Once you have changed the oil and filter, the car has no idea you have done it: the service reminder stays on until someone resets the counter. On many modern models that can only be done with a diagnostic tool that has an oil reset function, also called a service reset or service interval reset.
What an oil reset actually is
The instrument cluster or the engine control unit stores a service interval, in miles or kilometres, in time, or worked out from the estimated wear of the oil. When it reaches the limit, it lights up the spanner symbol or shows a service message. The reset tells the system the service has been done and to start counting again.
Some older cars let you do it with a combination of buttons on the dash, but on most current vehicles the procedure goes through the OBD2 port. Depending on the make, the function may also ask you which type of service you carried out, the oil viscosity or whether you also changed other filters.
Important: the reset is not a substitute for changing the oil. If you just switch off the reminder without doing the service, the engine will keep running on worn-out oil and the car won't warn you again until the next interval.
Step by step with an iCarsoft diagnostic tool
The exact menu varies a little between models, but the sequence is the same on the button-operated tools (CR Pro, V2.0 range) and the tablets (CR Max, CR Ultra):
- Do the service first. Change the oil and filter and check the level with the dipstick or the car's own gauge.
- Park on level ground with the engine off. Apply the handbrake and find the OBD2 port, usually under the steering wheel or near the fuse box.
- Plug the tool's OBD2 cable into the car's socket. Cable-connected tools draw power from the socket and switch on by themselves.
- Turn the ignition on without starting the engine (ON position). If the car has a start button, press it without touching the brake or clutch pedal.
- Identify the vehicle. Use automatic VIN reading if your tool has it, or select make, model, year and engine by hand.
- Go into the service menu and look for the oil reset or maintenance option.
- Choose the procedure that applies to your car. Some makes offer several options (oil service, inspection, long or short service). If it asks for oil details, enter them exactly as given in the vehicle handbook.
- Confirm and wait for the completion message. Don't switch off the ignition or unplug the cable while the tool is writing.
- Switch the ignition off, wait a few seconds and switch it back on to check that the reminder has gone and the dash shows the new interval.
Safety: if you are going to leave the ignition on for a long time, keep an eye on the battery. Low voltage while the tool is writing to a control unit can make the procedure fail halfway. Never run the engine in an enclosed garage.
If the reminder won't clear
- Wrong model or service type selected. Run through the process again, checking the year and engine; on some makes you have to reset one specific type of service and not another.
- The car needs a different procedure. On some vehicles the reminder you see is not the oil service but another inspection (filters, brake fluid) with its own counter.
- The tool doesn't cover that model. Check compatibility before you buy: not every tool can do the reset on every car of a given make.
Which iCarsoft tools do the oil reset
The oil function is on every current iCarsoft diagnostic tool, with different reach:
| Tool | Coverage | Other service functions |
|---|---|---|
| CR Pro | Multi-brand, 58 makes | 9 functions: oil, EPB, SAS, DPF, BMS, TPMS, throttle, injectors and ABS bleeding |
| CR Pro+ | Multi-brand | 48 service functions and bidirectional control |
| CR Max P | Multi-brand, 58 makes | 50 functions, 10" tablet |
| VAWS V2.0 and the other V2.0 single-brand tools with an official spec sheet | One make or group | The same 9 functions as the CR Pro |
| V1.0 range (for example, BMM V1.0) | One make or group | Oil and steering angle (SAS) |
If you only work on one manufacturer, a V2.0 single-brand tool does the reset and the rest of the basic servicing. If there are cars of several makes at home, a multi-brand tool such as the CR Pro makes more sense. We explain it in more detail in multi-brand or single-brand? and in the differences between V1 and V2.
For some older V1.0 tools, the spec sheet itself states that the service reset only works on certain models. Always check compatibility with your exact car before you buy.
Make the most of the connection to check the car
While the tool is plugged in, read the faults on every system. A code stored in the ABS, airbag or gearbox can warn you of a problem before a warning light comes on. If after the service you also want to switch off the engine warning light, follow our guide on how to clear the engine warning light, and if you are changing rear pads as well, see how to release the electronic parking brake.
