So I was driving back from LA, and I smelled something burning. I thought it was the cars around me, so I ignored it. Stopped by Mickey D's and got something to eat.

Went back on the 5 freeway and a while later noticed the gauge was all the way to the right. I quickly pulled over and walked to the nearest city and filled it up w/ water. Oil looked clean. I drove another 45 miles back home, using my heater as a reference for water being present. The gauge didn't stray from the middle.

So I don't know how long it was in the HOT/overheat zone before my initial observation. However, since I drove it 45 min back home w/ no problems, would that imply my HG and whatever else is ok?

Oil still looks fine.

 

if it doesn't overheat now and runs normal like before, there is no water or oil leaking or dripping, or anything out of the norm I'd say its ok. Just my .02
You could always do a compression/leak down test to make sure

 

For what its worth, at my last track event in July i ran every session in the "hot" zone.

That's 4 20 min sessions overheating the car. It was a free motor so i didn't care if i blew the head gasket or anything for that matter. It still runs and there is no oil in the coolant, indicating a working head gasket.

I would imagine your head gasket is still intact since nothing is mixing.

 

If you lost a lot of water... there's gotta be a leak somewhere. Should keep an eye on your coolant level.

After going through some fun "hose" issues on the way back from the gap this year, I found one in the oil "heater" hose that runs around from the back of the head to the oil filter. Small pin hole, but enough that over time, you'd loose coolant.

Also I found got a leaky heater core hose... but that was obvious from the stuff dripping on the header flange. <G>

Dave,

 

Can your rings get damaged or lose compression when one overheats?