Oil Change Reminder Lamp: Description and Operation

Oil Life and Oil Life Start Value

The message center provides an oil change minder to inform the driver that an oil change is required. The duration of the interval between oil changes is calculated in the PCM and varies due to driving conditions. The PCM assumes a base mileage (example: 16,093 km [10,000 miles]) for normal driving. However, this number will be adjusted down due to high engine temperature, high engine rpms, use of flex fuel and possibly low oil level. The PCM calculates and provides an oil life status message to the IPC. The IPC displays the oil life percentage, indicating the remaining oil life. The oil change minder can be reset at any time by the driver. Refer to Message Center Configuration Reset Procedure. When the remaining oil life is less than or equal to 5%, the message center displays ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON. When the remaining oil life is equal to 0%, the message center displays OIL CHANGE REQUIRED.

The oil life is displayed in percentages and is preset to a maximum of approximately 16,093 km (10,000 miles) or 1 year. The oil life start value is used to increase or decrease the starting point of the oil life. The value can be changed back to the maximum of approximately 16,093 km (10,000 miles) if the value was previously changed or to lower the value by 10% increments down to 10%. Each 10% reduction lowers the oil life in both mileage and days.

For example, if the oil life start value is lowered to 50%, the maximum mileage is 8,047 km (5,000 miles) or 6 months. The oil life remains at the selected setting (50% in this example) until the driver changes the oil life start value. When the oil life (not oil life start value) is reset back to 100% following an oil change, the oil life resets to 8,047 km (5,000 miles). For configuration of the oil life and oil life start value, refer to Message Center Configuration Reset Procedure.

Oil Life and Oil Life Start Value
- XXX% OIL LIFE OIL LIFE OK
- OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW
- OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%