The other day temps. being @~10 deg. F. I being in a hurry started the car and drove off no warm-up at all. It made it about 2 miles down the road and the temp. was almost red lined. Needless to say I found a safe place to stop, called for help, and left it there. Next morning I started it the same way, and got it home. Almost red lined again. This afternoon, I decided that I had time to look at it, keep in mind it;s not near as cold today. So out of curiosity I let it idle till it got to operating temp. and then drove about double the previous distance. No problems at all. The question is. Should I still suspect a stuck thermostat, or just make sure that it warms up a little before I start to put it under a load? I just read another post about how the thermostat, being in the lower rad. hose, is picking up its temp. from the radiator side. The way I started and drove it, it is conceivable that the heat never had time to get to the thermostat to open it up.

 

It got to about 118 on the gauge. I don't think it had any problems. I will be changing the thermostat asap, as when I test drove it last night the temp. never got above 80 on the gauge, after a 20 mile trip with someone following me. I would think that would eliminate the water pump failing, and the coolant was full. Thanks for your reply.