I have a 03 5.4 F150 SCrew

The intake was leaking on the passenger side (water outlet tube meets plastic).

Putting in the Dorman replacement and noticed that the front cylinder drivers side (#5) had a decent amount of coolant in it.. None of the others did. I've drained the coolant already and was wondering should I just put this back together and see?

The water outlet crossing has a hole right next to this cylinder and I can't see any cracks and not sure if the gaskets were leaking under it.

Seems like if the head gasket was blown I would see it in more cylinders? It never smoked or run bad before I got this leak... Drove it maybe 10 miles with it leaking out onto Cyl#1. Ran fine, never missed.

I just don't want to put this back together if the head gasket is blown but I don't know what to do.

Help!

 

seems like no one wants to take the leap with you Chris... I happen to agree with your analysis. If it was a big problem, you would have noted it when running. I would replace the manifold and maybe the spark plugs and give it a go... Its a good bet that your right.

 

That being said, you didnt run the coolant real low and overheat the motor did you ? I had a BAD manifold leak and spiked the temp gauge several times over a several month period. When i finally figured out what it was and how to fix it, i did the manifold repairs. AFter getting it back together, i still had a minor head or gasket leak. I used sealer to fix that.... has been that way for 3 years now. OVerheating and quenching will damage the head gasket.

 

The truck has never been run hot since I've owned it... It makes sense that the coolant spilled out of the water outler chamber when I unhooked it and poured right into the cyclinder #5 about 1/2 inch away from that outlet. I got most of it out and put it back together. I will find out for sure when I get the rest of it back together ! Thanks Steve