oil life monitor question

I have a 2004 Limited w/ V-8, approx. 23,000 miles. It's only been about

2000 mi. since my last oil change, yet I'm getting a 'change oil soon' message. I'm 98-99% certain that it was reset at that time. Does the oil life monitor really monitor the oil or is it just an estimate based on mileage, elapsed time, etc.? Since it's still under warranty, is this something that the dealer can easily check? Thanks.
Reply to
Andy G.
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Being 98% sure is pretty close to "assuming".... The instructions for resetting the oil life monitor are in your owners manual under "message center".... The instructions need to be followed exactly.

We must remember that lube monkeys aren't the sharpest pencils in the box and we must allow them the odd transgression.....

Reply to
Jim Warman

What I mean is that I checked to make sure it was reset after the change. Is it possible that the oil could be uused up after 2000 miles? I haven't changed my driving habits. Or is the monitor off calibration? Thanks.

Reply to
Andy G.

Reply to
Tom from WI

Don't know about 2004, but the oil change alarm on earlier models could be reset to a fraction of the full 5000 miles, in increments of 10%. If the

2004 model still has this feature, the most likely explanation would be that it was reset to 40%. Your owner's manual will have the procedure.
Reply to
Happy Traveler

Andy, I'm unsure of the strategy used for the oil life monitor on the 04s... but, AFAIK, it is simply a mile/time based display with no other computations considered....

The only thing that I can think of is that the lube monkey may have inadvertently "personalized" your oil change preference. Page 76 of your owners guide explains how to both reset the message and personalize this setting....

If you don't have the owner guide, you can download on from

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... select techical resources near the top and then select owner guides on the left of the window that pops up.

HTH.

Reply to
Jim Warman

I beleive the monitors on some vehicles do take other information into account, perhaps rpm/thottle activity, temp, and shift patterns ??? So maybe it could intelligently say the oil is played out.....that being said, I think it was simply not reset.

Reply to
Darby OGill

Thanks for all the suggestions and help.

Andy

Reply to
Andy G.

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