OK,

So after a night of driving a little faster than regular nights, and a little more spool ups, I'll go home turn off the car and my Turbo Timer will kick in. As i'm exiting the car, i'm realzing that the engine temp is soaring! almost to the H!

So i turned my car back on w/ the key, and after reving the engine a little the temp started to drop and finally after a few mintues returned to reg.

I know the car is due for an oil change soon, but i didn't think that could be it.

my other thought is that w/ the key in there is power going to the whole car, w/ the key out, the engine just runs. Could the lack of power stop the cooling fan and the thermostat from opening?

 

Shouldn't stop the t stat at all. t stat is thermally controlled. Take it out and put a blow torch to it and it'll open right up. Something you MAY want to check is if the guages lose power due to not having the key. Start the car long enough to get the turbo timer to realize it's running. Then turn the car back off and let the timer kick in and keep it running take the key out and see if the guage (which you KNOW the engine isn't hot enough to have the temp soar yet) rises or not. If it does then it's either A.) a wiring problem with the guage or B.) the way the guage is set up. (My '64 Dodge has a crossed wire somewhere and every time I turn on the lights the oil pressure goes through the roof LOL)