My 89 Toyota Corolla standard with 229k overheated a year ago from a collapsed rad hose then again a month ago from idk what. I've owned it a few years and it had 205 k when I got it. There is no oil in the water and no water in the oil.  It has good compression and when I bought it I was told it had a new timing belt.  When it blew the rad hose last year i put the heater on and pulled over right away so it only went to the red line not above it on the temperature gauge.  I took a cab to my destination and left it to cool off.  It was obviously a rad hose, in the evening when everything was closed.  A friend who is mechanically able said he would help but I had to tell him to stop when he started taking out my spark plugs.  Added water after it cooled and limped it to parts stores the next day for rad hose, clamps, thermostat and screwdrivers to d I y....on way back it sounded like it blew a rod or had  bent valves or something very bad gutless near nil compression.  I parked it for the winter after putting antifreeze in it.  Winters are harsh here so the 13 inch tires on the puny Corolla routinely get a rest.  I added fuel stabilizer and stored it with a full tank to avoid condensation of water in gas during winter.  Mechanic who sold it to me originally I had look at it and talked to other mechanics I'm lucky to know...told me to check the plugs in case during overheating their gap expanded. I had forgotten the drunken friend who helped me had loosened them off and drove it like that acouple of hundred miles.  New plugs fully inserted stopped it sounding like a sewing machine and restored its compression.  Driving great until a month ago. When it overheated this time it went out the overflow.  Again I pulled over right away.  2 mechanics told me it's probably the head gasket.  It's now freezing out and it hasn't leaked water or overheated since.  The coolant fan did not come on when it was hot temperature..not overheated hot just above half way on the gauge.  When it was unplugged from the sensor the fan comes on.  I think it may be a blown fan sensor or possibly a stuck thermostat.  While it was parked I felt it was doomed with potential head gasket bought a Camry. 15 inch tires for winter antifreeze in the corolla full gas tank about to add stabilizer and will get a sensor in it in spring.... Only 229 k...the Camry has over 300k...could a stuck thermostat or blown coolant fan sensor caused it to overheat this time? With no water in oil on dipstick and no froth on filler cap and no oil in rad water that usually are signs of a blown head gasket....did they say it was that to sell me the Camry for less than the cost of a head gasket on the corolla,???? Camry has a new head gasket and timing belt and better body so I'm ok with that for winter but....I like the lower mileage, comfier seats, peppiness and turning ratio of the littler Toyota better. What do you think?