Mine was doing the same thing a couple weeks ago, thing will slowly climb into the red, light comes on, keep driving for a bit ( maybe bring the RPM's up a bit ) and it would go back down like it never happened. I changed the thermostat hoping it wasn't opening correctly, topped off the fluid, bled the system, hasn't been a problem since. Total cost (me doing the work), $25 including antifreeze. Try here first, worst case, you have a new thermostat to not worry about. As for 4 hours labor, if they were going to charge you that they were going to pork you and not use a bit of lube. I did mine in under an hour.