Smell of Anti Freeze

[bruce69camaro]

I got a 2000 Sierra 1500 with the 5.3L.

When I first start the truck up, I get a smell of anti freeze.

I also loose coolant maybe once a month.

I keep an eye on the oil and there is no trace of coolant in the oil.

In fact I just changed it this week and the oil was clean.

I was thinking it was an intake gasket leak, but I was told the intakes on the 5.3's are dry, which I don't know?

What could it be?

Thought I'd also add, no issues with over-heating, truck runs great.

Thank you.

 

[Bill325]

If there's no sign of an antifreeze leak on the outside of the engine , including underneath , then your antifreeze is either going into the crankcase ( which you report it is not) , or is being burned in the engine and going out the exhaust
( possible leaking head gasket) , or is leaking from the heater core and dripping down into the cab ventilation system. I don't know if the 5.3 liter intake manifold is " dry" , or if there's also a lower intake manifold as on the V-6 engines
( serves as the valley cover) that may be leaking. On some trucks, rain water can be retained in the ventilation system catch pan if the drain hole is plugged. You may have both rain water and some antifreeze in the ventilation drain area. In my '89 truck, when I turned a corner I could hear water sloshing around under the dashboard. Eventually, I found the drain down at the bottom of the firewall. I don't know if the 2000 model has a similar drain plug .

 

[bruce69camaro]

From what I'm told the intake is dry, I was thinking this could be the issue.

Heater core was just replaced the other year, no leaks there.

I'm just hoping it is not a head gasket.

I was told it could be the water pump???

Thanks