diff --git a/applications/test/autoPtr/Test-autoPtr.C b/applications/test/autoPtr/Test-autoPtr.C
index ed621ea0f261e6143ef703d9b89c5fb133add8bc..e084ffb7eeb3d278d381c9357f3d1dc0aa387956 100644
--- a/applications/test/autoPtr/Test-autoPtr.C
+++ b/applications/test/autoPtr/Test-autoPtr.C
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ License
 
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
+// #define Foam_autoPtr_deprecate_setMethod
+
 #include <memory>
 #include "autoPtr.H"
 #include "labelList.H"
@@ -236,6 +238,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         // Does compile (good!):   ptr1 = nullptr;
 
         ptr1.reset(std::move(ptr2));
+
+        autoPtr<labelList> ptr3;
+
+        // set() method - deprecated warning?
+        ptr3.set(ptr1.release());
     }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/Time.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/Time.C
index dbc1c8214c3f2bf12ee98f248c005bc8790b0a3e..3b05a0af1d438335bfa41fe070602679166a2757 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/Time.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/Time.C
@@ -1087,7 +1087,16 @@ void Foam::Time::setDeltaT(const scalar deltaT, const bool adjust)
 
 Foam::TimeState Foam::Time::subCycle(const label nSubCycles)
 {
-    prevTimeState_.set(new TimeState(*this));  // Fatal if already set
+    #ifdef FULLDEBUG
+    if (prevTimeState_)
+    {
+        FatalErrorInFunction
+            << "previous time state already set" << nl
+            << exit(FatalError);
+    }
+    #endif
+
+    prevTimeState_.reset(new TimeState(*this));
 
     setTime(*this - deltaT(), (timeIndex() - 1)*nSubCycles);
     deltaT_ /= nSubCycles;
@@ -1118,7 +1127,7 @@ void Foam::Time::endSubCycle()
     if (subCycling_)
     {
         TimeState::operator=(prevTimeState());
-        prevTimeState_.clear();
+        prevTimeState_.reset(nullptr);
     }
 
     subCycling_ = 0;
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolver.C b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolver.C
index d445e4d1f4b467c440dd2923f547599954f6905e..946ae1d49f62f71abe8a71ec656ac4a343f3ddd5 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolver.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/solvers/GAMG/GAMGSolver.C
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ Foam::GAMGSolver::GAMGSolver
                 }
                 else if (matrixLevels_[coarsestLevel].asymmetric())
                 {
-                    coarsestSolverPtr_.set
+                    coarsestSolverPtr_.reset
                     (
                         new PBiCGStab
                         (
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ Foam::GAMGSolver::GAMGSolver
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    coarsestSolverPtr_.set
+                    coarsestSolverPtr_.reset
                     (
                         new PCG
                         (
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/memory/autoPtr/autoPtr.H b/src/OpenFOAM/memory/autoPtr/autoPtr.H
index 2ac54bdecdfebbf7598190296896593dd3f4602b..4804275bb86d0de41867794426d09cefe57e7a9f 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/memory/autoPtr/autoPtr.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/memory/autoPtr/autoPtr.H
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ SourceFiles
 // Transitional features/misfeatures
 #define Foam_autoPtr_copyConstruct
 #define Foam_autoPtr_castOperator
+// #define Foam_autoPtr_deprecate_setMethod
 
 #include "stdFoam.H"
 
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ public:
 
         //- Return reference to the managed object without nullptr checking.
         //  When get() == nullptr, additional guards may be required to avoid
-        //  inadvertent access to a nullptr.
+        //  inadvertent access of a nullptr.
         T& ref() { return *ptr_; }
 
 
@@ -274,6 +275,9 @@ public:
         //      enforced a run-time check (Fatal if pointer was already set)
         //      but this was rarely used.
         //  \deprecated(2018-02) Identical to reset().
+        #ifdef Foam_autoPtr_deprecate_setMethod
+        FOAM_DEPRECATED_FOR(2018-02, "reset() - same behaviour")
+        #endif
         void set(T* p) noexcept { reset(p); }
 
