Hurricane 6 Engine Will Not Have An Oil Dipstick. What are your Thoughts? 

No dipstick in the engine but plenty in the Stelantis boardroom.

Dipstick is not just about levels... I like to see the color and give it a sniff, engine and transmission.

Yet another complicated electronic system to break down. In the history of engines, not one dipstick has ever failed.

Nope I will never buy an engine without a dipstick. Next we will have to fight the "right to service" our engines.

My parents had a BMW 7 series with no dip stick. HUGE FAIL. The sensor failed so they had no idea how oil was in it. Long story short, they spun a rod bearing because they had no idea they were low. I hate engines with no dip stick’s. WORSE IDEA EVER

All cars should be required to have both engine oil and transmission dipsticks. It is your property and you should have the right to maintain and repair it.

Sensor instead of a dipstick? What could possibly go wrong?!

No dipstick is the least of the Stelantis problems.

It means………I will not have anything with that engine in the driveway. Great job Dodge. (Added, and Stellantis)

YIKES 🚫 SCREW THAT! Sounds like both a corporate think tank moneymaker and a class action lawsuit waiting to happen. Everybody hedge your bets..

If I had a vehicle like that, it would need one thing, a new owner!

Leave it to Stellantis to turn an inline 6 engine with potential into a lemon. Got people hyped up thinking it was like the return of the Slat 6 and taking the layout for granted...

My first car was a 82 Ltd I checked the oil every time I was going out of town or every time I was getting gas

I still have vehicles with both trans and engine dipsticks and I check them occasionally. I dislike the idea of not having them.

Vehicles not having engine or automatic transmission dipstick tubes is a great way to increase the chance of mechanical failure often leading to selling the consumer another "new" car. I personally check the engine oil levels at least once a week on my 2 vehicles.

Mechanic here and for shits sakes leave us usable dipsticks

Would not trust sensor telling me oil is to high or low

Looks like a great place for the aftermarket to step in and provide a retrofit dipstick for those who really want one.

Even Briggs and Stratton, with their asinine "never change the oil" insanity, at least gives you a stick so you can "just check and add." Id feel very blind and anxious with no real way to gauge the levels. What's next, subscription to an app so you can check the oil from the cell phone?

How many times have you gone under hood to check oil and seen other issues ? Low coolant, bad hoses, low brake fluid, wiring and hoses chewed by rodents, battery terminals a mess, mechanic mistakes, something losse or disconnected, radiator air blockage, gas smells. It's actually more than checking oil level under the hood.

Who's the dipstick that decided the engine didnt need one to save a $1 ? Worst idea ever but prob saves stellantis $400,000 a year !

A great idea! Because no one ever had trouble with the electronics in any of those trucks even once!

If you buy a vehicle without an oil dipstick (and transmission fluid dipstick), then you are a dipstick.

Automotives are moving more and towards dealer only. In terms of service and repairs.

I agree with you! A mechanical dip stick is necessary, especially when changing your own oil!

I guess no oil fill either? Not needed. Whats the recommended engine replacement interval?

I agree 100%. In addition, if you have the dipstick, you can check to see if your electronic monitoring system is working properly fairly easily. The thing that concerns me more, however, is that the system doesn’t tell you about the quality of the oil. When you pull the dipstick out, you can look at and feel what the condition of the oil is and if something is contaminating the the oil, you’ll know about it as soon as you look at that dipstick.

Should be a class action lawsuit after a few years when enough people have been screwed over by the dealer for oil level issues. Also this is just anti consumer. Honestly hope all modern car manufacturers go bankrupt and the epa gets axed.

I prefer just a dipstick. It wasn't until later in life that I started doing my own oil changes. I used to take my Challenger to the local MOPAR EXPRESS OIL (or whatever)lanes. Never again. I found out later they used an impact on the oil drain plug and it took forever to get it off.

Seems like a bad idea. When transmissions began coming from factory without the ability to check levels, look how often now transmissions need rebuilt or replaced? Spells trouble.

As if we don't have enough trouble already

No dipstick very BMW, anyone who buys a Car without an engine dipstick is a dipstick and knows little about engines and relies on a computer telling them if their engine is low on oil or too full. this is the decline in common sense and the stealerships rubbing their hands because owners will be tied to them for servicing and software updates. Its as dumb as people believing that automatic transmissions are sealed for life and require no maintenance and fluid changes. This is all about saving money for the manufacturer, always looking to reduce costs at the expense of the consumer.

