I lost some water the other day and I'v just left the car standing for a while so I can check the oil, its been standing about 5 hours and the dipstick registers 1cm BELOW the L, i'm guessing that this and my loss of water recently is something bad!!

Anyone know how much oil it takes to bring it up to Full from just below Low?

Not much mate.. I think it is about a litre from L to M..

Becareful though as there is two sides to the dipstick and two lots of measurement, one hot and one cold.. if you are reading the hot side when it is cold it will be out etc.. check the handbook, it canget confusing.

If you are really worried then drain the lot and measure it and refill with new oil..

If you really lost water and oil or have water in the oil (white sludge) then you are looking at one of the head gaskets gone..

JGM

I've just had a tek2 and decat, any idea why all of a sudden the head gasket has gone, its £600 to fit a new one and if there is something wrong elsewhere it'll just go again, where might one start looking to find a cause?

The tek2 peaked at 1.4 which I was told was fine since the Defi BF's overread by .1 bar, but 1.3 is still a high peak.

I started the car this morning after testing the oil (after filling it last night) and it took about 3mins to get the temp needle in the middle of the gauge!!!

Sounds normal..

I'd drive it carefully and check for oil and water loss...

JGM

turned out to be head gasket, its all fixed now thanks :) takes 10mins to warm up now, which is more like it!

Oh... so difficult to diagnose from text.. sorry..

Gald it is sorted though.

JGM