine maintenance rather than a sign of any fault. Here’s how to get an accurate reading.
Why There’s No Dipstick
This Range Rover uses an electronic oil-level sensor in the sump in place of a conventional dipstick. Rather than reading a physical stick, you ask the car for the level and it shows it on a scale in the instrument cluster. The trade-off is that the sensor only gives a dependable figure when conditions are right: the oil must have warmed up and then drained back down, and the vehicle must be sitting level so the oil surface is flat across the sensor. Meet those conditions and the electronic reading is every bit as trustworthy as a dipstick; ignore them and you’ll get a ‘not available’ message or a figure that looks wrong. That is why the preparation below matters just as much as the menu steps.
Before You Check
For an accurate electronic reading the car needs to be:
- On level ground — a slope tips the oil away from the sensor and skews the reading;
- at operating temperature — drive it, then let it stand a few minutes so the oil drains back into the sump;
- with the engine off when you take the reading;
- parked with the handbrake applied and in Park so you can work at the display safely;
- topped up only with an oil of the correct specification — have the right grade to hand before you start.
Checking the Oil Level
- Switch the ignition on (engine off).
- Scroll the driver information display to the vehicle/service menu.
- Select the engine oil level readout.
- The display shows the level on a scale. Top up only if it reads low, a little at a time, re-checking — don’t overfill.
Use the oil specification on the filler cap / in the handbook — it differs between the petrol and diesel engines. Add through the filler cap on the top of the engine, let fresh oil settle for a moment before you re-read the level, and stop as soon as the display reads correct.
If the Reading Looks Wrong
- ‘Not available’ or ‘measuring’ usually means the engine is too hot, hasn’t settled, or the car isn’t level — let it stand and retry on flat ground.
- Reading jumps between checks — allow the oil longer to drain back and always compare readings taken under the same warm, level, engine-off conditions.
- Don’t overfill — add small amounts and recheck; too much oil is as harmful as too little.
- Oil warning light on? Stop and investigate — a pressure warning differs from a low-level message; a code can be read on autodtcs.com.
After You’ve Checked
When the display reads correctly, wipe any drips from the filler neck, make sure the cap is fully seated and switch the ignition off. If you added oil, re-check the level again after your next short drive and settle, since a top-up needs time to work its way down to the sensor. Reading the level every few weeks helps you catch any gradual oil use before it turns into a low-level warning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check the oil on a Range Rover without a dipstick?
With the ignition on and the engine off, use the driver display menu to open the vehicle/service section and read the engine oil level. The car has an electronic sensor in the sump instead of a dipstick, so the level appears on a scale in the cluster rather than on a physical stick.
Should the engine be hot or cold?
Warm it first, then let it stand a few minutes on level ground so the oil settles back into the sump before you read. Checking cold, or straight after switching off, can give a ‘not available’ message or an inaccurate figure.
How much oil do I add?
Add a little at a time, giving it a moment to drain down and re-checking the display after each pour. Never overfill — too much oil can cause its own problems, so it’s always safer to creep up to the correct level than to overshoot.
What oil does it use?
The grade is engine-specific and differs between the petrol and diesel versions, so use exactly what is listed on the filler cap or in the handbook. Matching the correct specification matters for the engine’s emissions and after-treatment systems, not just lubrication.
Why does the display say the oil level is ‘not available’?
That message almost always means the conditions aren’t right yet — the engine is too hot, the oil hasn’t drained back, or the car isn’t level. Move to flat ground, let it stand for a few minutes and try again rather than assuming a fault.
How often should I check the level?
Every few weeks and before any long trip is sensible, and more often if you’ve noticed the level dropping. Regular checks under the same warm, level conditions make it easy to spot a genuine consumption trend early.
If a service reminder is showing, see our Range Rover service-indicator reset guide.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Land Rover. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.