How to remove oil life on Honda Civic?
The oil life indicator on a Honda Civic can be reset to 100% after an oil change by using the car’s instrument cluster controls or the infotainment/display menus, depending on the model year and trim.
Across generations, Civics vary in how you trigger the reset. This guide covers the two most common approaches: a quick reset on older models with a physical reset control, and a menu-based reset on newer models with digital displays. Follow the procedure that matches your car’s layout.
Reset methods by generation
Because Honda redesigned the instrument cluster and controls over the years, the exact path to reset Oil Life can differ. The two main pathways below reflect the typical setups you’ll encounter in recent Civics.
Hard reset for older Civics with a physical reset control
These steps apply to Civics that use a dedicated oil life reset control on or near the instrument cluster. If you don’t see a reset button or knob, skip to the menu-based method.
- Turn the ignition to ON with the engine off (or press the Start button once to enter accessory power).
- Display the information on the instrument cluster until you see the Oil Life percentage.
- Press and hold the SEL/RESET (or RESET) button until the Oil Life blinks and resets to 100%.
- Release the button, turn the ignition OFF, then start the engine to verify the Oil Life now reads 100%.
Conclusion: This approach is typical for older Civic trims that use a physical reset control. If your car uses a digital menu, move to the next method to reset via the screen.
Menu-based reset for newer Civics with digital displays
These steps cover Civics that reset Oil Life through the instrument cluster or infotainment/menu system.
- Turn the ignition to ON with the engine off (or press the Start button once to enter accessory power).
- Use the steering wheel controls to access the Vehicle/Settings or Maintenance menu (sometimes labeled Info, Menu, or Settings, depending on year and trim).
- Select Oil Life (or Maintenance Reset), then choose Reset or confirm Reset. On some models, you may need to press and hold the OK/Reset button until the display shows 100%.
- Turn the ignition OFF, then start the engine to confirm the Oil Life reads 100%.
Conclusion: This method aligns with Civics that rely on software-based maintenance tracking. If you’re unsure of the exact path, consult your owner’s manual for your exact year/trim or contact a Honda dealer.
Important maintenance reminders
Before performing a reset, ensure you have recently completed an oil change with a fresh filter. Resetting Oil Life prematurely can mask the true reminder schedule for future maintenance. Always follow the oil change interval recommended by Honda and your vehicle’s manual.
- Know your exact model year and trim, as steps can vary slightly between generations.
- Resetting Oil Life after an oil change keeps maintenance reminders accurate; do not reset if the oil hasn’t been changed.
- If the Oil Life indicator does not reset, consult the owner’s manual or a Honda service professional for your specific model.
Conclusion: Properly resetting Oil Life helps keep maintenance on track and ensures you’re alerted to the next service at the appropriate time.
Summary
Most Honda Civics allow you to reset the Oil Life to 100% after an oil change, either via a quick button hold on older models or through a menu-driven path on newer models. Confirm the reset by starting the engine and checking that the Oil Life shows 100%. When in doubt, reference your exact model year and trim in the owner’s manual or contact a Honda dealership for precise instructions.
How to remove oil life on Honda Civic 2017?
To reset the 2017 Honda Civic oil light, turn the ignition to the ON position, navigate to the "Engine Oil Life" display using the steering wheel controls, and then press and hold the "SEL/RESET" button until the oil life percentage flashes. Release the button, then press and hold it again until the indicator returns to 100%.
This video demonstrates how to reset the oil life on a 2017 Honda Civic: 53sThe G Automotive And MoreYouTube · Dec 5, 2017
Using steering wheel controls
- Turn the ignition to the ON position without starting the engine.
- Use the steering wheel buttons to navigate to the "Engine Oil Life" or "Engine Oil Indicator %" display.
- Press and hold the "SEL/RESET" button until the oil life percentage flashes.
- Release the button, then press and hold it again for about 5 seconds, or until the indicator resets to 100%.
