Engine is overheating in traffic?

Motor locked up overheating prior. Not losing water now.

All parts are new. Also replaced temperature sensor.

The temp guage was pegged in the red so I pulled into a gas station and the engine was running real rough. I waited a while and put in coolant, the radiator was bone dry. After that the engine would not start. I figured I must have warped the head. I pulled off one of the heads today and to me it looked fine and so did the gasket. What should I be looking for on the head to see if there is damage? And when I pull off the other head tomorrow and it looks good what else should I look for that could have been damaged from the overheating.

Thank you

Engine Cooling problem
1999 Ford Ranger 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

My truck is overheating. High pressure in radiator blows out to the overflow tank. Changed radiator, water pump, thermostat and radiator cap, still overheating

I drained the whole system and removed the thermostat and still overheats and losing water into the overflow tank.

Yes white smoke comes out of the exhaust only in the morning when I first start it up. Could the heater core cause it?

My truck keeps overheating and lousing antifreeze some how. I had a mackanick just take a look at it and he said my motor was gone but truck still runs

I am having trouble with my Ranger pickup overheating, occasionally. The problem originally was erratic, but recently has become fairly regular. One of the problems is I do not get to drive it regularly, may sit for weeks at a time before able to start. Now each time I start, definite signs of water in the exhaust, steam, and losing coolant, and sometimes smell it through the heater. No significant indication of water in the oil. While dissassembling the air intake manifold, noticed what looks like water at the throttle assembly. Also, there is moisture at the intake manifold where the air intake sits. Any suggestions?
Randy

I have a 1998 Ranger XLT 2x4 4.0 V6 with 140,000 miles. While driving at highway speeds the engine temperature gauge spikes and claims to be reading the engine as running hot. By turning on the heat inside the cab at full blast the gauge settles back to normal. An oil change is due up (i'm 500miles past the mileage) but I have a hunch that its my thermostat. Am I close or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Engine Cooling problem
1998 Ford Ranger 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

my truck overheated, check fluid in rad. And looks like I have oil in it