Check the Engine Oil Level (No Dipstick)

Your Jaguar XE (2015–present) has no dipstick — you check the engine oil level electronically, through the driver display. It catches a lot of owners out, but once you know where to look it takes a minute. Here’s how to get an accurate reading, whether it’s a routine check between services or a quick look before a long drive.

Why There’s No Dipstick

The XE follows the modern trend of dropping the traditional dipstick in favour of a level sensor in the sump that feeds a readout on the driver information display. Rather than pulling a stick, wiping it and reading min/max marks, you scroll the instrument cluster to an oil-level screen. It isn’t a fault or a missing part — it’s simply how this engine is built, which is why owners coming from an older car often hunt under the bonnet for a stick that isn’t there.

The catch is that an electronic reading only tells the truth when the oil is settled and the car is level. If those conditions are off, the display will either decline to show a value or give you a figure that’s too high or too low, so getting the car ready matters as much as pressing the buttons.

Before You Check

For an accurate electronic reading the XE needs to be:

• On level ground — a sloped drive tips the oil to one end of the sump and skews the sensor;
• at operating temperature (drive it, then let it stand a few minutes so the oil drains back to the sump);
• with the engine off;
• settled for a few minutes after switch-off so the oil has drained down and the reading has stabilised;
• checked with the correct-grade top-up oil to hand and a clean funnel, in case it reads low.

Checking the Oil Level

1. Switch the ignition on (engine off).
2. Using the steering-wheel controls, scroll the driver information display to the vehicle/service menu.
3. Select the engine oil level readout.
4. The display shows the level on a bar/scale. Top up only if it reads low, adding a little at a time and re-checking — don’t overfill.

Use the oil specification on the filler cap / in your handbook — it differs between the petrol and diesel XE engines. Add oil through the normal filler cap on top of the engine, and give it a minute or two to drain down before re-reading the display so the fresh oil is counted.

If the Reading Looks Wrong

• ‘Not available’ or ‘check later’ usually means the engine is too hot or the car isn’t level — let it stand and retry on flat ground.
• Don’t overfill — too much oil is as harmful as too little; add small amounts and recheck between each pour.
• Reading swinging between checks? The oil probably hasn’t finished draining back — wait longer after switch-off and take the reading with the car properly level.
• Level looks fine but a message persists — recheck after the next drive; a single early reading taken too soon can be unreliable.
• Oil warning light on? Stop and investigate — a pressure warning is different from a low-level message; a stored code can be read on autodtcs.com.

After You’ve Checked

If the level sat in the normal band, you’re finished — note roughly where it read so you can spot any change next time. If you topped up, re-run the same on-level, engine-off check after a short drive and a few minutes standing to confirm the level has come up into range without going over. An XE that keeps dropping below the mark between checks is using or losing oil and deserves investigating rather than endless topping up.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the oil on a Jaguar XE without a dipstick?

Switch the ignition on with the engine off, use the steering-wheel controls to scroll the driver display to the vehicle or service menu, and select the engine oil level readout. The car has an electronic sensor instead of a dipstick, so the level appears as a bar or scale on the instrument cluster.

Should the engine be hot or cold?

Warm it up by driving, then switch off and let it stand on level ground for a few minutes so the oil drains back to the sump and the reading settles. Checking the moment you stop, or from stone cold, usually gives a value that’s either not available or not a true reflection of the level.

How much oil do I add?

Add it a little at a time, re-checking the display between pours, and never overfill past the top of the scale. Because the sump takes a moment to register new oil, wait a minute or two after each addition before reading again so you don’t chase the number and accidentally put in too much.

What oil does the XE use?

The grade is engine-specific, so use exactly what’s printed on the filler cap or listed in the handbook for your car — the petrol and diesel XE engines don’t all take the same specification. Matching the correct grade matters for the emissions and after-treatment systems, not only for lubrication.

Why won’t the display show a level at all?

Most often the engine is still too hot, the oil hasn’t finished draining, or the car is parked on a slope. Let it cool and settle for a few minutes on flat ground, ignition on and engine off, then try the menu again. If it still refuses to read after that, it’s worth looking into further.

Do I still need to check the oil if there’s no dipstick?

Yes — a sensor doesn’t remove the need for routine checks, it only changes how you read the level. Checking every few weeks and before long journeys is sensible, because catching a low level early protects the engine whether you read it from a stick or a screen.

If a service reminder is also showing, see our XE service-indicator reset guide.