miss 97 silverado

97 silverado 4x4. engine missing on startup,losing small amounts of coolant.have not found any mixing with oil in crankcase.i suspect coolant leaking into cylinder then leaving via exhaust.is there a history here? laeky intake? or maybe a head or head gasket?how do i diagnose this problem.i have a pressure tester and a compression guage.

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If water gets in the cylinders, then you will have white smoke coming from your tail pipes.

It's probably not a head gasket (all though it could be) because usually, when they blow you get excessive amounts of water in the oil. More then likely, your intake gasket is causing the problem. I would inspect closely around the intake for any signs of coolent (also, you could smell antifreeze).

I have heard of the intake can crack.