How to Reset Oil Light on Autel MX900 Scanner

What is the oil change light? Why does it light up? Does it affect your driving? How do you reset the oil light? How do you use an Autel scanner? We've already answered these questions in a previous article.

Unlike the previous overview of resetting the oil light using an Autel scanner, which generally applies to general scenarios but may vary slightly depending on the Autel scanner model, today we'll detail how to reset the oil light using the Autel MX900 scanner, a popular model on our website. Let's take a look.

Why do You Need an Oil Reset?

Motor oil plays a vital role in protecting your engine. It lubricates internal components, minimizes friction, and reduces wear, helping to extend the life of your engine. However, it also has the risk of deterioration. Here are some reasons why you need to reset your oil:

• Recalculating Maintenance Intervals: After changing the engine oil, resetting the system will reset it to its initial state, allowing the vehicle to accurately calculate the next maintenance due date. Failure to reset the system will cause the old interval reminder to continue displaying, potentially misleading the owner.
• Protecting Engine Health: Deteriorated engine oil can accelerate friction between metal parts and even cause serious problems such as cylinder scuffing. Accurate oil life reminders can prevent engine wear caused by delayed maintenance.
• Ensure the monitoring system works accurately: Resetting the system is equivalent to telling the onboard computer: "The engine oil has been replaced, please recalculate the life from now on." This way the system can provide you with the most accurate reminder for the next maintenance based on the new oil status.

An oil reset is required when the oil deteriorates.

When do You Need to Reset the Oil Light?

• After changing the engine oil and oil filter

  This is the most standard scenario. After an oil change, if you don't reset it, the vehicle's ECU will continue to calculate the oil life based on the old oil life, and will soon remind you to "change the oil."

• After the vehicle's maintenance mileage/time is due

  Some cars don't check the oil quality, but simply remind you based on mileage or time, such as every 5,000 kilometers or every six months. A reset is required after maintenance is completed.

• When the system falsely alerts or illuminates prematurely

  Sometimes, due to poor driving conditions (many short trips, cold cars, or heavy traffic), the system may illuminate the oil light prematurely. A reset is still required after an oil change.

• When using a diagnostic tool to troubleshoot or perform maintenance

  If you use a car diagnostic tool (such as an Autel scanner) to perform a service reset, the oil life data will automatically be reset to zero, which is also a reset.

• When trading in a used car or taking over a new car

  The previous owner may not have reset the oil light. To avoid false positives, you need to reset it and establish your own maintenance schedule.

The oil light needs to be reset after an oil change.

What is the Autel MX900?

Brief Introduction

The Autel MaxiCheck MX900 is an eight-inch touchscreen auto diagnostic scan tool powered by a fast quad-core processor and running the Android 11 operating system. The Autel MX900 underwent hardware and software upgrades in 2025 and supports over 40 service functions, including proactive testing and full-system, factory-level diagnostics.

Key Features

• OE-Level All-System Diagnostics - The Autel MaxiCheck MX900 diagnostic flatbed scanner can access and scan all available electronic systems to read and clear codes, view live data streams, and retrieve ECU information.
• Bidirectional Control/Active Testing - Thanks to full bidirectional control capabilities, the MX900 can perform all the functions of the Autel MX808. The Autel MX900 bidirectional scanner can control a wide range of vehicle systems and components.
• 40+ Service Capabilities - The Autel MaxiCheck MX900 automotive diagnostic tool also offers over 40 services, including oil reset, EPB, SAS reset, DPF regeneration, throttle reset, ABS bleed, battery registration, injector coding, WIN DR roof, cylinder, headlight, and more.
• Enhanced Hardware -The Autel MX900 features the Android 11.0 operating system, a ROCKCHIP RK3566 CPU, 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM, 5x speed, an 8-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen, and an 8MP rear camera.
• Broad Coverage - Extensive coverage for over 80 American, Asian, and European vehicle brands manufactured after 1996. These include Ford, Ford (EU), GM, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, BMW, and more.
• Auto-VIN and Auto-Scan - The Autel MX900 diagnostic scan tool quickly operates on a specific vehicle to retrieve VIN information and perform a comprehensive scan of all available systems for efficient and accurate diagnosis and service.
• Extensive Features - Supports front and rear scanning, DoIP and CAN FD protocols, and Wi-Fi printing, which are not supported on the MX800.

How to Reset Oil Light on Autel MX900 Scanner

Step 1: Correctly Connect the Autel MX900 Scanner

The Autel MX900 does not have a slave unit and cannot connect to the vehicle via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Therefore, you need to use the Main cable in the accessories list to connect the Autel MX900 to the vehicle via the OBD II port to establish communication with the vehicle.

Step 2: Select the Correct Path to Enter the Oil Reset Interface

Once you've established communication with your car, there are two ways to find the Oil Reset feature.

One is to go to the Service section, which generally displays all the features available for different vehicles, making it easy to find the Oil Reset feature. Alternatively, select the Diagnostics section and find the Oil Reset feature under Hot Function, which is available for your vehicle.

The following are the paths for the two methods:

• Home > Service > Oil Reset
• Home > Diagnostics > manual selection > Hot Functions > Oil Rest

This step includes confirming the vehicle brand and year. Because the Autel MX900 has automatic VIN and automatic scanning functions, you can quickly confirm vehicle-related information without having to manually select and enter the VIN. However, the specific operation may vary slightly depending on the vehicle brand.

 

The first path guidance.

Step 3: Select Auto Oil Reset to Complete the Operation

After finding Oil Rest, click to enter, select Auto oil reset for subsequent operations, and follow the on-screen prompts until the operation is completed.

Step 4: Verify On the Dashboard

After all operations are completed, check whether the reset is successful through the dashboard. There are usually two manifestations:

• Reset the oil light to off
• The instrument panel shows 100% oil life or the next oil reset service date

After resetting the oil, the dashboard shows that the oil life is 100%.

Conclusion

Resetting the oil light using the Autel MX900 scanner is very simple, and the entire process may only take a few minutes.

This not only greatly saves you the time and money wasted on driving your car to a repair shop or dealer-designated service center, but you can also use the Autel MX900 to perform some simple diagnostic and repair work, which is very friendly to those who like DIY.

FAQs

What are the special functions of the Autel MX900?

The Autel MX900 provides you with superior special functions, including Oil Reset, EPB (Electronic Parking Brake), SAS (Steering Angle Sensor), BMS (Battery Management System), DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter), IMMO, and TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System).

Should you reset oil life after oil change?

Yes.After changing the engine oil, the oil maintenance light will usually light up. At this time, the oil life needs to be reset so that the system can accurately prompt the next oil change time.

How Often Should You Change Your Engine Oil?

Most car manufacturers in the U.S. recommend an oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, or every 6 months—whichever comes first. But the best interval depends on your driving habits, the type of engine you have, and what kind of oil you use.

Can I reset the oil change light myself?

Yes. Using an Autel scanner or other OBD II scanner that supports oil reset services, you can easily perform an oil light reset yourself.

Are there other ways to reset the oil light besides using auto diagnostic tools?

Yes, on most models, you can reset the oil light manually in addition to using a car diagnostic tool. The operation method varies greatly between different brands and models. Please refer to the vehicle owner's manual for specific steps. If manual operation is ineffective, consider using a professional diagnostic tool (such as Autel Scanner).