You will need to Reset oil change light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury manually after every oil change. If it is not properly reset the system can’t track when your next oil change is due. Click on the links below for procedures to help you reset your Ford / Lincoln / Mercury oil change light.
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C-Max
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Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury
Choose your model above for the Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury procedure for your vehicle. If your Ford / Lincoln / Mercury model is not listed or you have any issues or questions on the Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure please check our Frequently Asked Questions page HERE. Restart your Reset Oil Change Light Procedure Search HERE. The information on this site is not intended as repair advice and we are not responsible for any actions you take on any vehicle.
Aviator
C-Max
Crown Victoria
E-Series
Edge
Escape
Expedition
2007-15 Base Cluster
2007-15 Message Center Cluster
Explorer
2013-15
2006-12
2005
2002-04
1996-01
F-150
F-250
F-350
F-450
F-550
Fiesta
Five Hundred
Flex
Focus
Freestar
Freestyle
Fusion
Grand Marquis
LS
Mariner
Mark VIII
Milan
MKC
MKS
MKT
MKX
MKZ
Montego
Monterey
Mountaineer
Mustang
Navigator
Sable
Sport Trac
Taurus
Town Car
Transit
Windstar
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
Reset to 100%
- Press the SETUP button to display PRESS SELECT TO BEGIN SYSTEM CHECK.
- Press the SELECT button to display OIL LIFE – PRESS RESET IF NEW OIL.
- Press and hold the RESET button until OIL LIFE SET TO 100% is displayed.
Change Oil Life Start Value
- Press the SETUP button until OIL LIFE START VALUE PRESS SELECT TO CHANGE is displayed.
- Press and release the SELECT button until the desired start value is displayed.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
Base Cluster
- Press and release the ODO/TRIP button to toggle between the odometer and trip odometer displays.
- Press and release the ODO/TRIP button again to toggle between the trip odometer display and the OIL LIFE XX% display.
- Press and hold the ODO/TRIP button for approximately 2 seconds or longer until OIL LIFE 100% is displayed.
- Press and release the ODO/TRIP button to return to the odometer display.
Message Center Cluster
- Press and release the SETUP button until OIL LIFE XX% RESET IF NEW is displayed.
- Press and release the RESET button until IF NEW OIL HOLD RESET is displayed (On Freestar & Freestyle: HOLD RESET TO CONFIRM).
- Press and hold the RESET button until OIL LIFE SET TO 100% is displayed.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
Reset to 100%
NOTE: The XXX’s in the steps below represent a numeric value and displays the correct number in a percentage. For example, OIL LIFE = XXX% may display OIL LIFE = 45%.
- Press and release the SETUP button until SYSTEM CHECK is displayed.
- Press and release the SETUP button again to display OIL LIFE = XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release to reset the oil life to 100%. “OIL LIFE SET TO 100%” is displayed.
Change Oil Life Start Value
NOTE: The oil life start value is used to reset the oil life value back to the maximum if the value was previously changed, or to lower the value by 10% increments down to 10%.
- Press and release the SETUP button until SYSTEM CHECK is displayed.
- Press and release the SETUP button again to display OIL LIFE = XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release to reset the oil life to 100%.
- Press and release the RESET button to lower the percentage by 10% (down to 10%) for each button press or return the value to 100%.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
Reset to 100%
- Press and release the SETUP button twice until OIL LIFE = XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW is displayed.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds until OIL LIFE SET TO 100% is displayed to reset the oil life to 100%
Change Oil Life Start Value
NOTE: The oil life start value is used to reset the oil life value back to the maximum if the value was previously changed, or to lower the value by 10% increments down to 10%.
- Press and release the SETUP button twice until OIL LIFE = XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW is displayed.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds until OIL LIFE SET TO 100% is displayed to reset the oil life to 100%.
- Release the RESET button then press and release the RESET button to lower the percentage by 10% (down to 10%) for each button press or return the value to 100%.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
NOTE: This procedure resets the oil life telltale in the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC), and the oil change reminder message in the message center display.
- Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position (do not start the engine)
- For vehicles with push-button start, press and hold the start button for two seconds without pressing the brake pedal. Do not attempt to start the engine.
- Press the brake and accelerator pedals at the same time.
- Keep the pedals fully depressed.
- After three seconds, the “Service: Oil reset in prog.” message will be displayed.
- After 25 seconds, the “Service: Oil reset complete” message will be displayed.
- Release both the accelerator and brake pedals.
- The “Service: Oil reset complete” message will no longer be displayed.
- Rotate the key to the OFF position.
- For vehicles with push-button start, push the start/stop switch to turn the vehicle off completely.
- Start the vehicle. Make sure that the oil life telltale is not illuminated in the IPC, and the oil change reminder message is no longer displayed in the message center.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
Non-Hybrid
Oil Life Reset
NOTE: The oil life calculation is set at a maximum of approximately 12,070 km (7,500 miles) or 180 days (non-hybrid) or 16,093 km (10,000 miles) (hybrid).
- Press and release the SETUP button to display OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release to reset the oil life to 100%.
Change Oil Life Start Value
The oil life start value is used to reset the oil life value back to the if the value was previously changed, or to lower the value from the maximum in 10% increments down to 10%. To change oil life value to another value, proceed to next step.
- Once “OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%” is displayed, release and press the RESET button to change the Oil Life Start Value. Each release and press will reduce the value by 10%.
Hybrid
NOTE: The oil life calculation is set at a maximum of approximately 16,093 km (10,000 miles) or 12 months.
NOTE: The message center is displayed on the LH side of the speedometer and is split into several different viewing panes.
- Press and release the SETUP button to display VEHICLE SETTINGS in the LH viewing pane of the message center.
- Press and release the RESET button to display the next viewing pane.
- Press and release the SETUP button to select and highlight OIL LIFE in the LH viewing pane of the message center.
- Once the RESET button is pressed, the message center highlights the currently selected oil life start value. This value can be changed or left as currently selected.
- Press and release the RESET button to display the move to the RH viewing pane of the message center and highlight SET TO xxx%.
- Press and release the SETUP button to highlight the desired oil life start value.
- A pop-up window appears stating HOLD RESET FOR 2 SECONDS TO CONFIRM. PRESS INFO TO CANCEL.
- Press and release the RESET button.
- Press and hold the RESET button for approximately 2 seconds to select and confirm the desired oil life start value.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
- Begin with the ignition off.
- Turn the key to the accessory position for keyed vehicles and for push button start vehicles press the Start/Stop button once quickly. DO NOT attempt to start the engine.
- Press the brake and accelerator pedals at the same time. Hold down fully for at least 20 seconds.
- Release both the accelerator and brake pedals.
- ENGINE OIL CHANGE DUE NEXT SERVICE and (Wrench & Oil Can icon) will display in the message center.
- Rotate the key to the OFF position.
- Turn the vehicle off. The message and lights will be cleared.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
The message center is used to program/configure various options. The message center display is located in the instrument cluster.
Use the steering wheel controls to navigate through the message center to locate the Oil Life Reset option:
Main Menu > Settings > Convenience > Oil Life Reset.
- Press the up/down arrow buttons to move up/down through the message center choices.
- Press the left/right arrow buttons to move left/right through the message center choices.
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select SETTINGS
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select CONVENIENCE
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select OIL LIFE RESET
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select Percentage – 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, or 10.
- Press the OK button to select highlighted options and confirm choices/messages.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
- Press and hold the OIL CHANGE RESET control for 5 seconds.
- The message center will count down for 5 seconds.
- If reset is successful, message center will display OIL LIFE RESET TO 100%.
Oil Change Reminder Reset
NOTE: All message reset functions are carried out using the single stem SELECT/RESET button in the Base Instrument Panel Cluster
NOTE: The XX’s in the message center displays below represent a numeric value. For example, the message center may display OIL LIFE = 80%.
