So, I have a 98 ranger, 4 cylinder manual.

It runs normal for a mile or two, then it very suddenly jumps from the normal middle area all the way to the top of the temp guage and oil goes everywhere causing smoke. Like within 10 seconds or so from fine range to peak.... Nothing even remotely gradual.

It won't start again after this until it cools completely down.

The very first time it did it, it did this weird thing where the oil guage was bouncing up and down all over the place, but I haven't noticed it happen again. It just sits about halfway up like everything is normal.

My repair guy won't even look at it. They basically told me that it's most likely a head gasket issue, but whatever it is, it's going to cost me way more than the truck is worth. So he doesn't feel like it's even worth the diagnostic time to verify which of the expensive issue is the cause for sure.

But, it's not dripping oil at all when it's just sitting. Doesn't seem to be anything weird going on with the coolant that I can tell beyond just the fact that it's suddenly overheating.

I appreciate the honesty... Even if it's probably more that he's trying to save himself the frustration more than saving me money.

But just wanted to ask, is there anything else this sounds like it could be like a hose, or anything else that might not be a terminal issue?

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98 XLT stepside

Do you know where the oil is come out? If the oil is a milky color it has coolant in it. Is it coolant or oil coming out. If you're blowing oil out of the crank case breather or valve cover gasket you have a significant problem beyond a head gasket.

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2014 F150 xl 3.7 6 speed auto.

Have you ever checked the thermostat? They can become unresponsive and stick wide open or fully closed. Or be somewhere in between sticking only on some days engine in 'y'. A replacement is not expensive.
If you have had problems previous to this, deeper problems may exist, but the Lima is very forgiving compared to the later models. If you have maintained the coolant, and not abused it, the head gasket failure is pretty unlikely. More likely is a 'mechanic' that doesn't want to work on something that is old, and possibly covered with years of oil and dirt... getting hands dirty, or using up a pair of gloves... Who knows.
tom

Kinda hard to diagnose without knowing where, and for that matter what is spewing out? Is it actually engine oil or is it coolant?

Coolant level has seemed to stay the same all during this so I don't think that it is involved. Topped it up to make sure all was well when this first happened, and still seems to be full.

When I open the hood after it does this it basically looks like oil has been sprayed everywhere. It's not just in one area like a drip.

It gets so hot so fast on the gauge that my thought is always just to get it turned off as far as possible to prevent worse damage, so I've never gotten to see it actually while it's spraying. The times that I let it run for a bit while parked to see if I could tell, it didn't do anything... Just got to the point in much less than the usual distance when I drove it after... Happened in about half a mile or less.

Haven't noticed the oil being any sort of an odd color, but then, most of it is pretty fresh. Refilling it while trying to figure it out, it seems like it needs a new quart after about every second or third time.

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98 XLT stepside

You've got a coolant leak somewhere. I'd start checking every hose and clamp especially the small hose that runs from the heater hose on the passenger side to the bottom of the intake manifold.

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2014 F150 xl 3.7 6 speed auto.

Really haven't seen anything with the coolant, level hasn't dropped, just the oil, and the smoke doesn't have that overheating antifreeze smell. No puddles of either type under it. But going to try the thermostat this weekend since the shop just wrote the whole thing off, so will look closer while I'm at it to see if anything seems to be damaged or wet.

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98 XLT stepside

Is the oil pumping out the dipstick tube? Just a hunch but this could be too much positive crank case pressure coming from a bad intake manifold gasket, warped intake or stuck valve.
exhaust could be adding pressure into the upper galley.
Try this, While it’s running, open the oil fill cap and see if it’s blowing excessive air out.
With the cap off it might not blow the oil out so you might have to
put it back on and see where she blows.