         //- Deprecated(2018-02) No copy assignment from plain pointer
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/polyMesh/polyPatches/constraint/processorCyclic/processorCyclicPolyPatch.C b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/polyMesh/polyPatches/constraint/processorCyclic/processorCyclicPolyPatch.C
index 14e6ca4e48455d9ca0861f712bc80a6620c3c145..939f26210abf29a64886b3d58011bd7d0cf973ce 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/polyMesh/polyPatches/constraint/processorCyclic/processorCyclicPolyPatch.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/polyMesh/polyPatches/constraint/processorCyclic/processorCyclicPolyPatch.C
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ bool Foam::processorCyclicPolyPatch::order
         UIPstream fromNeighbour(neighbProcNo(), pBufs);
         fromNeighbour >> masterPts >> masterFaces;
         SubList<face> fcs(masterFaces, masterFaces.size());
-        masterPtr.set(new primitivePatch(fcs, masterPts));
+        masterPtr.reset(new primitivePatch(fcs, masterPts));
     }
 
     const cyclicPolyPatch& cycPatch =
diff --git a/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.C b/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.C
index 65623a8e73ebfa90246020f4c03b98a43ab74d63..0ef1f074c9d5edf66125f8fa75ee7e19714620f7 100644
--- a/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.C
+++ b/src/functionObjects/field/columnAverage/columnAverage.C
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ Foam::functionObjects::columnAverage::meshAddressing(const polyMesh& mesh) const
             mesh.points()
         );
 
-        globalFaces_.set(new globalIndex(uip.size()));
-        globalEdges_.set(new globalIndex(uip.nEdges()));
-        globalPoints_.set(new globalIndex(uip.nPoints()));
+        globalFaces_.reset(new globalIndex(uip.size()));
+        globalEdges_.reset(new globalIndex(uip.nEdges()));
+        globalPoints_.reset(new globalIndex(uip.nPoints()));
         meshStructurePtr_.reset
         (
             new meshStructure
diff --git a/src/functionObjects/field/surfaceDistance/surfaceDistance.C b/src/functionObjects/field/surfaceDistance/surfaceDistance.C
index 6f08a77b5e4d6318a67092b5a5bac13855f3ce10..81a96f5e6213dc5a8733ea124b9091894723530f 100644
--- a/src/functionObjects/field/surfaceDistance/surfaceDistance.C
+++ b/src/functionObjects/field/surfaceDistance/surfaceDistance.C
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ bool Foam::functionObjects::surfaceDistance::read
 
     doCells_ = dict.getOrDefault("calculateCells", true);
 
-    geomPtr_.clear();
-    geomPtr_.set
+    geomPtr_.reset(nullptr);
+    geomPtr_.reset
     (
         new searchableSurfaces
         (
diff --git a/src/parallel/distributed/distributedTriSurfaceMesh/distributedTriSurfaceMesh.C b/src/parallel/distributed/distributedTriSurfaceMesh/distributedTriSurfaceMesh.C
index 80aa0bce58485b891cf77c046ff26f8e3f201cb4..293b5058cf6f597ec44d954ca3518c9046594db4 100644
--- a/src/parallel/distributed/distributedTriSurfaceMesh/distributedTriSurfaceMesh.C
+++ b/src/parallel/distributed/distributedTriSurfaceMesh/distributedTriSurfaceMesh.C
@@ -3098,9 +3098,9 @@ void Foam::distributedTriSurfaceMesh::findNearest
         {
             sendMap[proci].transfer(dynSendMap[proci]);
         }
-        map1Ptr.set(new mapDistribute(std::move(sendMap)));
+        map1Ptr.reset(new mapDistribute(std::move(sendMap)));
     }
-    const mapDistribute& map1 = map1Ptr();
+    const mapDistribute& map1 = *map1Ptr;
 
 
     if (debug)
@@ -4116,9 +4116,9 @@ void Foam::distributedTriSurfaceMesh::getVolumeType
             }
         }
 
