After driving half a mile my 1998 vw polo open air started smoking from engine stopped car and noticed oil on parts that wasnt there previous have not noticed oil underneth before this insident also has been drinking coolent need to top up about the same time as i buy petrol! is there a leak ? is my poor car dead, just to add it was really cold that day and snowing i sprayed deicer on the window screen perhaps a bit more than usual as it was iced up thick ! however started straight away

OIL LEAK COULD BE VALVE COVER GASKET OR IF YOU HAVE TURBOCHARGER.OIL LINE TO TURBOCHARGER BEARING LEAKING OIL ON ENGINE CAUSE SMOKING. CHECK TOP COOLANT HOSE AND BOTTOM COOLANT HOSE TO RADIATOR.CHECK HEATER HOSE FOR LEAKS CHECK AROUND RADIATOR CORE AND SIDE CONTAINERS BELOW COOLANT FAN FOR LEAKS.CHECK WATER PUMP GASKET AND WEEP HOLE FOR LEAKS.WHAT YOU DO WAIT IN MORNING ADD COOLANT UNTIL YOUR COOLANT LEVEL CORRECT.START ENGINE LET IDLE UNTIL GET WARM UP THERMOSTAT OPEN. TURN OFF ENGINE CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAKS AS COOLANT PRESSURE PUSHES COOLANT OUT AT THE LEAKS AROUND HOSES, RADIATOR OR WATER PUMP.

It is very likey you have a blowen head gasket, Check to see if your oil looks like cholic milk or muddy insted of black or golden color. This is a indacation of a blowen head gasket, warped or cracked head. If not the gasket can still be blowen on the head alowing warter to pass into the motor and it will be expiled out the exaust.

Was the smoke white? if so it is probably your head gasket you can still save it if you want as long as the head isnt cracked as well then it probably just isn't worth fixing and from the sounds of it sorry to say but I cant be sure with out seeing it