Reset to 100%
NOTE: The ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON message will be displayed on message center when remaining engine oil life is 5% or less. The ENGINE OIL CHANGE NOW message will be displayed when engine oil life is 0%.
- Press and release the SELECT/RESET button to scroll through the information displays until the message center displays HOLD RESET FOR SETUP MENU.
- For 2007-13 Expedition and Navigator (Message Center Cluster): Press and hold the RESET button for approximately 2 seconds until the message center displays HOLD RESET FOR SYSTEM CHECK. For all other models (Base Instrument Cluster), go to next step.
- Press and release the SELECT/RESET button until the message center displays OIL LIFE XX% HOLD RESET = NEW.
- Press and hold the SELECT/RESET button for 2 seconds and release when the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO 100%.
- Press and release the SELECT/RESET button to exit the procedure.
Change Oil Life Start Value
- Press and release the SELECT/RESET button to scroll through the information displays until the message center displays HOLD RESET FOR SETUP MENU.
- For 2007-13 Expedition and Navigator (Message Center Cluster): Press and hold the RESET button for approximately 2 seconds until the message center displays HOLD RESET FOR SYSTEM CHECK. For all other models (Base Instrument Cluster), go to next step.
- Press and release the SELECT/RESET button until the message center displays OIL LIFE XX% HOLD RESET = NEW.
- Press and hold the SELECT/RESET button for 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO 100%.
- The oil life start value can be lowered from 100% to 10% in 10% increments then the value starts again at 100%.
- Continue to hold the SELECT/RESET button to lower the oil life in 10% increments from the default 100% until the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO XX%.
- Press and release the SELECT/RESET button to exit the procedure.
Oil Life Monitor Reset Procedure
Oil Life Reset
- Press and release the SETUP button until the message center displays PRESS RESET AT OIL CHANGE.
- Press and release the RESET button until the message center displays HOLD RESET TO CONFIRM.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release to reset the oil life to 100%.
- Press the SETUP to exit the procedure and continue with the system check.
Oil Life Start Value
- Press and release the SETUP button until the message center displays PRESS RESET AT OIL CHANGE.
- Press and release the RESET button until the message center displays HOLD RESET TO CONFIRM.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release to reset the oil life to 100%.
- Press the RESET and the SETUP buttons simultaneously for 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL LIFE XX% RESET TO ALTER.
- Press the RESET button to lower the percentage by 10% (up to 30%) for each button press or return the value to 100%.
- Press the SETUP to exit the procedure and continue with the system check.
Change Oil Light Reset Procedure
Base Cluster
- Place the ignition in the RUN position with the engine off.
- Press and release the TRIP/RESET button until SETUP MENU HOLD RESET is displayed.
- Press and hold the TRIP/RESET button until RESET FOR SYS CHECK (2006 early build) or SYSTEM CHECK HOLD RESET (2006 late build and later) is displayed.
- Release the TRIP/RESET button.
- Press and release the TRIP/RESET button to scroll through the system check menu items until HOLD RESET IF NEW OIL is displayed.
- Press and hold the TRIP/RESET button until OIL LIFE SET TO 100% is displayed.
- If the oil life start value was set to 100%, the next setting would be 90%. If the oil life start value was set to 10%, the next setting would be 100%
- Release the TRIP/RESET button. The oil life is now reset.
- To change the oil life start value, press and hold the TRIP/RESET button until the oil life display indicates the next oil life start value.
- Repeat Step 9 for each desired 10% reduction in the oil life start value down to 10%.
With Message Center Cluster
- For 2008 and later vehicles, it may be possible to start with step 3.
- Press and release the SETUP button until the message center displays PRESS RESET TO BEGIN SYSTEM CHECK.
- Press and release the RESET button until the message center displays HOLD RESET IF NEW OIL.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL CHANGE SET TO 100%.
Oil Life Start Value Reset - Press and release the SETUP button until the message center displays OIL LIFE START VALUE SET TO XX%.
