MK III 16v Oil Consumption

[dw wi a vw]

My recently acquired MK III 16v has burnt it's way through over 1.5 L of engine oil in less than 1K miles. The dealer is using the usual VW quote of 1L per 1000 KM. However , i'm not convinced that all is well and true. On start up from cold there is a blast of blue smoke - which clears. The compression test shows 11 bar in each cylinder - everything ok there. On inspecting the plugs - 1,2,3 are fine. However No' 4 is taking oil like an Iraqi dictator. All this points me in the direction of guides/ stem seals, but it seems odd to me that it's just the one cylinder that has the problem. It's not the plug - changed it, nor the lead - swapped it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Len]

Have ya tried a compression test on that cylinder. Might be a duff oil ring.

[mrwotto]

I have had my mk3 16vavler for just over 12 months, and only had to top up once in 14k so something must be wrong matey

[Overseer]

yup mines been fine oil wise too..

service time now.. gonna get it all flushed through and replaced with nice fresh stuff 

[J-man]

My 16v'er is on its second litre of oil since its last service about 8.5k miles ago. Im used to this as my Integra ate oil big time but I think that mine might be leaking from the filter a bit. Its not enough to make a puddle on the ground when it sits but the filter and sump has oil over it. I had this problem before it got serviced last but I thought it was sorted but it appears not. Any one else have this issue. Could it be because it s high mile'er?