Anyone know why a 2005 C230K would get coolant around the two front spark plugs? Appears to only be number 1 and 2. It shorts out ignition and loses power. Its using about a gallon of coolant per 5000 miles. Rest of engine appears dry. No coolant/oil mix in sump or reservoir, doesnt overheat, no bubbles in reservoir, no white smoke. Only symptoms are coolant loss, occasional power loss, and coolant around numbers 1 and 2 plugs.

Car belongs to a friend, a local shop wanted $4K to do the head gasket, I said id do for him, but in looking into the issue and discussing it with him, I dont think its a head gasket. While I havnt yet started tearing things apart, im not seeing anything obvious. Ive searched the forum, and other forums/google search, and find nothing.

Any ideas or directions would be awesome