Just spoke to VW Australia and was advised (oil consumption)

[K1W1]

Will get the dealership to check the oil level before they remove the old stuff, and I'll let you blokes (and ladies) know!

?
You can't open the bonnet and pull the dipstick out yourself?

[K1W1]

My tip? Don't drive like a Granny or do short stop-start trips early on in the car's life.

Ever since car production started that is the easiest way to glaze the bores that there is. Until about 10 years ago manufacturers used to fit lower quality oil in new vehicles (hence the 1000 km oil change they used to have) to try to overcome the tendency of people to baby new cars. The proverbial "little old ladies car" that has only been driven to Church on Sundays usually requires an engine rebuild when it is traded in with 40,000 km after 10 years of gentle driving but the taxi with 200,000 km in 18 months generally has a really strong engine.

[Yao]

?
You can't open the bonnet and pull the dipstick out yourself?

Maybe he doesn't like dipsticks

[PassatB6]

The high oil consumption of some VW engines been known for many years and discussed many times on the net. For some of their engines its entirely normal to use 2l per 5000 k or so. It doesn't indicate there is anything wrong with the engine.

A lot of people report that they reduced their consumption by using different oil. It would be interesting to know what oil people are using.

[Mysticality]

?
You can't open the bonnet and pull the dipstick out yourself?

On top of 500+km/day?
I'm far too tired!

[K1W1]

On top of 500+km/day?
I'm far too tired!

Thanks. Next time I get home from a 500km day of mixed sealed road and dirt road riding on my motorcycle I will remember that I'm too tired to wash it.

[Ryan_R]

Surely checking the dipstick is less work than driving to the dealer, waiting in line at the service desk, and then waiting for them to check your car (and probably say things about you behind your back)...

[Mysticality]

Surely checking the dipstick is less work than driving to the dealer, waiting in line at the service desk, and then waiting for them to check your car (and probably say things about you behind your back)...

Its more like: Get to the dealership, dump my work gear in the loan car then disappear again.

[Ryan_R]

Well at least it reduces the mileage on your car