I checked the oil in my car for the first time since I got it last September it has done just over 2000 miles, and the oil was only just onto the bottom of the dipstick, below minimum. So I need to add some, my question is what type, how much and why has the oil gone down anyway?

Hey Lizzie

Same thing for me, I had to add some oil last week. (I've had my car since September and done about the same milage).

According to the manual, engine oil change/top up you should use oil of the viscosity SAE 5W-30.

I bought a litre of Castrol GTX Magnatec to top mine up with.

Sometimes when new, cars drink oil for a while, then settle down. Two of my last new cars were the same Or maybe the Duratec 2.0 engine is just an oil burner?

Its not a bad idea to change the oil completely after the 1st few thousand miles of running in the engine.

I hope you havent cause ours any premature damage/wear.

I haven't heard of it for a while, but I know early on there was a problem where they were sometimes really mean with how much oil was beng put in as new. Maybe they never put all that much in to start with also?

Hmmm, I thought that with mine, but when I dipped it again, it showed much more. I though it was low and added some proper Ford oil. The next time I tried it it showed low again so I got a length of thin wire and flattened the end then used that as a dipstick. It showed the level was now too high. I've tried filing flats on the alloy part at the end of the dipstick but it still shows low if you leave it till it's cold. If you then wipe the stick and try again you get a much higher level.

Now, I always redip it. There's something wrong with the dipstick system. I think the oil must be pulled down the tube when the oil cools and it doesn't flow back up the tube to the correct level until you pull the dipstick out for the first check.

They should have made the end piece a flat blade instead of a blob of alloy.

The correct way to check the dipstick is to remove it, wipe it and then test for the correct level. Obviously if the car is on anything other than a level surface then this will have a big effect on the reading.

i checked oil the other day and when i first removed dipstick there was no oil on it,engine was cold then i put it back in and took it out and there was a level.....wierd or not.

When I check mine the first time it at the Minimum but on the second time oil level is back to normal!! And its not the only car which doing that!!

Mines the same first time you dip it it shows low the second time its on the mark.I usually check mine when the cars cold and left standing for an hour.

Only use ford oil from a ford dealer.Other peoples oils make ford run rubbish (and also the valves stick after a few thousand miles.
A new engine will always burn a little oil while it's bedding in.
Seeing as you've let it run so low. i would reccomend getting it changed now.
You always check the oil when the engine is WARM as the oil is thinner and gives you a truer reading, but you must leave the car for 10 mins after switching off to let all the oil drain into the sump

You may be right, though I feel the Ka is getting a very very good oil then there.
Try another oil and you'll notice the difference

I have just bought 2 litres of mobil 1 5-30 for mine in case i need to top it up in future. can someone tell me who much oil i would need to do a complete oil change, and whether mobil 1 is ok to use in the ST? There isnt really any better oil you can get is there?

I wouldnt use a fully synthetic oil for the 1st 2 years as its thin and sticks to components not lubricating fully.

Semi synthetic is what should be used.