White smoke/Coolant drains quickly

After changing the coolant/oil there has been white smoke coming from the passenger side of the car after turning the car on for a few minutes. I had spilled oil on the side and I had chalked it up to the oil. The next weekend (hadn't turned it on or driven it since the fluid change) I looked at the radiator overflow tank it was bubbling like a jacuzzi and after driving it for a few miles the overflow tank was empty so I added more fluid, turned the heat on all the way and watched the car for 10 minutes and there weren't any more bubbles or smoke. After letting the car sit for a couple days and starting it this evening, there was a lot of white smoke on the passenger side of the engine. Additionally, the coolant overflow tank bubbled like crazy and the level went down about 12 ounces in 2 minutes. After filling again (the car has been on for 10 minutes), the bubbling stopped (just a few bubbles) and the smoke stopped as well. The fluid has only been kept at a level a few inches below the radiator cap before the fluid, overflow hose, and overflow tank replacement (all those items were replaced at once). Since changing the fluid and keeping it at this higher level the engine has been operating ~15 degrees lower than before. The top radiator hose can easily be squeezed when the engine is running (so there isn't any air pressure in the top hose). The host leading over to the overflow tank is a little narrower than the hose replaced. Is there just a lot of air caught in the coolant lines/radiator that will eventually run out? Where else should I look?