Chevy Silverado: Reset Oil Life Remaining

Your Chevy Silverado will alert you when your oil has become too dense to function properly. Older vehicles come with a “check oil” light, while newer models have a more precise system based on the distance traveled after the last oil change. For example, if your Chevy’s oil is rated for 5,000 miles, 80% oil life means you’ve traveled around 1,000 miles.

After you replace your oil, you must reset the “oil life remaining” counter to stop the alerts and ensure the car starts measuring oil life correctly. Here’s how to do so.

All Models Before 2023

Regardless of which Silverado model you have, the traditional system of resetting the oil life reminder persisted since the model’s introduction in 1999. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Turn on the ignition, but don’t start the engine. For a key start, set the ignition to “On.” For a push start (2022 onward), press the “Start Engine” button twice.
2. Put the vehicle in park. Engage the parking brake if necessary.
3. Press the gas pedal fully and release it three times in a five-second interval.
4. The oil life reminder should flash and then turn off.

You can recheck your car’s dash system for newer models to see if the oil life has been properly reset to 100%. The method may fail if you don’t press the gas pedal quickly or hard enough, so repeat the process a few times.

This method may not work for vehicles made in 2023 onward (based on the information missing from that year’s manufacturer manual for the Chevy Silverado). However, you can try it once first since it’s relatively easy.

Chevy Silverado 2007-2013

Chevys between 2007 and 2013 have two types of display systems: with or without the DIC buttons. The DIC (Driver Information Center) is a set of four buttons to the left of your driver’s dashboard panel behind the steering wheel. The buttons are, from top to bottom: TRIP/FUEL, Vehicle Information, Customization, Confirm/Reset.

If you have these buttons, you can reset the oil life this way:

1. Turn on the ignition without starting the engine.
2. Tap the “Vehicle Information” button until your display shows the remaining oil life.
3. Press and hold the “Confirm/Reset” button for five seconds.
4. The oil life display should flash and reset to 100%.

For vehicles without DIC, use the odometer:

1. Turn the ignition key to “ON” but don’t start the engine yet.
2. Press the odometer stem sticking out of your dashboard until you reach the “oil” display.
3. Press and hold the stem for five seconds.
4. The oil life display should flash and reset.

In case the oil life doesn’t reset properly, repeat the steps or use the gas pedal method.

Chevy Silverado 2014-2018

Between 2014 and 2018, the DIC buttons were moved to the right-hand side of the steering wheel. Here’s how to use them to reset oil life.

1. Turn on the car without starting the engine.
2. Press the “Set/Reset” button (checkmark) to enter the DIC menu.
3. Use the Up and Down arrows to scroll to “Oil Life Remaining.”
4. Press and hold the “Set/Reset” button for five seconds.
5. The counter should reset to 100%.

In vehicles without DIC, you can use the odometer stem (the button sticking out of the dash display):

1. Turn the ignition key but don’t turn the engine completely on.
2. Rotate the stem until you reach the “Oil Life” screen.
3. Press and hold the stem until the screen starts blinking.
4. The counter should reset to full.

You might need to repeat these steps a few times to ensure the reset procedure finishes. If they don’t work, switch to the gas pedal method above.

Chevy Silverado 2019-2024

The DIC system in the newest Chevy Silverado models uses a thumbwheel on the steering wheel to control the dashboard. Here’s how to use it to reset the oil life counter:

1. Start the ignition.
2. Press the thumbwheel button or the odometer stem on your dashboard to access DIC menus.
3. Use the Up and Down arrows to get to “Oil Life Remaining.”
4. Press and hold the thumbwheel until the display starts blinking.
5. The display should say “100% oil life.”

If your car doesn’t have the DIC thumbwheel, use the odometer stem:

1. Start the car.
2. Rotate the odometer stem until you reach the “Oil Life Remaining” screen.
3. Press and hold the odometer stem.
4. The counter should blink and reset.
5. Release the odometer.
6. Restart the car to check whether the reset was successful.

The odometer stem still rotates in cars with the DIC system, but that menu might not display the oil life reminder. You can also use the gas pedal method. However, note that it may not work for models made after 2022.

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