How To Reset Oil Life/Oil Change Light On Chevy Equinox (2005-2017)
Last Updated on August 7, 2022 by Nick
Hello everybody, I recently got the oil change in my wife’s car, but I did not get the oil light reset. So today, we’re going to be performing resetting the oil life light on the Chevy Equinox after an oil change. Keep in mind that the process I’m going to go through will be the same or similar to a lot of other Chevrolet or GM vehicles.
You don’t need any tools to perform this procedure to reset your oil change reminder light that pops up on your information screen. So let’s go ahead and get started.
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Easy Way To Reset Oil Life On Chevy Equinox (2005-2017)
This is the fastest way to reset all Chevrolet vehicles. So all you need to do is turn the key to the run position which is as far as it can go without starting and then fully depress and release your GAS pedal three times.
After that, you’ll see the oil light flash, and that’s telling you that this resets in process. So wait for a second, and once you restart the vehicle, your oil reminder will go off.
Resetting Oil Change Light in Chevy Equinox (2010-2017)
Time needed: 3 minutes
All right, today we’re in a Chevy Equinox. This one is 2010, and we’re going to be resetting the oil life. It will be done on the cluster screen by using the DIC buttons on the center console. So let’s go and start on it now.
- Turn on your car with the engine off
If your vehicle has an ignition button, hold down the Start/Stop button for 5 seconds without stepping on the brake pedal
- Go to the VEHICLE INFORMATION
Press the MENU button repeatedly and that’s going to take us to the Vehicle Information screen
- Find the OIL LIFE
Then we’re going to hit down or up at that time to go through the menu and the third option is Remaining Oil Life
- Press the SET/CLR button
Next, it says to press Set/Clear to reset, so we’re going to hold the button down
- Select YES
After that, it says Are you sure you want to reset? So we’re going to go up to YES and then hit the SET/CLR button again then it will go to a hundred percent
For your info, this operation work for the first and second generations of the Chevy Equinox (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 model years). For the latest model, you can reach it here.
Why do you need to reset your Chevy Equinox’s oil life?
Regular oil changes can help maintain your Chevrolet Equinox’s performance and efficiency. Most Chevrolet cars are equipped with the engine oil life sensor. When the light comes on, you know it’s time for service. It’s a simple and effective way to save you money and help reduce oil waste. Choosing the proper oil grade is an essential step in engine maintenance.
No engines have sensors that detect if you removed the drain plug or if you replaced the filter. You have to reset the system. Maintenance reminders for oil changes have been around since the early 1980s. Early systems from European and Asian vehicle manufacturers looked at mileage and maybe engine revolutions.
Today, it isn’t easy to find a domestic or import vehicle without an oil life monitor counting down the oil’s life in the crankcase. Resetting the oil life monitor might require a sequence of key turns, button presses, or even mashing the gas pedal to the floor three times with the engine off. Other vehicles might require navigating a series of menus inside the instrument cluster or infotainment system or using a scan tool to reset the oil life monitor.
Not resetting the oil life monitor can cause an angry customer who might accuse you of not changing the oil. So before you hand the keys back to the customer, make sure you reset the oil life monitor.
FAQ – Equinox Oil Service
The 2017 Chevy Equinox has two engine options: a 3.6L and a 2.4L. On a 2.4L, it takes 5 quarts of oil, whereas, on a 3.6L, it requires 6 quarts. If you want to prolong the life of your engine and prevent early wear, you must use the right type and amount of engine oil.
SAE 5W-30 engine oil is used in the 2017 Chevy Equinox. If you need to replace it, Chevrolet suggests using either full synthetic or a synthetic blend oil.
Fluids used in the 2016 Chevy Equinox’s automatic transmission are Dexron Vi. The abbreviation for this is ATF 4. You’ll need between 4.3 and 6.4 quarts of fluid for a complete transmission flush. You should expect to pay anything from $4 to $15 for a one-quart bottle of this.
A Chevy Equinox basic model can tow up to 1,500 pounds. The v6-powered variants have a maximum weight capability of 3,500 pounds.
So there it is, and that’s how it’s done. It doesn’t even take a couple of minutes that says it can, but you’re good it’ll say oil life has been reset. If you go back in there, it’ll display a hundred percent you are good to go, and that will clear the screen as well. Hopefully, this helps you guys take care and have a great rest of your day.
About The Author
Nick
Hi! Greetings, I'm Nick, an automotive technician and a vehicle enthusiast with over a decade of experience working at a dealer service station. I have extensive knowledge of engine oils and lubricants and have helped countless customers maintain their vehicles. As an editor and author of articles on automobiles, I draw on my personal experience and professional training to provide readers with accurate and reliable information. I am passionate about sharing my expertise with others and helping them make informed decisions about their vehicles.
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Thank you! The last place I went to didn’t know how to reset it for me. This has been very helpful.
That was very helpful quick and easy. Thank you it worked on my 2012.