Oil percentage indicators are lifesavers, the technology helps ensure that cars don’t suffer from unnecessary damage caused by lack of oil change. The automatic life percentage has been equipped in most modern cars, however, even the old models have the same functionality as discussed below.
Oil life percentage is a readout in your Honda that represents the time left before your engine oil can offer optimal protection to its internal components. Changing your oil is, therefore, a task that is crucial to the performance of your vehicle, but it is still something that you can forget to do from time to time.
To prevent this, the Honda comes with an oil life percentage indicator that acts as a reminder, the numbers displayed will then help you recognize when it’s time to change the engine oil. This system can be reset through a variety of ways, including a touch screen, trip button, and an up and down arrow setting – depending on your particular make and model.
Resetting the Oil Life Percentage
Once you have changed the oil in your car, you will need to reset the oil percentage life indicator to note the change. Ignoring this requirement results in the indicator displaying incorrect information, besides the method you use to achieve this objective will depend on the type of Honda you drive.
How to Reset Oil Life on Honda Odyssey 2006
If you drive a Honda Odyssey produced between 2005 and 2015, then you will use a trip button to reset your oil life percentage. This button is located on the dashboard next to your speedometer and is used to access some of the systems in the vehicle. Your car will need to be switched off and away from traffic before commencing this activity.
The first step in this process involves turning the engine on and into accessory mode. This is the position where the vehicle’s systems are functioning, but the engine itself isn’t running. Next, you will need to press the trip button until you access the oil life percentage category on the small display screen next to it.
Upon accessing this sector, long-press the trip button until the characters on the screen start to blink. This can take more than 8 seconds to accomplish. Once it is complete, release the button, then hold the knob down until the display screen resets itself fully. This will take another five seconds. But once the percentage on display is at the 100% mark, you are done. This technique also applies when dealing with oil life reset on Honda accord.
Resetting Oil Life Percentage via a Home Screen Interface
Most of the modern makes in various Honda models come with a touch display that gives you access to a home screen. This offers the driver a better approach as it serves as the vehicle’s computer – so to speak. The display screen is also wider and easier to navigate.
Using this interface, firstly navigate your way from home to the settings tab. This section will reveal an option categorized as vehicle settings, which is where you want to go. From there, scroll down to the Maintenance Info category and select it. In this section, choose the reset option. Some systems might require you to confirm your intended actions before completing the task. Once this is done, your oil life percentage should be indicated at 100% once more.
It should be noted that not all touch display interfaces offer the same route towards this objective. In some cases, you might be required to select the particular indicators you would like to reset. Luckily, this is a simple and straightforward task that will not present any additional complications, so no need to worry.
Resetting Oil Life Percentage on a Honda SUV
Some Honda SUVs such as the Pilot have a number of buttons placed on the steering wheel for easier access. These buttons are used to access the information displayed by the vehicle’s system, including the oil life percentage. They are usually located on the lower part of the steering wheel. They include an up (↑), down (↓), and a middle button.
Just like the trip button, using this method requires you to keep an eye on the small display screen on your dash. Firstly, press the up button until the oil life percentage option pops up. Next, press down on the middle button until either the option “cancel” or “reset” turns up. Select this option using the up button, and press the central key to confirm your choice. This can represent a faster method as compared to the traditional knob used in older models.
Resetting your Oil Life Percentage via the DII Interface
DII stands for Driver Information Interface, and it can be used to gain access to a variety of content as well as offer a number of customization options. It’s controlled via a set of switches located on the left side of the steering wheel. Unlike the previous up and down buttons mentioned in some Honda SUVs, these consist of a different design with additional keys.
The buttons found in this set are arranged in a circular shape and include up (↑), down (↓), and left and right (←, →) alternatives. In between these four options lies the Enter key. Next to this set lies a small round info button, and a curved key displaying + and – alternatives. When using this interface, you will first need to press the info button to gain access to the menu.
Once you have accessed the system, use the left and right keys to scroll through the different options until arriving at Maintenance Minder. Next, use the Enter key to select it. Once this is done, hold down the Enter key once more for about 10 seconds. A menu will then appear, allowing you to choose the particular indicator you would like to change. Scroll down to the oil life percentage category and select it. Once confirmed, you would have successfully carried out your reset objectives.
Resetting your Oil Life Percentage by Mistake
In some instances, you might not mean to reset your oil life percentage. Perhaps you might press the wrong button without noticing, or the kids were playing around in the car. Either way, there is an easy fix if you can remember the initial reading. Simply subtract the original figure from 100 to get your new turning point.
If your oil life percentage was at 40% when you mistakenly reset it, for example, then subtracting that figure from 100 means that you should change your oil when the new percentage hits 60%. If your percentage was at 20%, on the other hand, then you will need to change your oil when the indicator hits 80% – and so on and so forth.
How to reset oil life for the older models
Old Honda models are vehicles beginning from 2017 down to 2007, to reset their oil life you will need to first turn the ignition to the first position, but don’t start the engine yet. You will then press the trip knob and adjust it so that it can show the engine oil before you hold the stem for 10 seconds until there is blinking at the display.
After which you will hold the stem for at least five seconds before the oil life is fully reset.
Resetting oil life for Honda models without a display
Just because your Honda model doesn’t have a display it does not mean that you cannot reset your oil life, and mind you the process is very simple. As you will only need to turn the ignition key without pressing the brake pedal but that is if it has a smart key button.
After which you will press and hold the same knob until that time when the oil percentage starts to blink and going by the same procedure you will again press the knob to reset the oil life percentage.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is the Honda maintenance minder able to calculate the 0% trigger?
The equipped onboard computer system monitors the engine (Honda’s) operating conditions such as time, speed, and ambient temperature. The system then counts down the vehicle's oil life based on the above conditions to decide if engine oil maintenance and change is needed.
- What would happen to my car if I leave it up to 0%
Well, this could be very detrimental for your car, because at 0%, the service is long overdue, and if you continue driving it in this condition then your engine will most likely fail. The above is caused by sludge and metal particles in the oil. It is thus advisable to change your oil filter and oil at least after every 5k to 7k miles.
- How long can I drive my Honda on 5% oil life?
Oil deterioration is due to contamination from combustion by-products such as carbon which makes the oil black. You can, however, drive your car a few months overdue, provided that the oil level is just within the high and low marks.
- Is the oil life indicator accurate?
The oil life indicator is pretty accurate given that it is a technology developed by engineers to provide a reliable method of calculating the remaining oil life without necessarily sampling the oil.
Conclusion
In case you notice that your engine maintenance light has flickered on before the 5000-mile oil change then that is a clear indication that the maintenance minder system is giving you an early warning of the early breakdown of additives in your oil based on use. Also, some of the things that affect engine oil life are the engine load, temperature, vehicle speed, trip duration, and mileage driven.
