Oil Life

adcam
Mar 19, 2025

Rank V

Mar 19, 2025

Usually when I get my service done at the dealer, the oil life resets to 100. It’s been a week, and my oil life still says 20%. My service shows up in the history. Any way to manually reset this?

Wherever you go, there you are!

Mar 19, 2025

#1
Usually when I get my service done at the dealer, the oil life resets to 100. It’s been a week, and my oil life still says 20%. My service shows up in the history. Any way to manually reset this?

In the Bronco's gauge cluster menu, use the steering wheel buttons to navigate to 'Oil Life' then press 'OK' to reset it..
onX Trail Guide & Tread Lightly Member
2023 Badlands 2 door in Hot Pepper Red 🌶️ 🌶️
Deano Bronc, adcam

Rank V

Mar 19, 2025

#2
Accessory - key pad menu on steering wheel - scroll down - settings - oil life - hold ok.
Big Bend 2-Door Carbonized Grey 2.7, Auto, MIC Res 7/18/2020, Order 1/19/2021, order 10/28/2021, Sticker 2/18/22. Product 2/21/22, Ship 3/4/22. Rec 3/23/22. Tires: 285/70R17/17x8.5 Black Rhino Abrams.
adcam, Chief Ron

Rank V

Mar 20, 2025

#3
Maybe your oil has a life of it's own!!
Deano Bronc, Sven

Ultimate Cosmic Power!

Mar 20, 2025

#4
Maybe they didn't change the oil and just told you that they did? 😏

Rank V

Mar 20, 2025

#5
So basically that oil life percentage is just b***s****! I can make it 100% without even changing the oil.

Bucephalus

Mar 20, 2025

#6
So basically that oil life percentage is just b***s****! I can make it 100% without even changing the oil.

Yes, you can reset it anytime you like.
The computer lowers the % based on miles & idle time, along with some other data that goes into the ECU.
So it's not complete BS, but it's certainly not a foolproof method of deciding when to change your oil.
Just keep a note of when it was done & decide how many miles you're comfortable with running.
I'd say your dealer just forgot to reset it after they completed the service.
Dano40, adcam

I wandered and got lost, again.

Mar 20, 2025

#7
Yes, you can reset it anytime you like.
The computer lowers the % based on miles & idle time, along with some other data that goes into the ECU.
So it's not complete BS, but it's certainly not a foolproof method of deciding when to change your oil.
Just keep a note of when it was done & decide how many miles you're comfortable with running.
I'd say your dealer just forgot to reset it after they completed the service.

I think it also assumes that you use recommended oil viscosities (which on the Bronco is a synthetic blend). Personally, I choose to use full synthetic (better, longer lasting) so I give myself a bit of leeway percentage wise. I do my own changes and use Motorcraft filters.
"No matter where you go, there you are."
IG: Buckaroo_Bronco
adcam, Deano Bronc

Rank IV

Mar 20, 2025

#8
OP, as @jtgensler said, the dealer probably forgot to reset the oil life monitor, but maybe somehow your Bronco slipped through and the oil was not changed. I would do two things, get a white paper towel, pull the dipstick and let some oil drop on to the paper towel to check the color. It should be a very light brown. Normally, looking at oil color tells you nothing about the oil's condition, but in your case at just a week old, the oil should not be discolored at this point. Second, I would take the Bronco back to the dealership with receipt in hand and ask the service advisor to verify the oil was actually changed and only the monitor was errantly not reset.
No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...
adcam, Deano Bronc

Rank IV

Mar 20, 2025

#9
So basically that oil life percentage is just b***s****! I can make it 100% without even changing the oil.

True, no one ever has to do any maintenance on their vehicle. The oil life monitor only serves as a reminder to change the engine oil. There's no magic to it, it uses several measurable events to calculate when the oil should be changed. Time, miles, fuel consumption, engine loading, cold starts, average engine operating temperature are some of the metrics the engine computer stores in memory and uses to calculate the oil change interval. It really is just a reminder notification, no different than following the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule for the other periodic maintenance items the vehicle needs. It's a bit more sophisticated than just a mileage interval stated on a maintenance schedule list but the system doesn't and can't recognize when a new load of fresh oil is added to the engine that would trigger and automatic reset; the mechanic must manually reset the monitor.
No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...
adcam, Deano Bronc

Rank V

Mar 20, 2025

#10
I always request full synthetic with my oil change. Checked the dipstick and it’s a light yellow color.
Deano Bronc, Eninty

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