Okay, so I know how to select from the service menu to check the oil, but it always says oil level not available, wth? I've run the car long enough to get the temp gage to neutral in idle, about 20 minutes, and I've tried with the bonnet open, as well as closed.

 

Could be the level transmitter in the sump isn't working. Only recourse is your local dealer. Our UK Rover cars of the 60s had this feature.

 

The car can't be running when you check. After running the car, turn the engine off, then push the start button with your foot OFF the brake. This will power up the car, but leave the engine off.

The service menu should now be available.

 

When in doubt,



(From the 2011 XJ manual)

 

Aaron, in short, you need to check the oil with the engine off and having been off for atleast 10 minutes. So, your best bet is to park the car on a level surface and go inside for say an hour and then come back out and check the oil level before starting the engine. LIke was mentioned, leave your foot off of the brake, press the START button, this will bring up the instrument cluster, from there select the oil level and it should read it for you now. If for some reason it can't read it then, it will give you some error message stating what the issue is.

 

Exactly what I had to do. I had to give it a little over an hour. Turns out I had to add 1 1/2 Quarts. Intuition told me I was running low.

 

1. [QUOTE=Aaron Jacob Doughty;1387587]Exactly what I had to do. I had to give it a little over an hour. Turns out I had to add 1 1/2 Quarts. Intuition told me I was running low

Man at halfords toldwme to open bonnet put ignition on go to oil level then 2 clicks up on right paddle this then brought oilevel indicator to life and I had to add .o5ltr oil

 

Another method

 

I live on an island. It’s hardly ever cold. I have to check after the car’s been sitting. (Even overnight’s fine.) For me, starting the car is too warm. Remember, these cars are built where the term ‘English Summer’ means lots of rain & mild (cool) temperatures!

The ‘live’ check works* but keep in mind all the oil may not have returned to the pan. (*And it has to be executed ‘just right.)