Ok so i have a 96 integra and the guage doesnt read as if were overheating, but it is smoking out of the overflow bottle and bubbling. Is this just air bubbles in the system? Also have a high idle which i know is usually a vacuum leak where should i start looking for this or could it be something else??? Thanks

 

headgasket. i had the exact same problem. never overheated but did the overflow thing

 

bad radiator cap maybe.

 

sounds like an air pocket in the coolant system. let the car cool, turn the heat on the lowest setting, take the radiator cap off, start it and let it run and add coolant as needed. give update

 

that is a sign of the headgasket being bad...i would suggest replacing it

 

I really hope its not a head gasket I just did that on my friends car for him and it sucked haha but if it was a head gasket wouldn't it be blowing white smoke from burning coolant??? The car has been sitting for awhile do you think it just needs to be driven recently just replaced the motor. Its not filling the overflow its just bubbling and smoking out of it.

 

head gasket and maybe cap but definitely head gasket

 

I've had this issue twice. Definitely check the radiator cap.

I remember, without checking, I changed the cap without a spring on it and after I would go out for a drive, I would hear a hissing sound and then see the overflow coolant reservoir bubbling as if were boiling water...the cap was the culprit since it didn't pressurize the system.

If you had a blown head gasket, you would see milky substance on the dip stick and oil cap, like this: