Why does my Skoda Superb use so much oil?

I own a Skoda Superb diesel 2.0TDI which consumes engine oil. After every 5000 to 6000km the oil level drops to the lower mark, though there is no warning sign on the dashboard. The car had problems with its EGR cooler that was changed twice in the initial days of ownership. Now the car has done 30,000km and is nearing two years old. On consulting the dealership, the answer is to top up the engine oil when there is a sign on the dashboard, but maybe I can’t get the oil if I am on a highway. My query is why should a new diesel car burn or consume engine oil?

Asked on 16 June 2012 by RG, Meerut, India

Answered by Honest John
Some VAG and some BMW engines do use oil. The reason is that they are filled with synthetic longlife oil instead of running-in oil on the production line and, if not revved occasionally during their first 5000 miles, their oil rings don’t bed in properly. The laugh is that you can actually add so much oil in between official 20,000 mile oil changes that it is the equivalent of as many as four oil changes.
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