Alternative method via the infotainment system
- Turn the ignition to the ON position.
- Press the "Menu" button on the steering wheel.
- Navigate to "Settings," then "Vehicle," and finally "Maintenance Info".
- Select "Reset Items" and choose the oil life option.
- Confirm the reset to return the oil life to 100%.
How to reset oil life on Honda?
To reset the oil life on a Honda, you must turn the ignition on without starting the engine, navigate to the oil life display using the steering wheel or dashboard controls, and then press and hold the Select/Reset button for about 10 seconds until the percentage blinks, at which point you confirm the reset to 100%. The exact method for navigating and confirming can vary slightly depending on the model, so refer to your owner's manual or the model-specific steps below.
General steps
- Turn the ignition on: Insert the key and turn it to the "ON" position, or press the start button twice without your foot on the brake for push-button start models.
- Navigate to the oil life display: Use the steering wheel's "Menu" or "Info" button, or the knob on the dashboard, to scroll through the display until you see "Engine Oil Life" or a wrench icon.
- Press and hold the reset button: Press and hold the Select/Reset button for approximately 10 seconds. The oil life percentage will begin to blink, indicating it's ready to be reset.
- Confirm the reset: Press and hold the Select/Reset button again for about five seconds until the oil life is reset to 100%.
- Turn the engine off: Turn the ignition off completely, then restart the engine to ensure the indicator is reset.
This video demonstrates how to reset the oil life on a 2023-2025 Honda HRV: 55sVagabond BuildsYouTube · Mar 20, 2025
Variations by model
- For many newer models (e.g., 2018-2022 Accord): From the "Engine Oil Life" display, you may need to press the Info button first, then the Select/Reset button again to set it to 100%.
- For some models: After displaying the oil life, you might see a "Maintenance Reset" menu. You can then use the controls to select "Item A" or "All Due Items" and confirm to reset it to 100%.
- For older models: The process can be simpler. You may just need to press and hold the Select/Reset button for about 10 seconds until it blinks, then hold it again for another 5 seconds to reset it.
This video shows how to reset the oil life on a 2016-2020 Honda Civic: 1mThe RIX ExperienceYouTube · Apr 20, 2020
How to get oil life off dashboard?
Locate the oil life reset button on the dashboard or infotainment system. Turn the ignition to ON without starting the engine, press and hold the reset button until the oil life indicator resets to 100%. If the light persists, inspect the oil life sensor for faults or wiring issues.
How do you reset the oil life on a Honda Civic?
To reset the oil life on a Honda Civic, turn the ignition to the "on" position, navigate to the oil life display using the steering wheel or dash buttons, and then press and hold the "select/reset" or "enter" button until the percentage blinks and resets to 100%. The specific buttons and menu navigation will vary depending on the Civic model year.
For most newer models (2016-present)
This video demonstrates how to reset the oil life light on a newer Honda Civic: 59sBill Of All TradesYouTube · Aug 20, 2024
- Turn the ignition on (you may not need to start the engine).
- Use the steering wheel or dash buttons to navigate to the "Settings" or "Vehicle Information" menu.
- Find and select "Maintenance Info".
- Select "Engine Oil Life".
- Press and hold the "Enter" or "Select/Reset" button for about 10 seconds until the oil life percentage blinks.
- Release the button, then press it again and hold for about 5 seconds until the oil life resets to 100%.
For older models (e.g., 2006-2015)
This video shows how to reset the oil light on an older model Honda Civic: 1mDoctor ResetYouTube · Jun 25, 2024
- Turn the ignition to the "on" position without starting the engine.
- Press the "SEL/RESET" button on the instrument panel repeatedly until the "Engine Oil Life" percentage or a wrench icon appears.
- Press and hold the "SEL/RESET" button for about 10 seconds until the percentage starts to blink.
- Release the button, then press and hold it again for about 5 seconds until it resets to 100%.
