i was heading to work today got on the ohio turnpike and was going between65-70mph for a few miles and my truck started to spit and sputter looked down at the guages and it was buried in hot and i instantly shut it off pushed in the clutch and pulled to the side,i went to pop the hood and it wouldnt go up so i sat there for 5 minutes trying to make it the i-75 exit it started up fine i went about 200 feet and it started to spit and sputter again and it was buried in hot i turned the heat on high and it didnt help so i shut it down again.called the wrecker to come so i worked on getting the hood opened and finally got it open.all the hoses in tact, serp belt was there,water pump looked dry but the resivior(?)was empty.it had fluid in it when i checked the oil last thursday when i got gas and maybe did 50 miles of driving since then.well made a few phone calls and its going to my buddies shop for a diagnosis but it sounds like maybe i blew a head gasket,but the res thing was empty,im just worried if i have an aluminum head on this if i warped it or not.any questions,comments concerns appreciated.anyone replaced the head gasket on a 01 2.3 or the head itself and what options are there?thanks ahead.
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I remember reading of a tab breaking off in plastic thermostat housing so thermostat doesn't stay seated. It's sold only as a one piece assembly (housing/stat/sensor) on this engine. Also remember reading of a hole in early engine castings. Don't know if either items would be source of your problem but food for thought. It's an aluminum block with cast iron cylinder linings. Sorry can't offer any info on head gasket replacement.

 

got it back today,hose near the fire wall was cracked and the source of the leak.fixed the hose pressure tested and filled with anti freeze and its good to go so far 80 miles with no problems.kinda worried,it got hot.