Truck runs hot!

[Claytona08]

My truck has the original 4.1L inline 6 in it with right at 100,000 miles on it. I haven't driven this more than 100 miles since I bought it in March of 2013. Well I decided to drive it to work last Friday which is approx 50 miles away. As I was driving about 20 miles in I noticed that my temp gauge started creeping up past the normal temp of 180ish. It got all the way to 230-235 before I pulled over and let it cool off. That evening when I got home I talked to a mechanic that said the reason for the temp creeping up was that the head was cracked on the engine. Trying to get some other opinions before swapping the engine out.

[crashz]

Did he give you any other reasons why he thought it was a cracked head? Overheating can be caused by a lot of things, most being much more simple that a head or engine replacement. He must have seen something else to come to that conclusion.

Have you checked the:
Coolant level
Coolant condition
Thermostat function
Water pump

If the head is indeed cracked (or head gasket failed), either coolant would be leaking into the combustion chamber and/or exhaust gases are being blown into the coolant passages. Both are fairly easy to check for (I drove a Ford at one time, so I know major cooling failures!), but may exhibit themselves either when the engine is warm or cool.

If exhaust gasses are entering coolant passages, the pressure of the system will increase dramatically. Check you upper radiator hose for pressure. If its rock hard, there is a problem.

If the coolant is leaking into the combustion chambers, then you'll smell a sweet smell in the exhaust.