useing water?

Totally agree with you there Phil. Short of that it could be one of your seals has gone on the outer block of the engine so it is pushing water past it when under pressure. You may even have a crack in one of your water hoses which again would only leak only pressure. When the engines running and reasonably warm have a look all around the back of the engine bay with a torch and see if there is any damp anywhere. If still in doubt, take it to someone who has got a device which tests the water to see if oil is mixed in with it.

Alan Hawkins
April 2009

Oh dear. I would bet money on you having blown head gasket.

As a crude check, start it from cold, allow it to warm up for no more than a minute, then have someone compress the radiator top hose with their hand. Rev the engine hard. If the compressed hose becomes pressurised, you definitely have a blown gasket.

You need to fix it ASAP - diesels do not respond well to overheating, and in addition to the gasket you will need to have the head crack tested and skimmed.

Phil Saunders
April 2009