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General Motors won the hearts of truck people when it announced that the 2027 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra will come with not one but two new V8 engines: a 5.7-liter and a 6.6-liter. Traditionalists lauded it as a step in the right direction as other manufacturers push for turbo six-cylinders in their full-size pickups. However, I don’t suspect GM will get many pats on the back for this one: Chevrolet and GMC’s V8-powered half-ton trucks will not feature a physical oil dipstick. Instead, drivers must consult a digital oil level gauge.
The Verge included this detail in a story focusing on the 2027 Silverado’s infotainment. That report mentioned GM’s decision to switch from a physical dipstick to a digital measurement in passing, although it wasn’t crystal clear. The Drive reached out to GM for comment, and a spokesperson confirmed that the 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter V8s will not feature a dipstick from the factory. Meanwhile, the 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder and 3.0-liter Duramax diesel will still include a dipstick.
GMC
It’s important to note that many new vehicles do not have oil dipsticks anymore. Even Ram, one of GM’s top truck competitors, doesn’t include a dipstick with its 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six. It feels especially egregious not to offer a simple check tool on a pickup, given their (sometimes inaccurate) reputation for simplicity and easy DIY maintenance.
This isn’t the first time GM has taken what once was physical and made it digital. The current-gen Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon don’t have a button or knob to control the headlights; rather, drivers must toggle them via a touchscreen. Although I can only speculate, I imagine the reasoning behind both decisions is the same: Cost.
While I doubt this will make a difference to most people buying a new pickup, it’s sure to upset some folks. And I can understand why. Maybe the digital oil level gauge will work just fine for forever, but you can pretty much bet on a dipstick doing its job. And if it falls apart, you can easily (and cheaply) replace it.
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From running point on new car launch coverage to editing long-form features and reviews, Caleb does some of everything at The Drive. And he really, really loves trucks.
