Car Oil Specs

Oil Life Reset: How to Reset the Oil Light by Brand

After an oil change, the oil life or maintenance reminder on the dashboard has to be reset so the next reminder is counted from zero. Every brand does it differently, and the steps often change by model year. This page summarizes the method for each brand we cover, taken from the owner’s manuals. Each car page links to the exact steps for that model.

Oil life reset by brand

BrandWhat the manual calls itHow to reset (summary)
ToyotaMaintenance required light (“MAINT REQD”)Newer models: multi-information display > Vehicle Settings > Scheduled Maintenance > Yes. Older models: hold the trip meter button while turning the engine switch ON until 000000 appears.
HondaMaintenance Minder (oil life %)Newer models: steering-wheel home/ENTER button > maintenance screen > engine oil or All Due Items > hold ENTER. Older models: hold the SEL/RESET knob with the ignition ON (II).
AcuraMaintenance MinderOpen the maintenance information in the instrument display (or touchscreen Settings > Vehicle > Maintenance), select engine oil and confirm Reset.
FordOil life monitorSteering-wheel controls: Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life (newer: Vehicle Maintenance > Oil Life), then press and hold OK.
ChevroletOil life system (Driver Information Center)Show remaining oil life on the DIC, then press and hold the select button (or SET/CLR) until it reads 100%. Trucks without DIC buttons: in Park, use the trip odometer stem.
GMCOil life system (Driver Information Center)Show remaining oil life on the DIC and press and hold the select button until it reads 100%.
NissanOil and filter reminderVehicle information display: Settings > Maintenance > Oil and Filter > reset.
HyundaiService intervalInstrument cluster User Settings > Service Interval > Reset (some models: infotainment Settings).
KiaService intervalInstrument cluster User Settings > Service Interval > Reset.
SubaruMaintenance reminderMulti-function display setting screen > maintenance > Engine Oil: set the date and distance, then Set. Older models have no oil reminder.
MazdaMaintenance MonitorMazda Connect: Applications (or Information) > Maintenance Monitor > Oil Change > reset.
Jeep, Ram, Dodge, ChryslerOil change indicatorInstrument cluster: Oil Life > Reset. Or, ignition ON with the engine off, press the accelerator pedal slowly to the floor three times within 10 seconds, then turn the ignition off.

Reset the reminder only after the oil is actually changed. Resetting it early makes the next reminder late.

Toyota

Newer models: multi-information display > Vehicle Settings > Scheduled Maintenance > Yes. Older models: hold the trip meter button while turning the engine switch ON until 000000 appears.

Step-by-step for every Toyota model: Toyota maintenance required light reset.

Honda

Newer models: steering-wheel home/ENTER button > maintenance screen > engine oil or All Due Items > hold ENTER. Older models: hold the SEL/RESET knob with the ignition ON (II).

Step-by-step for every Honda model: Honda oil life reset.

Acura

Open the maintenance information in the instrument display (or touchscreen Settings > Vehicle > Maintenance), select engine oil and confirm Reset.

Ford

Steering-wheel controls: Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life (newer: Vehicle Maintenance > Oil Life), then press and hold OK.

Chevrolet

Show remaining oil life on the DIC, then press and hold the select button (or SET/CLR) until it reads 100%. Trucks without DIC buttons: in Park, use the trip odometer stem.

GMC

Show remaining oil life on the DIC and press and hold the select button until it reads 100%.

Nissan

Vehicle information display: Settings > Maintenance > Oil and Filter > reset.

Hyundai

Instrument cluster User Settings > Service Interval > Reset (some models: infotainment Settings).

Kia

Instrument cluster User Settings > Service Interval > Reset.

Subaru

Multi-function display setting screen > maintenance > Engine Oil: set the date and distance, then Set. Older models have no oil reminder.

Mazda

Mazda Connect: Applications (or Information) > Maintenance Monitor > Oil Change > reset.

Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler

Instrument cluster: Oil Life > Reset. Or, ignition ON with the engine off, press the accelerator pedal slowly to the floor three times within 10 seconds, then turn the ignition off.

Frequently asked questions

Does resetting the oil life light change the oil?

No. It only restarts the reminder. The oil still has to be changed.

Do I need a scan tool to reset the oil life?

For the brands on this page, the owner’s manuals describe a reset from the dashboard, steering-wheel buttons or touchscreen. No tool is needed.

Why does my oil light stay on after the reset?

Usually the reset did not finish: a step was skipped or the engine was started during a button-hold method. Repeat the steps for your model. A red oil pressure warning light is different: it means low oil pressure, so stop the engine and check the oil level.