headgasket???HELP PLEASE

[gsxboostin]

Ok so as im driving down the road around 25-30mph intown, the temp stays normal, then decides to peg out at the end of the gauge. (So i decide to pull the thermostat and no places were open at the time to buy a new one so i just left it out figuring it would run cooler and be a quick temporary fix until a new one is in it.) Then later on i am on the highway speeds around 60mph. The temp gauge stays in the middle for a bit, then it pegs out at the very top again, and then i come to a stop sign and it seems to drop back down a bit to almost normal temp, then as i accelerate it pegs out again. TF?!?! It seems like the waterpump isnt doin its job efficeintly. So i park it at a friends house because i was about 30 miles from my house. I wait about 35 min at his house and go out to start it, when i get it started, i pop the hood and i take the coolant cap off and i can smell/see a smoke comming out, it smells exactly like EXHAUST...so that would most likely mean headgasket right?? Also, everytime the temp gauge pegs, the heat goes ICE cold. The system is topped off with coolant, the waterpump is fairly new, and the radiator is fairly new. today i am going to try a new thermostat. The fans are hotwired, and work. If anyone can help that would be great, I'm about ready to go crazy on this car its just one thing after another... thanks -Matt

Edit: the car pulls just fine, nice and strong. Took it for another test drive and it seems to get very hot almost in the red on the stock gauge no matter how fast i am driving. In town or on the highway.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

I would drain out the coolant and see if there is any oil in it. Maybe drain the oil and check for coolant as well. Then you know its a HG.

 

[92awddsm]

If the heat goes ice cold when the temp gauge goes hot, it is usually from air in the cooling system. Let the car cool and top off the fluid again. Put the cap back on, squeeze and wiggle all of the hoses and then recheck.

 

[gsxboostin]

but it smells like straight exhaust comming out of the coolant cap so that signals the head gasket is bad to me...but i think i may try to tighten down the head studs and see if that helps before i tear it all down. i'll keep you posted, and if you have anything else to say please do everything helps, thanks -Matt

 

[luv2rallye]

Have a cooling system pressure test done before doing anything.

 

[gsxboostin]

what set would i need to get, i have access to a lot of good useful tools, i know if there is a set for the problem, then i can get it. just need to know what it would be called. thanks -Matt