Another thing to add to my list of things to watch out for. No turbos. No GDI without port injection. No sleazy mechanical CVT. Must have engine dip stick. Wheel tool and jack, a donut spare tire would be nice also.

A failure in critical electronics can lead to massive disasters. While the Hurricane may not have a dipstick, lets not forget that on the new Cybertruck they have completely eliminated the steering column. I never thought any manufacture would ever build a vehicle with steer by wire but apparently its now the new normal.

I check my engine oil level every time I fill my gas tank - so every 300 miles or so. In 2016, the Volvo 2.0L 4 cylinder was new and those have the electronic oil level sensor even though the oil pan is cast for a dipstick. A customer car had come in with a complaint of intermittent low oil pressure warning on her display. I drove the car and the warning did come on just like she said. I checked the oil level via the display in the instrument cluster - it told me oil level was ok. I then connected the factory scan tool for a precise oil level reading - it was in spec. I then drained the oil and captured it so I could measure how much oil was in the engine. 1.5 quarts came out of that engine that takes 6 quarts of oil!! I already was skeptical of those sensors but that cemented it for me. Ridiculous that the oil pan is cast for a dipstick - there’s even a removable plastic plug in it - but no actual dipstick to utilize it. I absolutely do not want an engine without a physical dipstick that I can check myself!

That is messed up. How much money will this save the manufacturer? $3? And not mentioned is the other case, more likely, the sensors fail and computer goes into limp mode or won't allow the engine to start when there is the correct amount of oil. Of course, you won't be able to tell without draining and measuring. How much trouble to replace the failed sensors? Stupid idea.

What does that mean? It means engine failure before 50,000 miles.

Good morning B, with the two coyote platforms we have. I've learned to check the oil every time we stop and put gas in. Simply because of the oil consumption they can have.

Axing the hemi was a horrible idea, and now this replacement engine despite looking good on paper, I’m not impressed. No thanks.

If this engine is as popular as they think it will be, there will be aftermarket companies making oil pans that use dipsticks.

I drive a turbo vw. I check my dipstick every 1000 miles. And change it every 5k myself.

Crap setup! but the reality is most buyers dont know there’s actually an engine that requires oil somewhere and probably couldn’t figure out how to open the hood if they know what the hood is and then find a dipstick……not happening

i check my oil every week.im not about to let something i can prevent cost me a few grand in replacement costs.a lesson my sister had to learn the hard way.

How would you know whether or not coolant may be leaking into your crankcase without being able to look at your oil?

My 2021 Mini Cooper S Countryman all4 doesn't have a dipstick. Of course I was used to a dipstick and at first did not like it. The monitoring system is really slick and I got used to it.

I have a 2011 Jaguar, and while it stinks not having a dipstick, the electronic oil level measuring has been fine. On my car, oil changes are done from the top, so adding or removing oil is easy. The car should notify you if it can't read from the sensor. if the oil level sensor does work, at least it will warn folks that don't ever check oil levels.

When you pay 10k for the oil performance package the oil stick will pop up out of hiding

What happens when the oil level sensor fails???

My used Jaguar was delivered to my in lockdown, bought unseen. I wanted to pull the dipstick to check the colour and smell of the oil. It doesn't have one! That's ridiculous. Have to go through various menus to check the level, and I didn't even know you could do this for a couple of years.

Having worked for a autoparts company which manufactured electronic modules to Chrysler, and knowing the EXTREME cost cutting imposed on the modules, for me hell would have to freeze before I would consider buying one. As a matter of fact, my last MOPAR product was a 2000 Chrysler Concorde.

no way to check the oil? don't want it.

Don't worry, the dipstick will be an upgrade or maybe an option on the 2026 model year.....👍

No Dipstick? I totally agree with you on this point, I have 2016 Chrysler 200C AWD it has no transmission dipstick, use to change my own oil for decades now I have Chrysler dealership do it, I ask them about no Transmission dipstick they told me at oil change they check transmission fluid though bolt on trans housing. My Dad told me check your oil and transmission fluid once a week. That is crazy NO DIPSTICK. I had 2003 Chrysler 300M every 2 years I had to replace the "Camshaft positioning sensor" the would display "P" code and I looked up issue Car would not run with out sensor, symtoms were never same when part was going bad, Had car for 17 years very good car, with part me doing work was $70.00. I could never figure out why every 2 years would fail?, I have asked other owners of 300M that they never had problems with that sensor.

