if its a 3.1v6,then it is a intake manifold gasket problem, the 3.1 a noted for this!! check to see if gasket is bad.
The head gasket sits between the head and the engine block if it is leaking out where you can see the coolant, yes you can smell the coolant if it is leaking into the engine no you cannot smell the coolant. You can check the oil to see if it has coolant in the oil if it does then the head gasket might be blown.
It is possible for engine oil to float on engine coolant. This occurs when there is a leaking or blown gasket.
easy, head gasket
you might have a blown head gasket and the coolant is leaking into the cylender and the engine is burning it.
Your engine may have a leaking hose connection or a leaking gasket at the water outlet. It could also be a leaking hose.
That is a common problem with the vortec 350 engines. The intake manifold gasket starts leaking in the corners of it. That is where the water jackets are and it's only about 1/4 of an inch wide and when it starts leaking it allows engine coolant to leak into the lifter gallery and into the oil. Need to replace intake gasket as long as you no it did not freeze and crack the engine block.
If you are sure that it did not freeze and crack the block, Then the intake manifold gasket is leaking. That is a common problem with the vortec Chevy engines. You need to replace the gasket with a factory Chevy gasket from the dealer.
There is a heater hose that goes to the left rear top side of the intake manifold and that fitting leaks engine coolant sometimes and it will run down the back of the intake around the distributor. If that fitting is not leaking then the intake manifold gasket is leaking coolant in the corners of it. REplace the intake gasket. That's all that can leak coolant on that year engine. If coolant is leaking out between the transmission and engine block then you have a freeze plug leaking in the back of the engine, between the transmission and block. Must remove the transmission and flywheel to fix it.
sounds like you have a blown head gasket
head gasket is leaking into oil
If coolant isn't leaking externally then it has to be leaking internally. A leaking head gasket or cracked head may be the problem. If this is the case, as it gets worse more coolant will enter the combustion chamber or engine oil. Either way you will be able to determine as it gets worse. There will be white smoke from the exhaust. May be intermittent. This is if coolant is leaking into combustion chamber. If leaking into oil, you will notice that the engine oil will have a brown/milky look to it as you check the oil level on the engine oil dipstick.