Oil Change Reminder Lamp: Description and Operation

This vehicle is equipped with an oil life monitor which calculates engine oil life. This is done by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) which uses vehicle speed, coolant temperature, and engine RPM data to determine when the oil should be changed. Once the PCM determines it is necessary to change the oil, it lights the CHANGE OIL SOON telltale on the Driver Information Center (DIC). This is advising the driver that the remaining oil "life" is under 10%. (This is not to be confused with oil level). On a new vehicle or one which has just had the index reset, the oil life is 100%. This percentage will slowly decrease based on the inputs to the PCM.

The DIC will also display a CHANGE OIL NOW message when the engine oil life is at 0%. Both messages will be displayed upon each ignition cycle and will also be accompanied by a slow five second audible chime. The driver must acknowledge each of these messages by pressing the RESET button on the DIC.

A steady CHANGE OIL SOON message indicates that a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) 61 has been set. This is meant to assist in diagnosis of a shorted switch. To further assist in diagnosis, the oil life remaining (in percent) can be displayed by pressing the OIL button on the DIC and advancing through the messages until the oil life index is displayed.

The oil life monitor will not detect excessively dusty conditions or engine malfunctions which may affect the oil. If you drive in dusty areas, change the engine oil alter every 3 000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months (whichever comes first), unless instructed to do so sooner by the DIC. Also, the PCM does not measure the oil level. Therefore, it remains the owner's responsibility to check the oil level.