My brother just bought this vehicle (1999 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie SLT, 5.9L) and it had a "small radiator leak". So this past weekend we proceeded to replace the radiator and some other items. After getting the vehicle all back together and starting it up, we noticed white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. Also noticed water dripping onto the top of exhaust manifold at the #4 & #6 exhaust ports. It looked like the water was coming from the bottom of the valve cover. But there was NO water in the engine. So I'm guessing that it might a bad intake manifold gasket. But I'm not sure. I don't know if water runs through the cylinder head at this location or not. Any insight and suggestions are welcomed as I'm new at working on Dodges.

 

Not sure how water from intake could be showing on exhaust side of head. Can you post up photo?

 

Cracked head.

 

That would be my guess....

 

Not the answer we were looking for!! LOL LOL But gonna start tear down this afternoon. Thanks

 

I would clean things off REALLY well, and pressurize the cooling system. (either with a tester, or, just warming up the engine.) See if you can verify where the coolant is coming from. If the head IS bad, replace them both. Odessa/Clearwater make stock replacements that are BETTER than stock, and are not as prone to cracking.