normally the gauge should be in the middle.(between hot and cold) that is concider operating temp.
Low on coolant or a sticky thermostat, replace it.
In the engine block of a vehicle, the part which is responsible for sending information to the temperature gauge is called the temperature gauge sending unit.
Make sure it is full of coolant. There probably is a small leak causing the smell. Check it cold as sometimes it leaks cold but not hot.
hot temp, humans, mutations
temp gauge is stuck on hot
The thermometer that reads your engine temperature, I presume, is damaged or broken. Without the gauge to tell your fan how hot your engine is it will keep running as a 'better be safe then sorry' feature.
try changing your thermostat.
A faulty temp sending unit can do that.
Test gauge function with a mechanical gauge to get actual engine temp.
It should warm up after a few miles of driving and stay in the center of the gauge between hot and cold.
normally the gauge should be in the middle.(between hot and cold) that is concider operating temp.
In most cases the temp sending unit has failed but, check the wire and connection at the temp sending unit on the engine. It should be clean and tight. You can check the temp gauge by disconnecting the connection at the temp sending unit and holding the harness connection to a good ground. While doing this have someone turn the ignition key to the on position (do not start the engine) and watch the gauge. If the gauge climbs up to the hot position the gauge is okay. At this point you can replace the temp sending unit with a new one.
This would indicate that the system is low on coolant when the gauge is hot. Not enough coolant to service the heater core.
Broken Temp guage
If you don't have a temp. light, or temp gauge, then just install one.
The temp sending unit may be shorted to ground. Unplug the sending unit to see if the gauge drops to cold. If it does, you have a faulty temp sending unit.