Background: 97' 12v, 117,000 miles, well maintained. Here's the story: Towing my Jeep on my way to go 4 wheeling this weekend I was climbing a hill in the mountains that always seems to give my truck a problem (very steep with a substantial elevation change). If I drive normally with the TC locked, the egt's go through the roof. If I run it with the TC unlocked the motor stays cool, but I think that bakes the tranny. So, I was getting on it pretty hard all the way up (about 2 miles) trying to keep the egt's in check with my foot. When I got to my exit and pulled off, the temp. gauge climbed and climbed and climbed until it was in the red. I pulled off the road and shut her down and surveyed the situation. It seemed that all of the coolant boiled out of the radiator, into the overflow bottle, and then out onto the ground. I let the truck cool for a while, replaced the coolant (it took about 2 gallons), fired her up and she ran as usual. No issues, with the exception of the usual fluctuation in the temp. gauge. Does this sound like the thermostat stuck closed and all the water pumped out of the block? I towed my Jeep home the next day and everything was the same (ie power, motor sounds good, etc). The only thing I did notice was that about half way home, the temp gauge stayed right around 160 without the fluctuation we're used to. When I was almost home, it started fluctuating again. Does it sound like my thermostat is getting ready to take a poop on me? Let me know what you think. TIA

MIke

 

YEP (check hoses