Bad thermostat

What is your question?

I have a 2003 7.3 f350 start it up drive 5 minutes down road the temp is maxed out in the red made it back home popped hood radiator fluid didn’t even seem hot I could pop cap off radiator jug with no build up but the gauge was showing super hot if I squeeze top radiator hose u can hear a little click from where the thermostat is on the water pump the weird thing was the next day went out to start truck after starting truck the temp gauge was half way to hot and the truck had not been started since the day before I’m just hoping it’s the thermostat where the thermostat is u can tell it is all rusted and looks like a very small leak what do y’all suggest?

How long has your 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty had this problem?

Just started a week ago