Question on oil life indicator...and how it resets itself?

[Drewtl4]

Currently my oil life indicator is showing 50%. I have about 3k miles on my 06 ody. My question if I were to change the oil now would the indicator reset itself to 100% automatically or through the help of a honda technician?

Do I need to go to a honda dealer so they can reset the oil life indicator or can I just go to a Jiffy lube place and the van auto sense the oil has been changed and reset itself to 100%

Is the system affected anyway if I go use synthetic oil?

[Coleman_lot]

Originally posted by Drewtl4
Currently my oil life indicator is showing 50%. I have about 3k miles on my 06 ody. My question if I were to change the oil now would the indicator reset itself to 100% automatically or through the help of a honda technician?

Do I need to go to a honda dealer so they can reset the oil life indicator or can I just go to a Jiffy lube place and the van auto sense the oil has been changed and reset itself to 100%

Is the system affected anyway if I go use synthetic oil?

Reset Oil Indicator
The system will calculate the life of oil usage by itself, and there is not setting for it. It is using a combination of oil sensor and Bill’s software. If you are good at programming, you might be able to hack into it to manipulate its calculating process..!

[6spdtl]

Originally posted by Drewtl4
Currently my oil life indicator is showing 50%. I have about 3k miles on my 06 ody. My question if I were to change the oil now would the indicator reset itself to 100% automatically or through the help of a honda technician?

Do I need to go to a honda dealer so they can reset the oil life indicator or can I just go to a Jiffy lube place and the van auto sense the oil has been changed and reset itself to 100%

Is the system affected anyway if I go use synthetic oil?

The indicator must be reset manually. The how to is in the owners manual, there is no need to visit the dealer.

[Pahtoe]

Prevailing opinion (I think) is that it's basically an RPM counter with adjustments for conditions. (i.e. idling cold rpms may count for "more" than warm steady cruising, etc)

I don't think it factors in the type of oil you use. So technically you could be changing "early" with synthetic.

[skinny2]

It has no clue if you're using synthetic or canola oil. It just monitors engine rpms, # cold starts, etc.

And if you do go to a dealer, be sure and check that they reset the sensor. Chevy has used this system in all their trucks/SUV's since 1999 but the dealers only reset our oil life monitor about 1/2 the time.

[Coleman_lot]

Here is the Q&A on Oil Life Indicator:

[Jerry O]

If, while adding synthetic oil, you shout, with an open hood, "I am installing synthetic oil", the hamsters in charge of the system will make note of that fact in the memory and the change interval will become longer. Funny, the article Coleman recommended did not mention hamsters. GM must have some other sort of underhood crew. Sorry, the temptation was just too great.

Jerry O.

[KiteSquid]

So THAT Is why I keep finding Hampster Poop on my garage floor.... I could not resist either.....

[Coleman_lot]

Originally posted by Jerry O
If, while adding synthetic oil, you shout, with an open hood, "I am installing synthetic oil", the hamsters in charge of the system will make note of that fact in the memory and the change interval will become longer. Funny, the article Coleman recommended did not mention hamsters. GM must have some other sort of underhood crew. Sorry, the temptation was just too great.

Jerry O.

Next time around, you can request Mr. Gate to include Hamsters voice recognition in his next Ody software update..!