Where to Find the Dipstick on an Audi Q5

On most recent Audi Q5 models, especially those sold in North America and Europe from the mid‑2010s onward, there is no traditional, user-accessible engine oil dipstick under the hood; instead, oil level is checked electronically via the MMI/infotainment menu, and only a capped “service” dipstick port may exist for workshop use. Older Q5 models and some specific engines, however, do have a physical dipstick located at the front or side of the engine, usually with a bright-colored (often yellow or orange) loop handle. Understanding which version you own is key to knowing where—if anywhere—you’ll find a dipstick.

Why the Audi Q5 Dipstick Is Hard to Find

The question of where the dipstick is on an Audi Q5 arises because Audi has progressively moved away from traditional dipsticks in many of its engines. Depending on the model year, engine type, and market, your Q5 may either have a classic metal dipstick, a capped dipstick tube for service use only, or rely entirely on electronic monitoring displayed on the dashboard or infotainment system. This shift was driven by packaging constraints, emissions rules, and the brand’s push toward digital diagnostics.

Does Your Audi Q5 Have a Physical Dipstick?

Whether your Q5 has a visible engine oil dipstick depends mostly on its generation and powertrain. Earlier models are more likely to have one, while later models depend on electronic readouts. Identifying your model year and engine code is the first step in determining what to look for under the hood.

First-Generation Audi Q5 (8R, Approx. 2009–2017)

On most first-generation Q5s—particularly those with the 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 FSI/3.0 TFSI gasoline engines—Audi either supplied a physical dipstick from the factory or left a dipstick tube with a plastic cap intended primarily for workshop use. Many diesel variants (like the 2.0 TDI and 3.0 TDI) similarly include a tube that can accept a service dipstick.

The physical dipstick, when fitted, is usually:

• Positioned toward the front or front-right side of the engine bay (when standing in front of the car looking at the engine).
• Equipped with a brightly colored (yellow or orange) loop or T-shaped handle.
• Emerging from a narrow metal or plastic tube running down into the engine block or oil pan area.

In summary, if you own an early Q5 (roughly 2009–2013, and some later 8R models), there is a reasonable chance you either have a visible dipstick or at least a dipstick tube capped off, which a dealer or mechanic can use with a service tool.

Second-Generation Audi Q5 (FY, Approx. 2018–Present)

The second-generation Q5, built on the MLB Evo platform and widely sold from model year 2018 onward, relies heavily on electronic oil level sensors rather than a conventional dipstick. This includes many 2.0 TFSI, 3.0 TFSI, mild-hybrid, and some plug-in hybrid powertrains.

On these models, what you typically find is:

• No obvious metal dipstick with a colored handle accessible for routine owner checks.
• A sealed or capped tube (often black plastic, low and to one side of the engine) used only with a special workshop dipstick tool.
• Oil level information displayed via the MMI/infotainment system or digital instrument cluster, usually under a “Car” or “Vehicle” status menu.

For most 2018+ Q5 drivers, this means there is no practical, owner-usable dipstick location; the “dipstick” function has effectively moved into the car’s electronics.

Typical Physical Dipstick Locations on Q5 Engines That Have One

For Q5 models that still feature a physical dipstick, its location is fairly consistent with other Audi longitudinal engine layouts. While details vary by engine code, there are recognizable patterns owners can look for when lifting the hood.

Front-Right Side of the Engine (Common on 2.0 TFSI)

On many earlier 2.0 TFSI engines used in the first-gen Q5, the dipstick is positioned on the passenger side of the engine bay in left-hand-drive markets (right side when facing the car), near the front of the engine block.

Typical identifying characteristics include:

• A slender tube running downward along the side of the engine, topped with a yellow or orange loop handle.
• Placement close to the front of the engine cover, sometimes slightly tucked behind coolant or intake components but still visible.
• Orientation that allows the dipstick to pull out in a straight upward motion without removing major components.

If your 2.0 TFSI Q5 has a physical dipstick, this front-right cluster of components is usually where you will spot it, often just below or beside the plastic engine cover.

Near the Front Center or Front-Left (V6 Engines)

For V6 engines such as the 3.2 FSI and 3.0 TFSI found in some Q5 models, the dipstick or dipstick tube may be close to the center or slightly toward the driver’s side (in left-hand-drive markets), at the front of the engine assembly.

Common cues for these engines are:

• A dipstick tube emerging between the cylinder banks or slightly offset, in front of the intake manifold area.
• Again, a colored handle on models where a factory dipstick is present.
• Proximity to other service points such as the oil filler cap or coolant reservoir.

Although the exact angle and position can vary, V6 Q5 engines that include a dipstick generally place it where a technician can reach it easily from the front of the car without extensive disassembly.

Diesel Engines and Service Dipsticks

On many diesel Q5s (2.0 TDI and 3.0 TDI), Audi increasingly relied on electronic sensing but still provided a dipstick tube for workshop checks. In some markets or early years, a physical dipstick might have been fitted, while in others the tube is capped and intended only for service tools.

What you might see on these engines is:

• A narrow, cap-sealed tube low down on one side of the engine, usually not brightly colored.
• No user-handle; instead, a plug or snap-on cap that technicians remove when using an official service dipstick.
• Oil level information intended to be read via the MMI or cluster during normal ownership.