-        mapPtr.set(new mapDistribute(std::move(sendMap)));
+        mapPtr.reset(new mapDistribute(std::move(sendMap)));
     }
-    const mapDistribute& map = mapPtr();
+    const mapDistribute& map = *mapPtr;
 
     // Get the points I need to test
     pointField localPoints(samples);
diff --git a/src/phaseSystemModels/multiphaseInter/phasesSystem/phaseModel/PurePhaseModel/PurePhaseModel.C b/src/phaseSystemModels/multiphaseInter/phasesSystem/phaseModel/PurePhaseModel/PurePhaseModel.C
index e06091e1f37bc705fa6f1ba535b56c2a954b07a8..9415a138eaf0c21b3ac7423948382aba2148c52e 100644
--- a/src/phaseSystemModels/multiphaseInter/phasesSystem/phaseModel/PurePhaseModel/PurePhaseModel.C
+++ b/src/phaseSystemModels/multiphaseInter/phasesSystem/phaseModel/PurePhaseModel/PurePhaseModel.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2017 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2017-2020 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ License
 #include "PurePhaseModel.H"
 #include "phaseSystem.H"
 #include "basicThermo.H"
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<class BasePhaseModel, class phaseThermo>
@@ -39,14 +40,14 @@ Foam::PurePhaseModel<BasePhaseModel, phaseThermo>::PurePhaseModel
 :
     BasePhaseModel(fluid, phaseName)
 {
-    thermoPtr_.set
+    thermoPtr_.reset
     (
         phaseThermo::New
         (
             fluid.mesh(),
             phaseName,
             basicThermo::phasePropertyName(basicThermo::dictName, phaseName)
-        ).ptr()
+        )
     );
 
 }
diff --git a/src/phaseSystemModels/reactingEuler/multiphaseSystem/phaseSystem/phaseSystemTemplates.C b/src/phaseSystemModels/reactingEuler/multiphaseSystem/phaseSystem/phaseSystemTemplates.C
index c16b2dfec0bcc5a6339978bc542b5d40405566d7..c507861860879a94ca24cabc834ecd1a11f967e3 100644
--- a/src/phaseSystemModels/reactingEuler/multiphaseSystem/phaseSystem/phaseSystemTemplates.C
+++ b/src/phaseSystemModels/reactingEuler/multiphaseSystem/phaseSystem/phaseSystemTemplates.C
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ void Foam::phaseSystem::generatePairsAndSubModels
                     << exit(FatalError);
             }
 
-            models[key][pair.index(phase)].set(tempModelIter().ptr());
+            models[key][pair.index(phase)].reset(tempModelIter().ptr());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/phaseSystemModels/reactingEuler/multiphaseSystem/populationBalanceModel/populationBalanceModel/populationBalanceModel.C b/src/phaseSystemModels/reactingEuler/multiphaseSystem/populationBalanceModel/populationBalanceModel/populationBalanceModel.C
index 8aef864303580e9029b56f06961ad1d8121119be..c50ba7996a09dc6e9426e7b9ce5679ed2a0aba77 100644
--- a/src/phaseSystemModels/reactingEuler/multiphaseSystem/populationBalanceModel/populationBalanceModel/populationBalanceModel.C
+++ b/src/phaseSystemModels/reactingEuler/multiphaseSystem/populationBalanceModel/populationBalanceModel/populationBalanceModel.C
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
 
     if (coalescence_.size() != 0)
     {
-        coalescenceRate_.set
+        coalescenceRate_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
 
     if (breakup_.size() != 0)
     {
-        breakupRate_.set
+        breakupRate_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -989,7 +989,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
 
     if (binaryBreakup_.size() != 0)
     {
-        binaryBreakupRate_.set
+        binaryBreakupRate_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -1012,7 +1012,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
 
     if (drift_.size() != 0)
     {
-        driftRate_.set
+        driftRate_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -1027,7 +1027,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
             )
         );
 
