was underneath the truck the other day and noticed a slight sweating coming from the headgasket. There is no oily film in the coolant and the oil is nice and clean still. doesnt look like a major leak or nothing just a tiny bit of oil that is very very slowly oozing out. wondering if this normal or should I be concerned. By the way its a 5.4l, thanx for any help.

 

I have not fully investigated this but there are other threads discussing this condition. I would check the FAQ.

If you want my opinion it sounds like the head gasket. Or if this is one of those engines that uses o rings instead of a head gsket then a o ring is begining to leak.

Are you also sure it is not coming from the valve cover? something to check.

Lance

 

for sure its the head gasket, but like I said a very small sweat-like oil resin behind the exhaust manifold where the head meets the block and its only on the drivers side.

 

need to check what kind of a head gsket it has. this is just another style of head gsket leaks. the otherones as you know are oil in the water, water in the oil burning the coolant in the exhaust white smoke. or all at once.

I can check when I get off of work just let me know you said it was a 5.4 right let me know .

Lance

 

Yep, shes a 5.4l and it is a one piece metal gasket. No white smoke and the oil doesnt have that smell when coolant is mixed with it. Thanx for any help Lance.

 

Yes it's a head gasket, you are right. so what you going to do waittill it gets worst or go ahead a change it. good luck

Lance

 

what are the chances of the head leaking due to stretched head bolts?

 

doubt that, streched bolts normallyhappens after use, if it streches when in stalled and it seals it stay sealed. you would have the problem when reinstalling streched head boltsa bolt then they won't torque right. alot of rice burners reccommend to change the head bolts when you do a head job because of the heat and such. Basically if you doubt a bolt change it. also when reinstalling the bolts make sure that there is nothing in the bolt holes blow them out with air first.

Lance

Lance