The invention discloses a portable oil level detector and a using method thereof, and relates to the field of electrical device maintenance. The portable oil level detector comprises an insulating shell, a positioning magnetic sheet, a pulse transmitting circuit, a pulse receiving circuit, a counter, an oscillating circuit, a liquid level alarm lamp, a control circuit and a power supply module. The portable oil level detector is adsorbed on the wall of an oil storage tank or a transformer oil tank through the positioning magnetic sheet, when liquid exists in the oil storage tank or the transformer oil tank, the liquid level alarm lamp flickers, otherwise, the liquid level alarm lamp is not turned on, so that the problem that the oil storage tank or the transformer oil tank is made of an iron plate and is not transparent, so that whether oil exists or not in the oil storage tank or the transformer oil tank cannot be accurately judged, and the maintenance work is not convenient, is solved. The internal oil level position can also be determined when the detector slowly moves on the wall of the oil storage tank or the transformer oil tank, and the liquid level alarm lamp flickers and is not lighted alternately, and the technical problem that the oil level position is difficult to judge is solved. The detector is small in size, is convenient and flexible, enables the overhaul operation efficiency to be improved.