The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra will continue offering naturally aspirated V8 engines, but buyers choosing either of GM’s new sixth-generation small-block V8s will lose a familiar maintenance tool: the physical oil dipstick.
GM’s New Gen 6 V8 Engines Go Digital
Both the Silverado and Sierra offer two naturally aspirated V8 options as part of GM’s new sixth-generation small-block V8 family. A new 5.7-liter V8 replaces the previous 5.3-liter engine, while a high-output 6.6-liter V8 replaces the old 6.2-liter motor.
However, neither of the new Gen 6 V8 engines will come from the factory with a physical oil dipstick. Instead, the trucks will use a digital measurement displayed on the vehicle’s status screen to indicate the engine oil level.
The detail was mentioned by The Verge in a report focused on the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado’s infotainment system. The Drive subsequently looked further into the matter and received official confirmation from GM that both the 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter V8 engines will lack a factory-installed dipstick.
Other GM Engines Will Keep the Dipstick
The decision does not apply to every engine offered in the trucks. The 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder and 3.0-liter Duramax diesel will continue to include a physical oil dipstick.
That makes the absence of a dipstick specific to the new 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter V8 engines.
Why the Missing Dipstick Matters
Many newer vehicles no longer use physical oil dipsticks. The Ram 1500, powered by the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six, is one example among the main rivals of the Silverado and Sierra.
Even so, the decision may be particularly significant for pickup buyers because trucks have a reputation for simplicity and easy DIY maintenance. A physical dipstick allows owners to check the oil directly, including its color and dirtiness.
Without one, owners of 2027 Silverado and Sierra models equipped with the new V8 engines will have to rely on the digital oil level measurement rather than physically inspecting the oil with a dipstick.
GM’s Recent 6.2L V8 Recall Adds Context
The absence of a physical dipstick also comes in the wake of GM’s recall of nearly 600,000 trucks and SUVs equipped with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine. The official fix for that recall is to use higher-viscosity oil.
A physical dipstick can also be replaced relatively inexpensively if it becomes damaged or broken. A digital oil-level measurement system, by contrast, does not provide the same physical method of checking the engine oil.
For the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, the new 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter V8 engines therefore retain naturally aspirated V8 power while replacing the traditional oil dipstick with a digital oil-level gauge.