-        rx_.set
+        rx_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
             )
         );
 
-        rdx_.set
+        rdx_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
 
     if (nucleation_.size() != 0)
     {
-        nucleationRate_.set
+        nucleationRate_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -1083,7 +1083,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
 
     if (velocityGroups_.size() > 1)
     {
-        alphas_.set
+        alphas_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -1100,7 +1100,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
             )
         );
 
-        dsm_.set
+        dsm_.reset
         (
             new volScalarField
             (
@@ -1117,7 +1117,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
             )
         );
 
-        U_.set
+        U_.reset
         (
             new volVectorField
             (
@@ -1141,6 +1141,7 @@ Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::populationBalanceModel
 Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel::~populationBalanceModel()
 {}
 
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::autoPtr<Foam::diameterModels::populationBalanceModel>
diff --git a/src/phaseSystemModels/twoPhaseEuler/twoPhaseSystem/twoPhaseSystem/twoPhaseSystem.C b/src/phaseSystemModels/twoPhaseEuler/twoPhaseSystem/twoPhaseSystem/twoPhaseSystem.C
index 7093ecd55c7e57dc856da5c7f8cd500ac24fe201..f4198b56fd1fcd488be7b7a9f0d9288a7ad5cbeb 100644
--- a/src/phaseSystemModels/twoPhaseEuler/twoPhaseSystem/twoPhaseSystem/twoPhaseSystem.C
+++ b/src/phaseSystemModels/twoPhaseEuler/twoPhaseSystem/twoPhaseSystem/twoPhaseSystem.C
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
     phasePair::scalarTable sigmaTable(lookup("sigma"));
     phasePair::dictTable aspectRatioTable(lookup("aspectRatio"));
 
-    pair_.set
+    pair_.reset
     (
         new phasePair
         (
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
         )
     );
 
-    pair1In2_.set
+    pair1In2_.reset
     (
         new orderedPhasePair
         (
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
         )
     );
 
-    pair2In1_.set
+    pair2In1_.reset
     (
         new orderedPhasePair
         (
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
 
     // Models
 
-    drag_.set
+    drag_.reset
     (
         new BlendedInterfacialModel<dragModel>
         (
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
         )
     );
 
-    virtualMass_.set
+    virtualMass_.reset
     (
         new BlendedInterfacialModel<virtualMassModel>
         (
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
         )
     );
 
-    heatTransfer_.set
+    heatTransfer_.reset
     (
         new BlendedInterfacialModel<heatTransferModel>
         (
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
         )
     );
 
-    lift_.set
+    lift_.reset
     (
         new BlendedInterfacialModel<liftModel>
         (
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
         )
     );
 
-    wallLubrication_.set
+    wallLubrication_.reset
     (
         new BlendedInterfacialModel<wallLubricationModel>
         (
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ Foam::twoPhaseSystem::twoPhaseSystem
         )
     );
 
-    turbulentDispersion_.set
+    turbulentDispersion_.reset
     (
         new BlendedInterfacialModel<turbulentDispersionModel>
         (
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/radiation/submodels/absorptionEmissionModel/wideBandAbsorptionEmission/wideBandAbsorptionEmission.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/radiation/submodels/absorptionEmissionModel/wideBandAbsorptionEmission/wideBandAbsorptionEmission.C
index 9444a1e9a143b53c70f156dfa614dae66d95bf1a..cfbafa2fcd10f966826f7747a70b0bc1679d25fc 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/radiation/submodels/absorptionEmissionModel/wideBandAbsorptionEmission/wideBandAbsorptionEmission.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/radiation/submodels/absorptionEmissionModel/wideBandAbsorptionEmission/wideBandAbsorptionEmission.C
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ Foam::radiation::wideBandAbsorptionEmission::wideBandAbsorptionEmission
      && "none" != coeffsDict_.get<word>("lookUpTableFileName")
     )
     {
-        lookUpTablePtr_.set
+        lookUpTablePtr_.reset
         (
             new interpolationLookUpTable<scalar>
             (