Mitch suffered heat stroke on the Freeway last Thursday 28 Aug outbound near Griffith university billowing vast amounts of white smoke similiar to a Bond movie

called RACQ they towed me to a parking lot then another towed me to get fixed at Diesel Australia
after the initial diagnosis was determined they towed me up the engine reconditioners UMR for repair
Long story short version - we think it is this way
run out of water, with no real rise in the temp gauges
blew head gasket, remaining water got in everywhere including turbo (smoke)
motor is ok, well has been so far since the repair
cost 3K all up with no major parts just new peripheral gear,all belts bolts, filters. plugs etc. and heaps of labour
Looking back there may have been a water consumption issue for some time, but nothing major just topping up of the radiator and water bottle
really couldn't afford the repairs, but then again if it was a more significant cost I would have thought about another replacement car, and that would have messed up the finances wonderfully
so what next, as don't want that to happen again

so just bought a bolt on engine warning temp gauge, all electric to make sure that there is some notice before I cook it completely
what do you do for such a situation