97 4.6 with cooling problem

Hi, anyone experience a cooling problem with the 4.6? Mine wants to overheat at times, quickly jumping up to max guage temp and turning on the light. When it returns its as quick as it jumped up. It think its a lack of fluid, it will act like its full but I think there is a air pocket preventing it from taking all the fluid. When it overheats the heater blows cold. Any ideas?

thanks in advance,

Check the thermostat...

Hey I have a 98 f 150 with the same problem. Have replced the rad, waterpump, and thermostat 3 times and have also taken to the dealer to problem solve and cannot find the problem. no leaks nothing in the oil or coming out the exhaust. I have noticed that when I drive it a few hours and the guage still spikes and goes back down once in a while the over temp cylinder protection sensor kicks in and makes me lose power , I can sut off and restart and it corrects. Also the resevior will let loose some fluid but I can put my hand on the engine and it is not hot enough for me to remove my hand. If any one can help with this issue it would be greatly appreciated.

Check the bottom radiator hose they need a spring in them or they will collapse. Check the belt diagram to see if it is routed correctly. Otherwise the pump will run backwards. Jack up the front and run the heater at max temp to get out any air. Your sure you didn't install the thermostat upside down.
Are you getting flow both top and lower hoses are hot. Check the fan blades are any broken and check the clutch. Always buy a new centrifugal no silicon.
Check for a broken radiator shroud. Check your condenser in front of the radiator for bugs or dirt plugging it.

have seen t-stats stick have also seen air pockets caused by leaking heater hoses and the air gets trapped at the t-stat and freaks it out