In addition to my vrs I also have a 1.9pd 09 plate fl estate which is run as a pool car for work.

It currently sits at 113k (trouble free) miles.

If used for a long motorway trip it seems to have an appetite for oil. Oil level was checked on Wednesday and was ever so slightly down from max. It has done just over 7k since it was last serviced, so oil consumption up to wednesday was negligible.

It went to Cornwall on Thursday (340 miles one way) and somehow lost sufficient oil to bring the light on. No drips, no smoke.

It did this last time it went to Cornwall with the same driver.

Other than an aversion to going down south, any ideas what might be going on? Other than this weird loss it doesn't use oil.

Perhaps this driver likes to drive it to the limit. Lots of heavy acceleration. They aren't called oil burners for nothing!

Perhaps this driver likes to drive it to the limit. Lots of heavy acceleration. They aren't called oil burners for nothing!

 

They are not called "oil burners" because they burn engine oil!!!

Any evidence of excessive smoking on start up or when being revved since it got back from its trip??

Perhaps this driver likes to drive it to the limit. Lots of heavy acceleration. They aren't called oil burners for nothing!

That was my first line of enquiry, but he swears it was more driving miss daisy than joy ride!

It is possible that there was some water in the oil - general internal condensation rather than a water leak - and a long trip with the engine up to temp for a long time evaporates the water and the oil level drops accordingly.

 

This is more likely if the car is normally used for regular shortish trips.

Any evidence of excessive smoking on start up or when being revved since it got back from its trip??

No, nothing evident.

It is possible that there was some water in the oil - general internal condensation rather than a water leak - and a long trip with the engine up to temp for a long time evaporates the water and the oil level drops accordingly.

This is more likely if the car is normally used for regular shortish trips.

It doesn't usually do short trips. Mostly 30 miles plus as a minimum.

My VRS has always been like that. 5000 miles without using a drop then suddenly the level with drop within a week.

I've had the odd inexplicable drop in oil level of VW group diesels. But at higher mileages consumption has settled down then something else......