General Motors is removing the traditional oil dipstick from select V8-powered versions of the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Instead, those trucks will use a digital oil level gauge integrated into GM’s new vehicle user interface.

The change applies only to the new 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter V8 engines, according to a GM spokesperson cited by The Drive. It does not extend across the full Silverado and Sierra engine lineup, meaning buyers choosing other powertrains will still find a conventional dipstick.

Which Silverado and Sierra engines keep the dipstick?

GM’s 2.7-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter diesel engines will continue to use a physical dipstick. That gives buyers a traditional way to check the oil level without relying on the truck’s displays.

The digital gauge is part of GM’s updated interface and follows a broader industry shift toward replacing mechanical or analog features with electronic readouts. Digital oil-level systems have existed since the early 2000s, with BMW and Mercedes-Benz among the early adopters, but the technology has not become universal.

Many mainstream automakers, including Honda, Kia and Ford, continue to install traditional dipsticks in at least some of their engines. Most current Chevrolet models also retain the familiar tool, making the new Silverado and Sierra V8s a notable departure for GM’s truck range.

How the digital oil gauge works

The available information does not specify the exact operating procedure for GM’s new system or explain why the automaker decided to remove the dipstick. The gauge will be accessed through the truck’s digital interface rather than by physically pulling a metal rod from the engine bay.

That approach is not unique to GM. Ram’s 1500 retains a dipstick with its revived Hemi V8, while the available 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six uses a digital oil-level gauge instead.

What it means for 2027 truck buyers

Owners of the affected Silverado and Sierra V8 models will need to use the vehicle’s electronic readout for routine oil-level checks. Drivers who prefer a direct, under-hood inspection will not have that option on those engines, although the four-cylinder and diesel powertrains preserve it.

GM has not provided a public explanation for the change in the available information. The decision represents another step toward more software-controlled vehicle maintenance features, while also making the 2027 V8 trucks different from their other engine variants in a small but familiar part of everyday ownership.