I have an 04 5.4L with 96,000 on it. I just changed the oil and found that the starter is wet also the bell housing is wet. I pulled the rubber plug on the bottom of the bell housing and it's dry inside so the rear main is good. It's kinda hard to see the back of the head on the right side but it looks like it might be coming from there the left side looks like it just might be starting to leak. I need to get this fixed before the 100,000 warr. expires. I know some dealers will tell you it's normal for it to be wet so has anybody had this done with or without the dealer busting your chops? The dealer I have used in the past is decent but i'm afraid of the this is normal speach and don't worry about it then at 100k him telling me to have it done right away at my cost.

 

A leak is a leak, it is not normal.

 

Yep. when I bought mine the timing chain cover was leaking and they fixed it no questions asked under warranty.

 

Didn't some of the V8's have oil leaks from a bad head or head gasket?

 

The rear of the passenger side and the front of the driver's side are where the oil feed passages for the cylinder head are. They are very close to the edge of the head gasket,and if there are any imperfections in surface or if the engine plant missed cleanup and left debris from machining on the sealing surface near these oil passages,you'll end up with a seeping head gasket. The driver's side just seeps oil right back into the pan because it's behind the timing cover.
JL

 

Found it, I KNEW there was a TSB for it:

03-6-2***ENGINE - CYLINDER HEAD DECK LEAK - 4.6 AND 5.4L ENGINES - NEW "SERVICE-ONLY" GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD KITS AVAILABILITY

Of course, this was only up to 2002, so it doesn't apply to the 2004 that the original poster owns.