also, when my car overheats to the point where it dings at me, the reservoir bubbles a lot. I heard this is a sign of a bad head gasket. is that true?

 

Oil analysis would prove it if it was an oil channel ruptured into a coolant channel, but there are other ways a HG can fail. If its a coolant channel rupture to a cylinder, the coolant will be heated by combustion gases but your oil will be fine. That's why you try the test kits I mentioned - they can find HG failures that don't involve oil mixing with coolant. If its bubbling, you're overheating. That can happen in more than one way.

 

where can i get one of those? local auto parts store?

 

also, forgot to mention this. When i put everything back together and it overheated and after i turned the car off, about 30-40 seconds later it randomly started to smoke a little on the back left part of the motor (looking from the front). dont know if this is a sign of anything.

 

and nothing was leaking

 

I think they do, or Napa.

 

okay. thanks again

 

How much do they usually go for?