Coolant pooling on top of manifold

[evolve520]

So I went out to my truck today to start it and drive around the block since the weather was pretty warm. Hadn't started in about 3 weeks or so, maybe even four. She started right up like she always does, but when I looked under the hood to check things out, I noticed there were small pools of green coolant collected on top of the intake manifold, just next to the valve cover. I took a couple of pics below. Any idea what would cause this? I dried up the closest one and drove around the block. Came back and it was still dry. Exhaust was pretty clear, but when I got on the throttle, it would puff out white smoke, but only under a heavy foot. Looked like it was spitting fluid, but I think it was just water as the liquid was clear and didn't feel greasy. There are 4 pools on the passenger side only. Any thoughts? Bad gasket hopefully and nothing more than that I hope. You can see the pools by each of the bolts in the pics below. Thanks,
Jon

[Norcal72]

Look closely at the themostat housing o-ring or gasket. Mine leaked there and dribbled down to the pool. It seems to dry fast on the top part, erasing the leak path.

[dwcardfan]

It could be leaking around the bolt threads. I put silicone on the bolt then install it.

[evolve520]

Originally Posted by Norcal72

Look closely at the themostat housing o-ring or gasket. Mine leaked there and dribbled down to the pool. It seems to dry fast on the top part, erasing the leak path.

Water neck and housing are dry. First place I looked.

[Captainfab]

Coolant leaks sometimes develop when the engine isn't run for a while. Then once the engine is warmed up again, there is no leak since the heat tightens up small gaps. It could have come from the thermostat housing if it is an aftermarket chrome piece, from your heater hose fitting or a bolt that goes into the water jacket.

[TopFuel1966]

I had a sbc motor that seep leaked like that when it was cold. It had a cheap off-shore thermostat housing with an o-ring. Nothing I did would stop the leak until I threw the o-ring away and used a gasket instead. No more leak.

[luvbowties]

...so I reckon that about sums it up: (1) WATER NECK[flat machined surface not flat & getting thru there: run belt sander along its surface to make it truly flat; bolts thru neck allowing coolant to bypass them] (2) WATER NECK HOSE [check surface of neck and wire-brush or grind surface to make it smooth where it will seal; ensure this clamp is tightened properly] (3) INTAKE [merely leaking by intake-to-head gasket; intake bolts letting coolant bypass them]. Wire-brush all bolts to clean threads and allow gasket-sealer to flow into threads. Re-check torque on all bolts when hot AND cold.