A few more questions for you:
1) What do you estimate this job to cost to have done?
2)If I was to do it myself, are there things I should replace along the way?
3) From where I estimated the leak could it be something far more expensive than a gasket? and if so what are my odds its just the gasket?
Thanks again.
I'm thinking a job like that with todays prices in a shop would be close to a grand with tax and their part markups. You can call around and ask. I asked once for a waterpump and was getting estimates close to $400.
Well you need a gasket kit, you can get it at rockauto, I think its around $100 for the upper and lower intake, fuel injector mainfold gasket, valve covers. I would replace the thermostat and temperature sender. Also the idler and tensioner pulley, they fail, dont ask how i know. Maybe the waterpump too (optional). Change all the rubber hoses if you are going thru this trouble, be careful pulling off the heater hose, do not stress the tubes, slice the hose if necessary.
What else can it be? Unlikely, but could be cracking or porosity in the block or manifold..do you know when coolant was last changed? There is also a rare chance that its the headgasket but somehow I doubt it because the headgasket is way below that area. Others had your symptom, fixed the gasket and were fine afterward.
The other thing you can do as a stop gap measure is to use bars stop leak (they have a gold product, not the metal one) that may stop the leak. Beware though, it may clog up other areas of the cooling system. Some car makers actually suggest putting in some models. In my opinion its a last resort to junking the truck, you may get some more time out of it, or repair later. But understand the downside.
How many miles on the truck?
At this point, since it is undriveable anyway, you can start tearing down the top of the engine and see if the lower gasket is bad. The only pita is the EGR valve on the driver side.
Maybe some others can give their opinion too.....
