Change Engine Oil question?

Question

2000 Pontiac Montanta just bought, and check engine oil has come on. They told me at the shop that it just had oil change and that it is programmed to show that light at certain mileage readings? Does anyone know if that is true about this car? Thanks

Answer 1

the owners manual should tell you how to reset the light. Its just a reminder.

Answer 2

General Motors (all after 1996 I think) are equipped with a "dynamic engine oil life monitor" The monitor will tell you when the "car" thinks the oil needs to be changed.

Early oil monitors where simply mileage counters that were designed to notify the driver when a certain number of miles have elapsed.

The new systems are much more comprehensive. The engine control computer monitor a variety of inputs such as engine speed, temperature, load, idle time etc. High loads, high temperatures and high speeds all cause you oil to deteriorate more quickly that it otherwise would. The computer monitors these inputs and calculates oil life based on these variables. For example, if you find yourself driving in stop and go traffic frequently draining a hot summer, you oil change light might come on after having driven 2800 miles, on the other hand, steady highway driving at 50 mph might get you 7500 miles between oil changes. Each time you change your driving habits, you will get different results from the oil life monitor.

Two warnings. Make sure you haven't confused the low oil pressure light with the oil change light.

Second, if you have your oil changed before the light has come on, make sure the technician resets the monitor. The monitor doesn't check the actual oil condition, is simply monitors driving conditions and assumes a starting point of fresh oil. If the oil gets changed and the monitor does not get reset, then the monitor will go off sooner than it should.

Your owner's manual is the best source for information on how to reset the light but most GM cars will reset the oil monitor if you turn on the key (without starting the engine) and depress the gas pedal three times fully to floor within 5 seconds. Then turn off the ignition.

good luck

Answer 3

The " Change Oil " light should come on at a per set mileage and can be turn off by any good repair shop. But the "Check Oil"
light should never come on unless the oil level is down. If it s the check engine oil light check it now. If its low top it up and find out why its low ( IE did the shop put enough oil in when the oil change was done or that up have a pretty good sized leak) . If the oil is up then it could just be the engine oil level sensor in the oil pan. You may have to replace it . good luck hope I helped

Answer 4

The light is triggered by the car's onboard computer. The PCM. It keeps track of the miles since the last time the light was reset, and at a certain point (~3000 miles) it will turn on the light. It's mainly to help you remember to get the oil changed. I could be wrong, but I don't believe that the car has any way to know how dirty the oil is. It may know what the oil temperature is, and it might know if it's low, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't know how dirty the oil is. How you reset the light, depends on the vehicle. So I can't really tell you how to do that one. On my wife's 2001 Camaro, she had to turn the key on, but not start the car, then hold the trip reset button until the light blinked and turned off. Then she could turn the key off, and then from there start the vehicle as normal.

Answer 5

I believe it has the GM oil life system that usually comes on between 3K (severe use) & 7500 miles. Chances are the person that did the oil change didn't reset the light if it was just changed. My wife's 99 Monte Carlo Z34 had it and it's easy to reset.

1. Turn ignition to the on position (Engine off).
2. Push the Accelrator pedal to the floor 3 times within 5 seconds.
3. The Change oil should flash
4. Turn the ignition off and then restart the vehicle. The light should be out.

Answer 6

You have a dipstick in the oil resovoir with a mark on it where the oil is supose to be up to. You can check to see if it is where it should be or pull into a gas station and ask them to check the oil. You may have a leak and if you do there will be tell tale signs wherever you park it, oily spots left under it. You change the oil every 3000 miles. If everything checks out you may just have a short in the light where the check oil sign comes on.

Answer 7

they're right. the light comes on after so many miles on an oil change. normally it comes on when it is time to change it. if the oil was just changed than they didn't reset the light. turn the key on and pump the gas pedal six times top to bottom and the light will flash. shut it off than start it. make sure that the oil was changed though and not that they just said they did.

Answer 8

Marc87Gn is right on the money. My 2005 Pontiac Grand Am is programmed for every 3000 miles. the folks at the Quicky Lube did not know how to reset it. I looked this up in my owners manual and it does work.

Answer 9

Most newer cars now have a light that will come on after a certian amount of mileage that reminds you to change your oil. Its idot proof

Answer 10

OK our car dose the same thing it called a dummy light if you just had the oil changed & everything then i would say you have trouble with the sending unit check that that might be your trouble
sorry i might not have spelled thing write im a little slow please forgive my mistakes

Answer 11

On my wife's Oldsmobile you turn on the key depress the gas pedal 3 times the light will flash then go off