These instructions apply to the Cadillac ATS (2013-2019).
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
After an oil change on your Cadillac ATS (2013–2019), the Oil Life service indicator needs resetting so the countdown starts again. You can do it yourself — the method depends on whether your car has the multifunction display. The reminder is a maintenance prompt rather than a fault, so once the fresh oil is in, all that is left is to tell the car the job is done.
What the Oil Life System Means
The ATS uses an Oil Life System that estimates how much useful life is left in the engine oil and displays a remaining percentage. Rather than counting down a fixed distance, this kind of system watches how the car is actually driven — engine revolutions, operating temperature and driving conditions — and works out when the oil is likely to need changing. As that estimate falls toward zero the car shows a ‘Change Engine Oil Soon’ or oil-life message to prompt a service.
Because the figure is an estimate the system calculates for itself, it does not know when you have actually changed the oil. Fitting fresh oil does not move the percentage on its own — you have to reset the Oil Life System so it recalculates from 100%. Skip the reset and the reminder will keep showing a low figure even though the oil is new. The message is purely a maintenance prompt; a genuine fault appears as a separate warning light and stores a diagnostic code.
First, a Few Checks
- Only reset after the oil has actually been changed.
- Park safely on level ground with the car in Park and the parking brake set.
- Ignition on, engine off — for the pedal method the car must be powered up but not running.
- No tools required — both methods are done from the driver’s seat.
- Decide which method fits your car: the pedal sequence works on any ATS, while the menu method needs the multifunction driver display.
Method 1 — Accelerator Pedal (no multifunction display)
- Turn the ignition on but do not start the engine.
- Within 5 seconds, press and release the accelerator pedal 5 times.
- The warning light goes out — the indicator is reset.
Method 2 — Multifunction Display
- Scroll the driver display until ‘Oil Life System’ appears.
- Press and hold the reset button until the system resets.
If the Reset Doesn’t Take
If the oil-life message is still showing afterwards, work through these points and try again:
- Don’t start the engine during the pedal method — ignition on only. If the engine fires, the car ignores the pedal input; switch off and start over.
- Keep within 5 seconds for the five pedal presses. Push the pedal fully down and release it completely each time so every press registers.
- On the menu method, hold the button long enough. Keep the reset button pressed until the display actually confirms the reset rather than letting go early.
- Make sure you are on the Oil Life screen before holding the button, not an adjacent trip or information display.
- Cycle the ignition and repeat. Turn everything fully off, wait a moment, then run the method again from the start.
- A service light that won’t clear can store a code — look it up on autodtcs.com.
Once the Reset Is Done
Once the reset takes, the oil-life reading returns to 100% and the ‘Change Engine Oil Soon’ message disappears. The next time you start the car the display should be back to normal with no reminder. The reset only affects the Oil Life System, so nothing else on the dashboard changes. If the message clears and then comes back, the reset did not fully register and is worth repeating.
Reset Frequency
Reset the Oil Life System every time the oil is changed. Because the system adapts to how the car is driven, the distance before it next asks for a service varies from one car to another rather than landing on a single fixed number — gentle highway driving stretches the interval, while short trips and hard use shorten it. Treat the message as the car’s own prompt, and for the recommended service intervals that apply to your ATS, follow the maintenance schedule in your owner’s handbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset the oil life light on a Cadillac ATS?
Ignition on (engine off), press the accelerator 5 times within 5 seconds — or use the Oil Life System menu.
Do I need a tool?
No — both methods are done from the driver’s seat. No scan tool or workshop equipment is needed.
Which method should I use?
The pedal method works on any ATS; the menu method needs the multifunction display.
Should I reset before or after the oil change?
After — the indicator monitors oil life. Resetting before the work restarts the estimate against old oil.
Why does the oil-life percentage not move when I fit new oil?
The system does not sense the oil directly; it calculates a life estimate. Only the reset returns the reading to 100%.
Does the reset also affect other warning lights?
No. It only clears the Oil Life System reminder. Any other warning light is separate and should be diagnosed on its own.
If a service-related warning stays on, decode the code on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Cadillac. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.