--- title: "GM’s New V8 Trucks Ditch Oil Dipstick for Digital Gauge" date: "2026-09-15" modified: "2026-09-15" authors: - name: "Caleb Jacobs" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/caleb-jacobs.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/gms-new-v8-trucks-ditch-oil-dipstick-for-digital-gauge" categories: - "Chevrolet News" - "GM News" - "GMC News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Chevrolet" - "pickup" - "silverado" --- # GM’s New V8 Trucks Ditch Oil Dipstick for Digital Gauge ![2027 Chevrolet Silverado ZR]() *\Chevrolet\* 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. ![2027 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate in Dark Ridge Metallic towing a boat. Exterior 3/4 shot. Preproduction model shown. Actual production model may vary.]() **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. *Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@thedrive.com* ## Author Caleb Jacobs is The Drive’s senior editor. When he’s not searching for stories or poring over copy, he’s usually driving his dump truck or wishing it was running so he could drive it. He was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, and he lives there today with his family. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Instagram]() [Twitter]()