Ok...having an ice storm recently i covered a good portion of the radiator in order to heat the car faster in the cold temperatures. That worked great for a couple days(cold days). everything appeared fine. We then had a fairly warm day where i drove to work at about 3 ....after getting off the highway i noticed i heard kind of a hiss and my engine idled at about 1500 (choke was in) i got the block and a half and popped the hood to find the radiator cap hissing....i shut the engine off and it would not shut off for a few "turn overs". (all the while it didnt appear hot from the temperature gauge).

It had a ring of white smoke or steam coming up from around the engine and then stopped. I thought i had blown a head gasket.

I did a compression check and it appeared normal. I found my temperture gauge had a leak and didnt show correct temp.

Did my car just overheat and boil and steam? Could i have gotten the "steam" antifreeze in my oil? What do you think happened?

as my temperature gauge is now no longer working...does anyone have one they would be willing to part with?

Thanks
Abram