Checking engine oil

You should just check the oil after the engine has been well warmed. Park on a level surface. Switch off and wait about 10 minutes. At this time the oil will have drained back down and you should then take a reading (or in fact 2 to be sure). Personally I only ever fill to the 3/4 mark. Interestingly when I had the 2.0Tdi I had one top-up at 8,000 miles and then it never needed topping up. I now have the 3.0Tdi and it has not needed to be topped up and the mileage is now 15,000 miles. Normally owners have reported various higher consumptions on new engines but the rate that different owners report seems to vary from one car to another.
Hope that helps?