2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue How do you tell if your engine cea

Engine Mechanical problem
2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 167k miles

I just have a small question. If your car doesn't start smelling like metal or burning and your thermostat never gets over the midway mark. Can your engine cease up. I had my car parked and some one told me it had happened. But it was running just two hours before it started having problems....