Cold starts are rough on diesels. Plug in your block heater. You can also buy a timer that turns the block heater on approximately 2 hours prior to your coming to start it fairly cheaply. I would suggest that to alleviate your cold start woes.

Is the coolant level in the tank dropping?

I did have major work done over the summer.

Service Description: Found internal engine damage. Camshafts very worn, piston rings locked with carbon build up.,PISTON RINGS, CAMSHAFTS, LIFTERS, and TURBO - Remove and Replace,Clean and Repair Injectors

Timing belt, pulleys and water pump were replaced as well.

I now have about 10K miles on it. I brought it by the shop last night for the missing weather striping between the firewall and hood. Plenty of rain 2 weeks ago, caused the passenger side to flood with water. As I investigated the leak, I found the weather strip was missing. I'm assuming that was the source and it was already perpetually loose, so I'm guessing the garage put it aside and didn't put it back. I need to figure a time to leave it with them to try and resolve this issue. Could it be a simple (relatively - quick) if it is the head gasket? It is my DD.

I'm also wanting to upgrade the suspension from all stock. I don't want to put more money into this thing if it won't last me. Especially after the work previously done, I'm hoping it's just the gasket (if anything), given that it only "farts." Nor have I seen the coolant drop. Wouldn't water in fuel introduce a more pronounced noise / failure ?

So from what I read they pulled the bottom end apart and re ringed the motor. New rings on old liners not the best idea in the world. The liners already have wear. Then they ball hone or 3 stone hone to get some new cross hatching on the liners. In turn they just open up the Piston to wall clearance more. That then opened up your ring gap. So what I think is going on is when its cold your not burning all the diesel. Once it warms up and the piston expand with heat and it seals up better.

If the liners were within spec, there is no trouble in reusing them. However, if what they say is actually true... and the rings were carboned up... the carbon will build up and continue to press the rings outward and can, in extreme cases, cause the cylinder walls to wear in some engines. I have not heard of this happening on a CRD yet. I suppose it is possible if the engine was very neglected and improper oil was used. If synthetic oil was used, this would not happen. So either they are not telling the truth, they do not know what they are doing, or this engine was grossly neglected, or all of the above. The cam wear tells me that the rockers were shot, probably from having a functioning EGR still, and not changing the oil often enough, OR neglecting to use synthetic and having really long OCI's. Hard to say.