"Rugratmike"  wrote:         1993 Toyota Corolla  165k Miles

Driving 70mph, brown liquid began spraying windshield.
Engine coolant temperature gauge then showed overtemp.
Engine quit before car could be stopped.
Smoke was coming from under hood.
Engine was restarted and driven slowly for 5 minutes.

What I can look for to see if its okay to drive the car again.
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The original event was probably a burst upper or lower
radiator hose spraying out rusty brown water.   After the
coolant loss, temperature rose as expected.   The water
probably shorted out the ignition wires, killing the engine.

This was the best outcome, because it prevented the car
from continuing to run any further without coolant, but
then the car was then restarted and driven another five
minutes, so more serious damage such as a cracked head
may have occurred.

Replace the burst hose, refill with coolant, and drive it.
(Replace the thermostat and the other hose if needed.)
For the next few days, watch for overheating, which
will indicate a more serious problem.

Good luck.

Rodan.

Maybe gouging your eyes out is too serious, but a hefty dope slap is
sure in order. When you noticed that temperature gauge climbing you
needed to be reaching for that key to shut the engine down. It's about
the same degree of urgency as a tire blowout. Don't start the vehicle
again until you locate the source of the leak, which is probably a
burst hose. Just topping the system off will not be enough to make sure
all the air is out of the passages. If you are unfamiliar with how to
fill this thing properly with the engine off, find somebody who is or
have it towed to a shop. You are running a high risk of blowing a head
gasket or cracking a block if you have not already done so. If this
ride or money means anything to you, take heed.