The Lexus GX 470 was the first generation of the Lexus GX, with model years spanning 2003 to 2009—which essentially makes the 2006 model year something of a middle child. GX 470 owners have raved about its long-term reliability and off-road handling. To keep your own 2006 GX going strong, it helps to know its oil capacity.

If you want to

make your car last longer

, one of the most important things you can do is stay up to date with your

car’s maintenance schedule

tasks, like oil changes. If you’re opting to take care of an oil change yourself to save a little more time and money, you’ll want to know what engine oil type it needs—and how much.

To save that much-needed time and money,

Jerry

, the super app that helps you save on

car insurance

, has rounded up all the 2006 Lexus GX engine oil details for you—right here in one place. We've even included a tip for how to reduce your

Lexus GX 470 insurance costs

Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Get ahead of my car maintenance

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

2006 Lexus GX 470 engine oil capacity

For

engine oil

to do what it needs to, you must have the right amount circulating through the system. Using too much or too little engine oil can cause expensive damage to your engine.

So, if you’re going to change your 2006 Lexus GX 470’s oil yourself, just how much will you need? The 2006 Lexus GX 470 engine has an oil capacity of 6.5 quarts or 6.2 liters.

What kind of oil does a 2006 Lexus GX 470 need?

If you want to change your own oil, it’s not enough to know your 2006 Lexus GX 470’s oil capacity—it’s also vital that you know what kind it needs.

That means you need engine oil with the right viscosity or thickness.

The recommended oil type for the 2006 Lexus GX 470 is SAE 5W-30. The “5” here refers to the oil’s viscosity at colder temperatures when the vehicle isn’t running or has just started up. The accompanying “W” stands for winter. The “30” refers to the oil’s viscosity at normal engine operating temperatures—around 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you’re unable to find SAE 5W-30, the 2006 Lexus GX 470 owner’s manual states that you may use SAE 10W-30 oil temporarily, but you should switch it with 5W-30 at the following oil change.

As for brands, the 2006 Lexus GX 470 owner’s manual recommends Toyota Genuine Motor Oil as a first choice. Most importantly, the engine oil has the correct viscosity and is API certified.

Lexus’s/Toyota’s top choice: For an oil choice that’s 100% Lexus- and

Toyota

-approved

Genuine Toyota Motor Oil

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change oil on a 2006 Lexus GX 470

Your Lexus owner’s manual will generally recommend changing your oil about every six months or every 5,000 miles.

Your 2006 GX has an indicator light to remind you to change your oil when the time comes. About 4,500 miles after your last oil change, the light will illuminate and flash for a few seconds when you turn on your vehicle. If you continue driving, the indicator light will remain on after 5,000 miles.

Using a synthetic blend or full synthetic oil allows you to drive longer distances before needing an oil change. However, if you frequently find yourself regularly driving in gridlock traffic or pushing your Lexus GX’s performance capabilities to its limits, you might have to change your engine oil earlier.

Here are some signs to look out for that could mean it might be time to change your oil:

Engine oil that has darkened or become grainy in texture

Low oil levels

Strange new engine noises

Burning, smoke, or oil scents coming from the engined

Worsened engine performance

Check engine light has come on

Oil pressure and/or oil change indicator light has come on

MORE:

How to check and decode a Lexus VIN

How to change your oil and oil filter

So, you know what kind of oil your 2006 Lexus GX 470 needs and how much, and now you’ve reached that next milestone. Now, it’s time to

change your oil

Here’s what you’ll need to get the job done

Socket wrench

Filter wrench (tool used to remove old oil filters)

Fresh engine oil

New washer for the drain bolt

New oil filter

Drain pan

Gloves

Towel(s) for cleanup

Once you have everything you need, you can get started by letting your engine run for a few minutes. This will help warm up the engine oil and make it easier to drain. Then, shut off the engine, head around to the front of your vehicle, prop open your hood, and proceed:

Remove the oil fill cap

Underneath the vehicle, remove the drain bolt and washer and allow the old engine oil to empty into the drain pan

Remove the old oil filter and replace it with the new one, following package instructions as needed

Replace the drain bolt with a new washer

Add new engine oil, using your dipstick to verify it’s at the proper level

Replace the oil fill cap

After changing your oil, it’s a good idea to turn on your car and let your engine run for about 30 seconds before you check the oil level. This will give you a more accurate measurement, and you’ll be able to top it off if necessary.

Let your engine run for a few minutes and look around for leaks. After letting the engine cool off again, you can

check your engine oil

level with the dipstick one last time to ensure it’s still at the proper level, adding more as needed.

Once you’ve taken care of the oil change, don’t forget to reset your oil change reminder! Here’s how you can take care of that:

Use your key to move the ignition to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position

Make sure your odometer reading is displaying (as opposed to the trip meter)

While holding down the trip reset button, turn the ignition to the “ON” position

Keep holding the button down until the light goes off

If the light continues flashing, the reset failed—start the process over and try again. If it’s successful, the light will illuminate for three seconds, flash for two seconds, and illuminate again for one second.

Finally, engine oil is a hazardous substance, so put the old oil in a sealed container and dispose of it responsibly. Many cities have drop-off locations for used motor oil.

MORE:

How to find multi-car insurance quotes online

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

What if shopping for cheap

Lexus car insurance costs

was as easy as an oil change? Or—what if it was even easier?

With

Jerry

, the

trustworthy licensed broker app

, it can be! It only takes about 45 seconds to answer a few quick questions, like what level of coverage you’re looking for. From there, Jerry will round up customized quotes picked just for you from up to 55+ top car insurance providers.

Once you’ve found the perfect policy, Jerry’s friendly, experienced, and licensed agents can help you make switching a breeze. When you have questions, they’re just a call, text, or tap away in the app.

The best part? Drivers who make a switch with Jerry save an average of more than $800 per year on their car insurance!

“
Jerry
makes choosing new insurance as easy as grocery shopping. Even though I had a car accident within the past 2 years, Jerry found me a great deal with Nationwide–I went from paying $340 to $90 a month!”—Pan N.