Overheating, Could An Oil leak Cause this??

[tiger]

(93 KA24DE)I had just finished replacing all of my coolant hoses. No leaks what so ever... I drive this car all day long and it's good.. I didn't really open it up but maybe once or twice on my way to a friends house (about 12 miles) On the way back home I opened it up more often and especially on the highway when we tried to take a look at this Ferarri that was in front of us.. I drove it pretty hard until I got off of the interstate. I dropped my friend off at his apartment and then I headed home. I noticed the temp gauge was nearing hot so I pull it over... check for leaks.. .nope, no leaks.. the overflow tank was full and boiling.. anyway, I let it cool off and drove it back to the house (about 3 miles) it stayed pretty normal up until i got in the driveway... I pulled the car in the garage and inspected... all on the left inside of the fender was shiny and I noticed that I didn't have a dipstick in the engine.. I had lost it during the rebuild and forgot to put it back in.. I have no idea how much oil I had lost.. but could this be my issue? The engine was just rebuilt.. .new water pump, head gasket, thermostat and everything! Keep in mind that it couldn't have been an air bubble because I have been driving it all day with the heat on and it has been fine. Thanks for any advice in advance.

[S13inBatnRuge]

thermostat maybe ?

[tiger]

well before i put it in the car I tested it out in a cup of boiling water... it opened up all the way, the spring compressed all the way down on it when it opened.

[S13inBatnRuge]

look up vapor lock and see if that sounds right. ive had that happen to me and it fixed it right up.

[tiger]

yea that's what i'm doing right now, just trying to read up on it. But if I had vapor lock.. wouldn't it have occured early in my drive instead of at the end? It was a 35 minute drive to my friends house and then about the same back... hmm.

[S13inBatnRuge]

im about to check out for the night but ill leave you with this. improper flow will mainly be cause by clogged radiator, bad water pump,clogged coolant lines vapor lock. or bad thermo. also check out factory service manual at http://www.zeroyon.com/index/content/view/24/47/hope this at least put you in the right direction.

oh ps could also be blown head gasket but i dont wish that on anyone.

[tiger]

Yeah.. I read in an overheating thread that one guys car overheated because of an oil pressure sensor was leaking some oil.. I guess i'll have to tear down the garage and find my dipstick or just go to nissan and get another one. Maybe i'll check on the forums...