I drive a 71 ford f100 with a 1968 302 my engine does not burn or leak oil when I do a oil change the oil I add is the same that comes out when it's time for a change

It means everyone is going to need a vacuum oil extractor to change oil. Extract it, measure it, replace it. At this point, if you do your own vehicle maintenance, you should already have one anyways. I'd be surprised if the oil plug doesn't disappear in the next few years as well.

I remember ...Model t Fords have a low and high oil petcock valve on the oil sump. You fill it till it dribbles out the upper valve. and can check oil by opening lower valve a tiny bit to see if there is enough oil. Dipsticks are a bit easier id say.

So let's say coolant is getting in the oil, not a lot but enough to turn white. How are you going to know until it gets worse or just cooks your engine?

No dipstick is a bad idea.

I'm a every fill up guy for oil. If my 6L80 wasn't considered a sealed unit I would look at that as well. Strangely my 6L80 failed at 80k miles.

So how do you check the oil for contamination? Like coolant getting into the oil? How do you get a little between your thumb and finger to feel for problems? I'm confused. I don't understand.

Drag pak is that way I effing hate it. Drag pak does not have a monitor though. Is it dry sump?

I did an oil change which is a. 3 on an audi. It took an hour to get the thing to show the oil level smh

Having a level sensor isn’t a bad idea IN ADDITION to a dipstick. Like while driving you spring a large leak since your driving you likely won’t notice but the level sensor does and warns you to stop the engine and pull over and since it warned you. You were able to stop before losing oil pressure

Need more info on the fox body Mustang in the background 🙂

It means catastrophic failure

Planned failure to make you replace an engine? I have a car that uses/burns oil and needs to be checked very often.

I have the exact same thought. What happens when a sensor goes bad. No back up way to monitor the oil level. I think it’s a bad idea no matter how many times you check your oil.

I don't like the idea of no dip stick either, BUT knowing that a good 80% of John Q Public doesn't know what a dip stick is. It maybe a good idea to have a sensor tell them.

Are you saying the thing is Built Broken I'm Shocked how can that be if there is no dip stick then there needs to be a way to install one OR it is not Derivable that as simple

What's the point in the modern Dodge engines anyway? They usually get about 45k the turn loose a cam or main bearing.

There are two sides to this. When I met my wife, she was driving a Geo Tracker. She had put 30,000 miles on it and had never changed the oil, because she didn’t know she was supposed to. Somehow, the engine had not sustained any damage. My wife is not an idiot, she is a board certified Internal Medicine physician, but she has no knowledge about engines. This technology would been great for someone like her. If I bought this truck with the Hurricane, I would get an extended warranty, have oil changes done only at the dealership, and save the receipts. If the oil change is done improperly, which certainly happens, and there is any problem related to that oil change, I’m covered. I would also sell it as soon as the warranty ends.

I spent half an hour crawling over and under a Ford pickup looking for the damn transmission fill tube / dipstick, finally called Ford service for info. When he said the trans would never need the fluid level checked, I laughed at him so hard he hung up on me.

Why don't they put a dip stick and a sensor?

I think Subaru is the perfect example of what this situation should be. A regular dip stick but an oil float that turns a light on your dash if your pan gets 1qt low.

I think the oil level sensor system is a great idea -- in ADDITION to having a dipstick! Why would they delete this reliable, simple $1 item? Doesn't make sense to me.

Modern engines that do not have dipsticks are simply work arounds for cheap pistons and rings on motors with turbos, as piston blow by will push out the dipstick. If these companies invest in some high-quality pistons and rings and tighten clearances they could reduce the blow by and eliminate any issues

transmissions dont have dipsticks?

i always check my oil with the dipstick after an oil change. i had a guy underfill mine by 5 quarts one time! this is just another reason why i wont be buying any more dodges with these new engines. this is a complete lack of customer self care i have seen in a long time!

We got a used 10 year old Jeep Cherokee for my daughter. We need to add oil once a month. It's very useful to have a dipstick to check it once a week and add as needed. I would hate to have one of these electrionic systems on a used vehicle that is 10, 15, 20+ years old and sensors fail.

It would be nice to have both.....

