The oil life indicator in a Jeep Wrangler lets you know about your Jeep’s oil quality and how often you should change it. But simply changing it won’t take care of the whole problem. You also need to know how to reset the oil life on a Jeep Wrangler.
Turn on the ignition in the ON/RUN position, don’t start the engine. Instead, check the display and navigate the ‘Vehicle Info” option. Under that option, select the ‘Oil Life’ option. Next, press the OK button and hold onto it until the gauge resets 100%.
It’s a simple enough process. But if you don’t perform it correctly, your oil life gauge will ask you to change your oil more frequently than needed, so don’t skip out on it.
What Happens If You Don’t Reset Oil Life?
Changing your oil and resetting its oil life is not that big of a deal. However, not doing it properly can be quite a headache and cost you a lot of money in the long run.
If you don’t reset your oil life after an oil change, your vehicle will constantly remind you to change your oil even if it doesn’t need it.
Without an automated message alerting you, it can be pretty tough to remember when you need to get your oil changed. You can either ignore it or guess when you need to change your oil.
If you guess the oil changing frequency, you’ll spend a lot of money on an unnecessary oil change. And if you choose to ignore it, and if your Jeep Wrangler needs an oil change, you can cause damage to your engine.
How To Reset Oil Life On Jeep Wranglers?
While the method may vary from model to model, a general rule works for most newer models. It’s a straightforward technique that you shouldn’t have any problems following.
Reset Oil Life On Jeep Wrangler YJ (1986–1995)
As we’ve mentioned earlier, the resetting process may vary depending on the make year of your vehicle.
For example, if you’re a proud owner of the Jeep Wrangler YJ (1986-1995), you can follow the following instructions to reset your oil life.
Step 1: Turn On the Ignition
Turn the ignition switch to the ON position, but do not press on the accelerator pedal.
Step 2: Press on the Accelerator Pedal
Press on the accelerator pedal slowly. Now, repeat this two more times. Make sure that you complete the cycle within ten seconds.
Step 3: Return to the Initial Position
Again, push the START/STOP button without pressing the foot pedal. Make sure that the ignition has returned to the OFF position.
And voila! That should reset your oil life.
Reset Oil Life On Jeep Wranglers JK (2007–2017)
Like all its predecessors, the Jeep Wrangler JK also needs its oil life reset. But don’t worry. Like all the previous models, the Jeep Wrangler JK is easy to reset.
Step 1: Put the Car In Park Mode
Make sure to put your Jeep in Park mode for safety purposes.
Step 2: Turn the Ignition Switch
Rotate the ignition switch to two notches. That should stop right before the starting process. You should hear a ringing noise if you did it correctly.
Step 3: Push the Gas Pedal
Wait for the chime to go off. Once you no longer hear the chime, press on the gas pedal three times.
Step 4: Turn the Ignition Key to the OFF Mode
Return the ignition switch to its initial OFF mode. That should reset the oil life.
Step 5: Turn On the Engine
Turn on your engine. You should no longer see the Oil Life indicator come on.
Reset Oil Life On Jeep Wranglers JL (2017-present days)
If you’re driving one of the latest models, the following instructions should suffice.
Step 1: Turn the Ignition to the ON Mode
Turn the ignition to the ON mode. You can do it by pressing the START/STOP button two times. You should see the lights on the dashboard come on.
Step 2: Scroll Down to the Vehicle Info Screen
Press the down button. It should be on the control panel. Next, scroll down until you see the Vehicle Info screen. Then, press the Over button, depending on which side it is.
Step 3: Get to the Oil Life Option
Once you’ve entered the Vehicle Info menu, you’ll see many options. Once again, press the down arrow to scroll through the options. You’ll see an option named ‘Oil Life.’
Step 4: Hold the OK Button
Once you’re on the Oil Life screen, you’ll see that the screen reads, ‘Hold OK to reset.’ And that’s what we’re going to do. Press and hold the OK button until the reset status reaches a hundred percent. And that should do it.
Tips And Tricks To Follow When Resetting Oil Life
There aren’t that many secret tips to reset oil life. However, you can do a few things to ensure the process goes smoothly. They’re as follows.
- Switch the Odometer to show total mileage driven. That way, you can see whether the oil life change is successful or not.
- Always refer to the driver’s manual if the generalized process doesn’t work for you.
- Always engage your parking brake before doing the oil change or life reset.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The oil life resetting process can be a bit confusing. So, it’s okay if you fail on the first try. To help smoothen the process, we’ve answered a few of the most common questions about resetting oil life on the Jeep Wrangler.
Does oil life automatically reset on a jeep wrangler?
While the Change Oil alert comes on automatically when your oil life is low, the warning light doesn’t turn off automatically after you change the oil. Instead, you must manually turn off the indicator light once you’ve changed the oil.
What’s the longest jeep wrangler can go without an oil change?
It depends on the type of oil and filters you use. Now, assuming that you’re using the highest quality oil and filters, you should be able to go for approximately five thousand miles or six months.
How long does it take for jeep wrangler oil life to reset?
The oil changing process should take around thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on your efficiency and the model of your Jeep Wrangler.
However, the oil life resetting process works pretty quickly. It shouldn’t take more than a minute to reset the oil life.
What are signs you need an oil change on a jeep wrangler?
If you’ve seen clear oil, you’ll see it’s a clear amber shade. However, as your oil starts to gather particles, it’ll darken over time.
So, make sure to make a habit of checking your oil frequently. Once it degrades, the oil won’t properly function as a lubricant and you’ll begin to hear some noise in your engine.
Can you add oil to your jeep wrangler without changing it?
While you can do it, it’s not recommended to add unchanged oil to your Jeep Wrangler. In fact, doing so can actually harm your engine rather than do any good.
Conclusion
The beauty of the Jeep Wrangler is that it lets you know anything and everything you need to know about your car to keep it in top form. One of those valuable functions is the oil life indicator. The oil life resetting process is a simple one. But don’t think for a second that it’s unimportant.
You can put your Jeep in grave danger without resetting your oil life. So, ensure you know how to reset oil life on a Jeep Wrangler.
If the process mentioned above doesn’t work for you, always refer to the user manual. Please check the manual before starting the process. Good day!
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