I'm about to do my first oil change on my '09 Sport MT. Exactly how does this life indicator determine the condition of the oil? Does it have a sensor of sorts that detects dirt/condition of the oil? Or does the dealer have to "reset" something to bring the indicator back to a "100% oil life remaining" status? If the latter is true I'm buying a shop manual (not to be confused with an owners' manual, which has limited info) so that I may not only do my own resets but also share the knowledge with other owners. They have a right to know.

 

If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the maintenance minder as
follows:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
2. Press the select/reset knob
repeatedly until the engine oil life

is displayed.

3. Press the select/reset knob for
about 10 seconds. The engine oil
life and the maintenance item

code(s) will blink.

4. Press the select/reset knob for
another 5 seconds. The
maintenance item code(s) will
disappear, and the engine oil life

will reset to ‘‘ 100. ’’


It also says:

Your vehicle displays engine oil life
and maintenance service items on
the information display to show you
when you should have your dealer
perform engine oil replacement and
indicated maintenance service.
Based on the engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in
your vehicle calculates the remaining
engine oil life and displays it as a

percentage.