If ain't got one, add one. Wanted to add a gauge to my 2012 Outback because there isn't one for the transmission, they give you a drain for the fuel tank but won't let you check your trans fluid.

Now some aftermarket part will show up so a drip stick can be added hopefully

performance cars are a must to have a dipstick. ultimately the direction of the industry is to have owners hands off.

While not having a dipstick in my '21 supra is annoying, i over maintain it because im an enthusiast and im not too worried about it. Realistically and unfortunately, average car owners do not and wont check a fluid in their car. I agree there should be both warning messages, and a dipstick. The warning messages may very well actually lessen the chance of catastrophic failures just because it will alert the kind of people who would never notice.

I check my oil level, with a dipstick, at least once a week, to check not only the level, but the condition of the oil. That goes for automatic transmission fluid as well, but only 2 of my vehicles have automatic transmissions. I check it before any trip of 200 miles or more. I change my oil every 3000 miles and I do it myself. I have never allowed anyone but myself to change my oil. I just turned 65, and I have been doing oil changes since age 10. Oh, and I have 5 cars to maintain. All but one of them are from the '50s and '60s, when they knew how to make cars.

I prefer having a dipstick because I can find out quicker if my oil level is dropping and I don't have to wait until it loses a quart of oil then displaying that information on the instrument cluster for me to see and then act upon. One quart too much oil won't hurt the engine, but at high RPM's and speeds the oil can enter into the air filter from the crankcase breather contaminating it resulting in lack of air flow through the filter, then into the engine causing poor performance and fouling the spark plugs. Now being one quart low of oil can cause premature engine failure because the oil got too hot from being low if driven ridden aggressively. As long as the oil pump can pick up oil and driving or riding normal is not as critical as driving very aggressive. If I'm not mistaken, if an engine is one quart low on oil, that oil will break down quicker than if the engine had the correct amount. According to another youtuber that's very popular said that according to the dealer, "might have been a KIA dealer" the life span of the transmission oil is the life if the transmission. when the transmission fails that's it. It does have a drain bolt and filler hole, but it doesn't have a dipstick. Here's another bright idea from the engineers is that on some engines they put the water pump inside the engine which means if it has a coolant leak inside the engine, before you know it's overheating you've already destroyed the engine. 😁🧓

So now you'll have to change the engine every 10,000 miles?

I left a BMW dealer on my 30d diesel one quart low. Would have not known but the diesel has a dip stick. The information sensor was told the system was full. This is a people problem. No dip stick in the transmission either.

Get over it. I've had the no dipstick system in my 2007 BMW for 17 years and 282,000 miles. It works, it's fine. I can check my oil anytime I want from the drivers seat.

Early model tee's didn't have dipstick either !

No dipstick = instant deal killer for me.

The lack of a transmission dipstick I can grudgingly go along with, for the reasons stated and dirt in there can be a catastrophic thing. But no oil dipstick? Bad bad bad idea.

I have a 2003 Toyota Sequoia with the 4.7 v8 and it has two dipsticks - oil and trans. I check them occasionally but it seems i don't need to. Always still full. No leaking or burning going on after 21 years! No stinking way thats going to be the case with this new Stellantis product. Take that to the bank.

Oil should be kept at the proper level all the time, waiting for the computer to tell you your down a litre or two does not help longevity of the engine.

Are dipsticks really that expensive to add to an engine?

Problem is failure of the system and cost of sensor. A dipstick, just like the key versus keyless ignition, is much less prone to fail and much less expensive to repair.

Need a oil shut off valve in the motor. If you don’t pay your bill they can switch it off while you’re driving it at high rate of speed.

Electronic monitor is fine for those who never get under the hood, but there still needs to be a regular dipstick.

Yes all vehicles with ICE’s should have a manual dip stick for crankcase oil and transmission fluid, Unfortunately checking the oil has become a lost art in this modern age of vehicle ownership, folks that have driven the newer cars of the last 30 years that was naturally aspirated most didn’t use much oil to move the needle between oil changes until they aged well past 100k miles, now with the new oil sucking turbo engines that old 1960’s & 1970’s gas station attendants skills are needed to check the oil frequently yet again! Yes my father taught me the importance of checking the oil frequently back in the seventies once I started driving, although we only have 1 out of the 4 vehicles we own that consumes any oil in between changes, a Toyota with 225k miles on the clock and I check and or top off every other fuel station fill up!

Older cars are getting more and more popular! Wonder why??