- Press and release the RESET button to lower the percentage by 10% (down to 10%) for each button press or return the value to 100%.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
With Base Cluster
NOTE: All message center functions are carried out using the single stem SELECT/RESET button in the Instrument Cluster (IC).
Reset to 100%
- Press and release the SELECT/RESET button to scroll through the information displays until the message center displays HOLD RESET FOR SETUP MENU.
- Press and hold the SELECT/RESET button for approximately 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW.
- Press and hold the SELECT/RESET button for approximately 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%.
- Release the SELECT/RESET button and allow the setup timer to expire to exit the procedure.
Change Oil Life Start Value
Press and release the SELECT/RESET button to scroll through the information displays until the message center displays HOLD RESET FOR SETUP MENU.
Press and hold the SELECT/RESET button for approximately 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW.
Press and hold the SELECT/RESET button for approximately 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%.
NOTE: The oil life start value reduces by 10% for each second that the SELECT/RESET button is held once the oil life start value begins decreasing.
Continue to hold the SELECT/RESET button until the oil life begins to decrease in value (from 100% down to 10%), continuing to hold until the desired start value is displayed.
Release the SELECT/RESET button and allow the setup timer to expire to exit the procedure.
With Message Center Cluster
Reset to 100%
- Press and release the SETUP button until the message center displays OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW OIL.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release when the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%.
- Press and release the SETUP button to exit the procedure.
Change Oil Life Start Value
- Press and release the SETUP button until the message center displays OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW OIL.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release when the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%.
- Press and release the RESET button to decrease the oil life start value (from 100% to 10%) for each 10% reduction until the desired oil life start value is displayed.
- Press and release the SETUP button to exit the procedure.
Oil Change Reminder Reset
The message center is used to program/configure various options. The message center display is located in the instrument cluster.
Use the left steering wheel controls to navigate through the message center to locate the Oil Life Reset option. Depending on display type, follow menu path to reset:
- Type 1 (center display): Main Menu > Settings > Convenience > Oil Life Reset
- Type 2 (left-of-center display): Main Menu > Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life Reset
NOTE: For Fusion, MKS, MKT, MKX, MKZ , use Type 2 instructions.
- Press the up/down arrow buttons to move up/down through the message center choices.
- Press the left/right arrow buttons to move left/right through the message center choices.
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select SETTINGS
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select CONVENIENCE or VEHICLE
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select OIL LIFE RESET
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select Percentage – 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, or 10.
- Press the OK button to select highlighted options and confirm choices/messages.
Oil Life Monitor Reset Procedure
Base Cluster
- Press and release the SETUP button until the message center displays OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW OIL.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release when the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%.
- Press and release the SETUP button to exit the procedure.
- To change oil life 100% value (if equipped with this feature) to a value less than 100%, proceed to next step.
- Once “OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%” is displayed, release and press the RESET button to change the Oil Life Start Value.
- Each release and press will reduce the value by 10%.
Up-level Cluster
- The message center display is located in the instrument cluster.
- Use the steering wheel mounted buttons to navigate through the message center to locate the Oil Life Reset option.
- Go to Main Menu > Settings > Oil Life Reset .
- Press the up/down arrow buttons to move up/down through the message center choices.
- Press the left/right arrow buttons to move left/right through the message center choices.
- Press the OK button to select highlighted options and confirm choices/messages.
Change Oil Light Reset Procedure
The warning message CHANGE OIL SOON is single cycle, non-resettable and repetitive warning messages.
Single cycle warning messages will display once whenever the ignition switch is turned to ON or a fault occurs in a system and can be cleared by pressing the RESET button.
Oil Life Monitor Reset Procedure
The CHANGE OIL SOON message will be displayed on message center when remaining engine oil life is 5% or less. The OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message will be displayed when engine oil life is 0%.
- Press the STATUS control to access the System Check function.
- Press RESET control to reset oil percentage (%).
- Press and hold RESET control to change setting to 100%.
