Intake gasket, head gasket or cracked head?

[Nation77]

I've noticed what looks like some coolant pooling on the top of my intake and also after the truck gets warmed up real good it blows smoke only out the passenger side tailpipe. Could that mean I have a bad intake gasket or a bad head gasket or cracked head?

[chastain90]

Smoking could be valve seals. I don't know about the coolant build up. If its not running hot and the oil does not look colored then your gaskets should be fine. Mine was smoking from passenger side and it was the valve seals. You could do a compression test to know for sure.

[Grumpy old man]

What color is the smoke ?

Black = fuel
blue = oil
white =water

[Norgermish]

Yes on all three...if the smoke is white as previously stated. The coolant on the intake would suggest possible intake gasket failure at the water ports on the head. Is it a stock intake or aftermarket aluminum?

[cleszkie]

I believe some of the intake manifold bolts penetrate the water jacket. If you don't use thread sealant on these, coolant can make its way up past the threads and collect on the intake manifold in the low spots below the offending bolt.