If your diesel Q5 appears to have only a capped tube and no loop handle, assume Audi does not intend you to use a traditional dipstick and instead wants you to rely on the electronic reading.

How to Check Oil Level on a Q5 Without a Dipstick

For Q5 models that lack a physical dipstick, Audi supplies an electronic alternative built into the vehicle’s systems. This is the method recommended in the owner’s manual and used by dealerships for routine checks, aside from workshop procedures.

Using the MMI or Digital Cluster

The exact menu path can vary slightly by model year and MMI version, but the overall process is similar. The system uses a sensor in the oil pan to measure level once the engine and oil meet certain conditions.

Owners generally need to:

• Park the vehicle on level ground and switch off the engine for a few minutes to allow the oil to settle.
• Turn the ignition on (or start the car, if required by your model) and access the “Car” or “Vehicle” menu on the MMI or digital instrument cluster.
• Navigate to a submenu such as “Service & checks,” “Oil level,” or “Vehicle status,” depending on the software version.
• Wait for the display to show the oil level indicator, which typically uses a bar graphic and messages like “Oil level OK” or “Add oil.”

This electronic method effectively replaces the visual dipstick, though it is dependent on the health and calibration of the oil level sensor and the car’s software.

When a Workshop Dipstick Is Used

Dealers and independent workshops sometimes still use a physical dipstick for precise diagnostics, especially if there is uncertainty about the electronic reading. This involves inserting a special, often longer, calibrated dipstick into the capped tube many owners see but do not use.

The workshop approach usually involves:

• Removing the plastic cap from the dipstick tube (if fitted) using basic hand tools.
• Inserting the manufacturer’s approved service dipstick to a specified depth.
• Reading the oil level against etched or marked ranges on the service dipstick scale.
• Reinstalling the cap and clearing any oil-level-related warnings via diagnostic equipment if needed.

Because this requires specific tools and procedures, it is not part of routine checks expected of the average Q5 owner and explains why the “dipstick” remains largely hidden from everyday view.

How to Tell What Your Q5 Is Equipped With

Since Audi’s approach changed across years and engines, confirming your specific configuration is essential. Visual clues under the hood and information in your handbook will quickly clarify whether you can expect to find a dipstick at all.

Quick DIY Checks

There are a few simple steps you can take at home to determine whether your Q5 has a user-accessible dipstick or only an electronic system. These checks do not require tools and can be completed in a few minutes.

Owners can:

• Open the hood and scan the front and sides of the engine for a yellow or orange loop handle emerging from a thin tube.
• Look near the oil filler cap area for any adjacent slim tube or handle, as dipsticks are often placed within easy reach of the main service points.
• Consult the owner’s manual index under “Engine oil” or “Checking oil level” to see if a physical dipstick is mentioned or illustrated.
• Use the in-car “Oil level” function in the MMI or cluster; if the manual emphasizes this exclusively and makes no reference to a dipstick, your vehicle likely relies on electronic measurement.

By combining a brief under-hood inspection with the instructions in the manual, most owners can quickly confirm whether a physical dipstick is present, hidden, or omitted entirely.

Important Note on Model-Year and Market Differences

There are minor variations between regions, emissions standards, and optional equipment that influence whether a Q5 gets a factory dipstick. For instance, some markets initially supplied a dipstick and later dropped it mid-generation while keeping the same basic engine.

Key considerations include:

• The VIN and engine code, which a dealer can decode to identify the exact engine variant and its service equipment.
• Market-specific regulations or dealer practices that might dictate whether a dipstick is supplied as standard or left to service-only use.
• Software updates that can alter how oil level is displayed in the vehicle’s menus, although they do not change the physical presence of a dipstick.

Because of these nuances, if you are unsure based on your own inspection, a quick inquiry with an Audi dealer—providing your VIN—will yield a definitive answer on whether your Q5 has a user-accessible dipstick or not.

Summary

Most modern Audi Q5 models, especially from around 2018 onward, do not provide a traditional, owner-accessible engine oil dipstick under the hood. Instead, they rely on an electronic oil level sensor whose readings appear in the vehicle’s MMI or digital instrument cluster. Earlier Q5s, particularly first-generation models with 2.0 TFSI or V6 engines, are more likely to feature a physical dipstick, usually located at the front or front-right of the engine, marked by a yellow or orange handle emerging from a thin tube. Some diesel and later engines retain only a capped dipstick tube for workshop use. To know exactly what your Q5 has, check under the hood for a colored loop handle and consult your owner’s manual or dealer with your VIN for confirmation.

Why doesn’t my Audi have a dipstick?

Audis no longer provide dipstick. They want you to use the MMI gauge, which acts like a dipstick. Year the whole bar is a quart.

Does a 2018 Audi Q5 have a dipstick?

My 2018 Audi Q5 indicated that it needed some oil today. Since there’s no dipstick, I had to estimate how much to add by using the Vehicle Page on the screen. I might have overfilled it because my initial fill showed no change on the Vehicle Screen, so I added more, and then it displayed full/MAX.

Does a 2010 Audi Q5 have a dipstick?

Your Audi Q5 is not alone in not having a dipstick to measure engine oil level. Many other models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche also come without dipsticks.

Where is the oil stick on an Audi Q5?

So that’s going to be clicking this bottom left button here. So once you’re in car systems servicing. And checks click enter with the knob. And then you can go down to oil level hit enter.