The change accompanies the arrival of the 5.7-liter L76 and 6.6-liter L78, which use General Motors’ Generation Six small-block V8 technology. GM confirmed the absence of dipsticks to The Drive, following reporting by The Verge. The change described applies to the new V8s in the half-ton pickups.

Those engines replace the 5.3-liter L84 and 6.2-liter L87 offered in the 2026 trucks. The L87 is the subject of an ongoing NHTSA investigation and a class-action lawsuit concerning engine failures.

Full specifications for the replacements have not been released. The L76 is expected to exceed the outgoing L84’s 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. GM says the L78 will be the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in the half-ton segment, although its final output has not been detailed.

The new truck generation also brings revised styling, technology upgrades, off-road equipment and luxury features across seven trim levels. A front-passenger screen is among the additions.

Other engines are carrying over. The LZ0 3.0-liter Duramax inline-six diesel will retain its 2026 output of 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque. In the current half-ton lineup, the diesel is required to reach GM’s highest advertised towing capacity of 13,300 pounds.

The 2.7-liter TurboMax turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine will also return. According to GM Authority, it is expected to gain power and replace its eight-speed automatic transmission with a 10-speed unit.

GM’s heavy-duty Silverado HD and Sierra HD will receive separate powertrain changes: a 6.6-liter L8S V8 and a new Duramax designated L6P. Details of the L6P have not yet been released, but it will succeed the 6.6-liter L5P Duramax V8 diesel.

GM Authority describes the Generation Six range as including the dual-overhead-cam Gemini V8 family used in the Corvette Z06, ZR1 and ZR1X, alongside overhead-valve pushrod engines. The Gemini engines are hand-built at the Performance Build Center at Bowling Green Assembly, while the pushrod engines are set for production at Flint Engine Operations and Tonawanda Powertrain.

Electronic oil-level monitoring already appears in competing vehicles. The Ram 1500’s 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six has no conventional dipstick; its owner’s manual directs drivers to an oil-level display within the instrument cluster’s Vehicle Info menu. The display shows whether the level is within its operating range and provides a warning when oil is needed. BMW has used systems without dipsticks since 2005.

The Autopian’s author noted that automatic warnings could help drivers recognize low oil levels, but also raised concern about losing a physical backup for checking the oil’s level and condition. The publication had asked GM to explain the change and was still awaiting that explanation when its article was published.