- If reset procedure is successful, the message center will display OIL LIFE SET TO 100%.
Oil Change Reminder Reset
- The CHANGE OIL SOON warning will display on the message center when remaining engine oil life is 5% or less. The OIL CHANGE REQUIRED will display when engine oil life is 0%.
- Press VEHICLE SETTINGS control until OIL CHANGE RESET display appears.
- On 1993-96 models, press OIL CHANGE RESET switch and hold for 5 seconds as message center display counts down to trigger an oil change reset.
- On 1997-98 models, press RESET switch for 5 seconds to reset display.
- After a successful reset, the message center will display OIL LIFE RESET TO 100.
Oil Life Monitor Reset Procedure
The warning message displays once whenever the ignition switch is turned to the ON position or a fault occurs in a system and can be cleared by pressing the RESET button. Once cleared, the messages are not displayed again until the next ignition cycle.
Reset Oil Change Light Ford / Lincoln / Mercury Procedure
- Press the INFO button to cycle message to OIL CHANGE message.
- Press the SET button to display PRESS SET FOR SYS CHCK.
- Press and release the SET button to display OIL CHNG XXX% HOLD SET NEW.
- Press and hold the SET button for about 2 seconds to display OIL CHANGE SET TO 100%. The oil life is now set to 100%.
Oil Life Monitor Reset Procedure
Without Message Center
- Press and release the SELECT/RESET button to scroll through the information displays until the message center displays
- HOLD RESET IF NEW OIL.
- Press and hold the SELECT/RESET button for about 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO 100%.
- Once OIL LIFE SET TO 100% is displayed, press and hold the SELECT/RESET button for more than 2 seconds until the message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%.
- Press and hold SELECT/RESET button to reduce the start value (10% for each button press).
- Press and release SELECT/RESET button to exit the procedure.
With Message Center
- From the setup menu, press and release RESET button to display HOLD RESET IF NEW OIL.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release to reset the oil life to 100%.
- The message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO 100%.
- Once message center displays OIL LIFE SET TO 100%, release the RESET button then press and release the RESET button to reduce the start value (10% for each button press).
Oil Change Reminder Reset
The oil life minder has 2-level warnings, both cleared by the RESET button. The critical one turns on the display after a period of time (if the condition is still active). Oil life minder warning can overwrite normal mode messages. Pressing RESET button acknowledges the warning.
- Press the MODE button repeatedly until OIL LIFE XX% is displayed.
- XX will be between 6-100% when the oil life is okay.
- CHANGE OIL SOON is displayed if the oil life is 5% or less.
- CHANGE OIL NOW is displayed if the oil life is 0%.
- Press and hold the MODE button for 5 seconds until RESET FOR NEW OIL LIFE is displayed.
- If the RESET button is not pressed, after one minute of inactivity or if the power is interrupted during the reset oil life mode, the message center resets the oil life to the original value.
- Press and release the RESET button. The oil life value will be reset to 100%.
Oil Life Monitor Reset Procedure
Type 1 Information Display
- Press and release the SETUP button to display OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET = NEW.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds and release to reset the oil life to 100%.
- The oil life start value is used to reset the oil life value back to the if the value was previously changed, or to lower the value from the maximum in 10% increments down to 10%.
- To change oil life value to another value, proceed to next step.
- Once “OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%” is displayed, release and press the RESET button to change the Oil Life Start Value. Each release and press will reduce the value by 10%.
Type 2 Information Display
The message center is used to program/configure various options. The message center display is located in the instrument cluster.
Use the left steering wheel controls to navigate through the message center to locate the Oil Life Reset option:
Main Menu > Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life Reset
- Press the up/down arrow buttons to move up/down through the message center choices.
- Press the left/right arrow buttons to move left/right through the message center choices.
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select SETTINGS
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select VEHICLE
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select OIL LIFE RESET
- Press the left/right, up/down arrow buttons to move through the message center choices. Select Percentage – 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, or 10.
- Press the OK button to select highlighted options and confirm choices/messages.