GM Ditches the Oil Dipstick for a Digital Oil Gauge on the 2027 Silverado and SierraMotorBiscuitSaajan JogiaSun, September 20, 2026 at 10:34 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleThe humble engine-oil dipstick is disappearing from another set of vehicles. For the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, General Motors is replacing the traditional under-hood oil check with a digital gauge, but only on trucks equipped with the automaker's newest V8 engines.The change applies to the new 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter V8s. GM says the move is designed to make checking the engine oil easier by bringing the information directly into the vehicle's cabin. Drivers can view the oil level through an on-screen display rather than opening the hood and pulling out a dipstick.A General Motors spokesperson told Motor1 that the decision to adopt the digital system "was intended to simplify the ownership experience." The company provided the following explanation:AdvertisementAdvertisement"The system allows customers to check their engine-oil level from the vehicle cabin through an on-screen readout, without opening the hood or using a traditional dipstick. The virtual display continuously monitors oil level, reduces the potential for human error, and can alert drivers to an oil leak while they're on the road—something a traditional dipstick cannot do."That last point highlights one of the differences between the electronic system and the traditional method. A dipstick requires the driver to physically check the oil, while GM's system continuously monitors the level and can provide an alert if it detects an oil leak.The change is part of GM's broader move toward digital controls and displays in its latest vehicles. The new oil-level system is tied to the automaker's updated user interface, which is also being introduced for the 2027 Silverado and Sierra.However, Chevrolet isn't eliminating the dipstick from every engine offered in its full-size pickups. The 2.7-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter diesel engines will continue to use a conventional dipstick.AdvertisementAdvertisementGM is also far from the first automaker to adopt electronic oil-level monitoring; automakers have used digital gauges since the early 2000s, with German brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz credited as early pioneers of the technology.The development also follows a broader industry shift away from the familiar engine-bay component. Ram, for example, retains a dipstick on the 1500's Hemi V8, while its 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six uses a digital oil gauge.For Silverado buyers, then, the change will depend on what's under the hood. V8 customers will get a digital oil-level reading, while buyers choosing the four-cylinder or diesel engine will still have the familiar dipstick.