07 Murano gets really hot but not overheating

[bamboozled879]

I was chasing a coolant leak in my 07 Murano, finally found 3 leaks and fixed those leaks also replaced the valve cover gaskets

After fixing those leaks i put the MO on ramps and filled the radiator to burp the system. The past two days I drove it and the temp rose up near the second to last tick on the gauge after about 20 minutes drive time. After each test drive i topped off the overflow, system has just under 2 gallons in it now

Today I drove it for an hour and a half, mainly highway. Ran freakin perfect, temp was dead center on the temp gauge. Then on the final 3 miles of my test drive the temp shot up again, this time almost to top tick on the temp gauge and coolant overflowed out of the overflow

What do yall think. Still have air in the coolant system or thermostat? Waterpump?

Upper hose is hot, lower is just warm almost cool. Heater is pumping hot air and ac is working normal

I had some pretty shotty mechanic work done on the MO last year. The guy said he replaced the thermostat and waterpump but this heating problem has been happening since I got the car back from him

Also MO has an autozone radiator in it now

[bamboozled879]

Looks to have been the thermostat. Thanks for everyones help