Why The 2013 F-150 Oil Light Won't Go Off And How To Fix It
To reset the 2013 F-150 oil change light, turn the ignition to ON without starting the engine, use the steering-wheel arrows to open the menu, go to Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life Reset, then press and hold OK until the display shows 100 percent. If that menu path does not appear, use the same ignition-on method and the steering-wheel OK button to reach the oil life screen, since Ford's 2009-2014 F-150 cluster layouts can vary slightly by trim and display package.
How the reset works
The oil reminder on a 2013 Ford F-150 is not usually a fault light; it is a service interval reminder tied to the truck's oil-life monitor, which estimates remaining oil life based on driving conditions, engine run time, and mileage patterns. In practice, that means the light can stay on after an oil change until you manually clear the reminder. For many owners, the simplest fix is a menu-based reset using the instrument cluster and the OK button on the steering wheel.
This issue is common enough that many repair guides and owner reports describe the same reset path: ignition on, then navigate to the oil life screen and hold OK until the percentage returns to 100 percent. The most consistent reports for the 2013 model year point to the Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life Reset route on the cluster display.
Step-by-step reset
- Park the truck and shift into Park.
- Turn the ignition to the ON position, but do not start the engine.
- Use the steering-wheel arrows to open the main menu.
- Scroll to Settings, then select Vehicle.
- Choose Oil Life Reset.
- Press and hold OK until the display resets to 100 percent.
- Turn the ignition off, then restart the truck to confirm the warning is gone.
Several 2011-2014 F-150 instructions describe the same sequence, with the reset confirmed when the display returns to 100 percent. Some trucks may show a prompt such as "Oil Life XXX% Hold Reset = New," which also indicates you are in the correct menu.
What to check first
If the oil light will not go off, the most common cause is that the reset procedure was not completed with the ignition in the correct position. Another frequent issue is that the driver is in the wrong menu, especially on trucks with different gauge-cluster layouts or steering-wheel controls. The light can also stay on if the oil level is low, the oil filter was not replaced, or the service reminder was not cleared after the oil change.
- Confirm the ignition is ON, not running.
- Confirm you are using the steering-wheel menu controls, not the radio buttons.
- Make sure the truck actually received an oil change.
- Check the oil level on the dipstick if the reminder persists.
- Restart the engine after reset to verify the display cleared.
Ford service guidance and owner reports both indicate that a correctly completed reset should return the monitor to 100 percent immediately. If it does not, the display sequence likely needs to be repeated or the truck may have a separate maintenance issue that still needs attention.
Common reasons it stays on
The phrase "oil change light" can refer to a few different messages, and that matters because each one behaves differently. A maintenance reminder should clear with the reset procedure, but an actual oil-pressure warning should never be treated like a normal reminder, because that suggests a lubrication problem that can damage the engine. If the dashboard shows a red oil-can symbol or a pressure warning, shut the engine off and inspect the truck before driving further.
On the 2013 F-150, the most common non-reset causes are a missed menu step, a weak battery that interrupts the cluster process, or an oil service that was incomplete. A fresh oil change without resetting the monitor will leave the alert active, and a reset without an oil change can create a false sense of security because the monitor will start counting down from 100 percent again. That is why the reset should be treated as the final step after maintenance, not a substitute for maintenance.
Model-year context
The 2013 Ford F-150 sits in the 2009-2014 generation, a period when Ford used steering-wheel controls and instrument-cluster menus rather than a dedicated physical reset button on many trims. That is why online instructions often mention the same cluster navigation path: Settings, Vehicle, Oil Life Reset. Video and owner-guide examples for this generation repeatedly show the same logic, even when the exact button layout differs slightly by trim package.
Some owners also report older "gas pedal" or multi-pedal reset tricks for other Ford products, but those methods are not the primary route for most 2013 F-150 trucks. The menu-based reset is the most reliable first attempt for the 2013 model year. If the menu route fails, that is usually a sign to re-check the ignition state or confirm the truck's cluster actually supports the same display path.
Quick reference table
| Step | Action | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turn ignition to ON without starting | Cluster powers up |
| 2 | Open Settings > Vehicle | Oil Life Reset appears |
| 3 | Press and hold OK | Oil life resets to 100% |
| 4 | Restart truck | Reminder stays off |
This table reflects the most commonly reported reset sequence for the 2013 F-150 and is consistent with owner instructions and service-center guides. The exact wording on the screen may differ, but the result should still be a return to 100 percent oil life.
When to stop and inspect
If the message returns immediately after reset, the truck may be alerting you to a real maintenance problem rather than a stale reminder. Check oil level, confirm the correct viscosity was used, and look for leaks around the filter drain area and pan. If the warning is a true pressure-related message, do not keep driving until the cause is diagnosed.
One practical rule used by many technicians is simple: if the reminder clears and stays off after restart, the reset was successful; if it returns right away, the truck is telling you something else. That distinction matters because a maintenance reminder and an oil-pressure warning are not the same thing, even though drivers often call both the "oil light."
Practical tips
Reset the reminder only after the oil change is finished, the filter is installed correctly, and the engine has been checked for leaks. Keep a mileage note for the next service so the monitor and your own maintenance schedule stay aligned. If you service the truck yourself, write down the date, oil type, and filter part number for future reference.
- Use the owner's menu path first.
- Do not start the engine during the reset.
- Verify the display reads 100 percent afterward.
- Check oil level if the warning returns.
These habits reduce the chance of confusion later and make it easier to tell the difference between a routine service reminder and a real mechanical issue. They also help keep the maintenance history clear if you sell the truck or hand it off to another driver.
FAQ
"The reset should be the last step after maintenance, not the first step."
Final check
The fastest fix for a 2013 F-150 oil change reminder is to turn the ignition on, navigate to Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life Reset, and hold OK until the system returns to 100 percent. If the light refuses to go away after that, the problem is usually a missed step, an incomplete oil-service procedure, or a different warning that needs inspection.
Key concerns and solutions for Why The 2013 F 150 Oil Light Wont Go Off And How To Fix It
Why does my 2013 F-150 oil light stay on after an oil change?
Because the oil-life monitor usually has to be reset manually after service, and the light will remain on until that reset is completed. If the light still stays on after a reset, check the oil level and confirm there is no actual oil-pressure warning.
Do I need tools to reset the oil change light?
No. On most 2013 F-150 trucks, you only need the ignition switch and the steering-wheel buttons to navigate the instrument-cluster menu. The reset is designed to be a driver-level function.
Can I use a pedal trick instead?
Some Ford vehicles and some online sources mention pedal-based methods, but the 2013 F-150 is most consistently reset through the menu system. The menu path is the best first method to try.
What if the display does not show Oil Life Reset?
Scroll through Settings and Vehicle carefully, and make sure the ignition is on but the engine is not running. If the option still does not appear, your trim or cluster setup may differ slightly, but the oil-life screen should still be accessible through the same general menu area.