How long can a mustang overheat?

[mustangmarks]

Not a good day I was driving and noticed my temp gauge was aliitle before the red mark on the stock gauge so I stoped and looked and there was no coolant bubbling so I statrted her back up and the needle came down quite a bit for being off for a minute or two started driving and it went back to were it normally is and at this point I started driving again 5 min later it did the same thing . I was only a few miles from my house so I drove it till I got home. the gauge was going up and down and some coolant was bubbling out enough to stain the ground with a shop rag size mark. Do you think I ****ed it up cause I kept on driving it?. Serious comments only please.

Thanks

 

[dec322]

I am wondering the same thing. My engine has gotten to around 230-240 (stock gauge) while sitting at idle for a long period of time. When I start going again the gauge would fall around the 190-200 mark and stay. I would hate to ruin my engine.

 

[srothfuss]

Iron heads still? It's better to heat up iron than aluminum.

It's definently not good to drive around that hot, but I don't think any serious damage was done if you caught it and only drove for 5 minutes.

 

[mustangmarks]

Iron heads still? It's better to heat up iron than aluminum.

It's definently not good to drive around that hot, but I don't think any serious damage was done if you caught it and only drove for 5 minutes.

It might have 10-15 min and yes there Iron and I just had the HG replaced 4 days ago

 

[srothfuss]

Once I had a bad coolant leak on my convertible... All of the coolant ran out on the highway and it got that hot. I was close to a exit that had a gas station so I drove there (with the needle right next to the red line) and got some coolant. Poured it in and it was fine. That was over a year ago now and my car is still running the same as it did before that...

 

[mustangmarks]

Once I had a bad coolant leak on my convertible... All of the coolant ran out on the highway and it got that hot. I was close to a exit that had a gas station so I drove there (with the needle right next to the red line) and got some coolant. Poured it in and it was fine. That was over a year ago now and my car is still running the same as it did before that...

Well i feel a little better now but i thought i was really pushing it with what i did. I hate electic fans and no I didn't hook up a switch like i should of. by the way thats what failed on my car

 

[5spd GT]

I drove at 250* (roughly) for about a week to a week and a half with aluminum heads. No damage was done to block or aluminum heads. My water pump had went out and was leaking water really bad when the car was running...causing it to overheat.

My car would cool down real quick within a couple minutes, the t-stat would open and let whatever coolant/water I had cool it down, but it would heat up super quick...

I wouldn't run it that way if you can help it, but I'm just letting you know I ran it hot for probably 200 miles...stupid, but no actual damage:s

 

[mustangmarks]

On the stock temp gauge what temp is it when its right before the red or on the red?

 

[mustangmarks]

I should also mention I have a SC which may or may not make a difference with an Overheating issue like this.

 

[srothfuss]

I think the stock gauge tops out at 270 if my memory serves me correctly... So I'd say 250/260 is the last line before the red.

 

[ram360]

I had my car overheat a few years ago with my old motor. Had it so hot it was pinging so loud I could hear it over the exhaust. Drove it like 20 miles home...and it was still driveable up to the day I tore it out.