Do you have the proper level of coolant in the coolant reservoir? If not, it's possible for the engine to run very hot without the gauge reading hot because the sensor that reads the coolant temperature must be immersed in coolant to read correctly. If you've got no coolant and were driving at highway speeds in 3rd gear for a while, you likely caused widespread engine damage.

If you've got proper coolant level, then I'd suspect the engine really isn't overheating and that the knocking noise you're hearing is being caused by something else. Just feeling the temperature of an engine by hand isn't an accurate way to measure its temperature - 200 degree metal feels scalding hot but 200 degrees is a perfectly acceptable engine operating temperature for example. Using something like an infrared/laser thermometer would be a far more accurate way to measure the actual surface temperature of the engine (and coolant lines) than using your hand.

I'd get it to a mechanic before you drive it again. Have it towed, don't drive it. Knocking noises are rarely good regardless of the cause, but it's entirely possible that if you STOP driving it now (and you didn't run it without coolant), you might be able to get the cause fixed before you need a new engine or a new car. If you continue to drive it or you ran it without coolant, there's a far greater chance you'll need a new motor or to scrap the car.

That's because you lost so much coolant you uncovered the temp sensor. It's damaged now. Take it to a garage. Sit down before they tell you the cost!

What is the problem? The normal 190* is gonna be hot to the touch

Knocking noise after running the heck the heck out of an engine is different though..........that's bad... Check oil, black with sprinkle of metal shavings bad. 1500 or so for a used engine for the toy or buy another similar car for 3000

The last time you asked this you were going 90. Yeah, you had it wound up too tight for too long. A teardown and rebuild...3 grand.

I was being an IDIOT with some friends, playing music loud, with the windows down, wind rushing in the car that i did not notice i was driving with my OVERDRIVE OFF around 70-85 MPH on the freeway. My car temperature gauge says its NOT overheating but when i pop the hood, the engine is really HOT to the touch and its making a knocking noise. Even when i let the engine cool and turn it back on, the engine is still HOT to the touch but the gauge say its NOT overheating.

Can this be fixed or is a new engine needed, new car ? 1998 corolla.