I had this strange problem which gets crazy later on but I had a blown head gasket 2 years ago.

Well for the last year it ran hot so I put in a switch which helped it and a 160 stat. Well the last couple months the coolant light went on and then the engine light then the abs light. Some days it would never go on or even all of them shut off in front of my eyes. Well not she runs hot and the top coolant hose either is full of coolant or some days its empty. I have a new 160 thermostat by hyper tech and a fan switch which was a band aid for two years LOL even before the blown head gaskets.

It runs at 170 then when I stop sometimes it shoots too 210 260 and if I rev it it shoot down to 170 and when I drive it stays cold!!!!! I am thinking its the water pump or a clogged radiator. I have a new cap and thermostat and new hoses. The car has the stock water pump and radiator. It's 2am so if I make no sense I hope you understand.

If this helps once in a while the coolant will be topped then certain days it looks full then sinks down by it self !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't burn coolant and its not in the oil. And this car has power and this engine at 160,000 miles doesn't burn a drop even when I didn't change it for 4 months. You punch it and it kicks down and pulls sideways!

 

How often does it get over 220ish? If you're not moving it isn't uncommon for these cars to get pretty hot. In stop and go traffic my car will run up to 220ish some times. But the second I get moving again it shoots down to 170 as well... A coolant flush might help. If it's not going over 220 that often I honestly wouldn't worry about it. How ever, if it goes to 260 often then I guess it's something to be worried about..

 

Try this if you haven’t done so already. Fill the reservoir. Idle the car for about 10 minutes. There is a small air release valve in the front of the motor near the upper radiator hose. With a flat head screw driver back out the screw slowly (not all the way) until coolant trickles out. Retighten the screw, take the car for a spin then repeat. Sounds like you are getting air \ steam trapped in the cooling system.

 

Almost sounds like you may have another popped head gasket.... how's your oil look? Milky at all? Got any smoke coming from the tail-pipe?

 

Nope no coolant in the oil and it doesn't burn from the tail pipe. Out of every 5 of 10 stop signs or stop lights it shoots up to 220 or 250 and shoots to 170 then 210 but if I rev it 200 rpms more then idle in neautral it cools downandstays at 170.Highway and back roads it runs cold.

Had this problem for a year or two and when it gets to the fall and winter time it runs hotter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also if it matters about 6 months ago I had a manifold leak and when its cold it makes that ticking noise but goes away after 3 min. Maybe the manifold gasket is shooting exhaust gases into my coolant.

 

Not possible for exhaust manifold to push exhaust into your coolant system unless you have MAJOR issues...

Your water pump might be going since it seems like its not flowing enough coolant at idle..

 

The reserve was low and the engine light was on because of the air pump which I knew.

He said I have a blown head gasket. The left side is $900 !!!!!!!!! 11.5 hours which is bull I did the right which says 8.5 but did it with a friend and took 4 hours!!

He said you can pour that copper stuff in the coolant which he said works wonders versus doing the head. I am broke and depress now. I don't want to use my truck all the time.

He said the coolant was low and there was steam coming up from the coolant which mean a leak from the exhaust!!!!!

It sucks having a beautiful car but have major engine problems. This is my 3rd time with a blown head gasket.

 

It says in your signature that its the original w/160k miles, I would think it is time to replace it.