1998 Chevy Lumina smell o burning metal and leakage

1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA
15,402 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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DMOORE33
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Two weeks ago my car was in the repair shop to have the freeze out plugs of the cylinder heads replaced and the cylinders repaired at a cost of $950. Today there was a puddle under my car coming from the drivers side of the engine. When the car was run a short distance there was a smell of metal burning when the car was shut off. When I looked under the car there was slight dripping occuring on the drivers side of the engine on the ground. It stopped almost as soon as the car was shut off. What could this be?
May 2, 2009 at 7:50 PM
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ZACKMAN
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What kind of dripping? What color?
May 4, 2009 at 12:51 AM
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DMOORE33
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It's hard to say the color of the leakage it's been raining four five days here. What I can say is that the repair done before was because of corrosion to the engine which weakens the freeze out plugs. The plugs were replaced and the engine flushed with an additive put in for corrosion. I do understand that once corrosion starts it will always be. Flushing and adding an additive only remedies the problem for awhile. Back to the subject - leakage is minimal to the right side of the engine, car is driving okay and temperature is within normal range.
May 4, 2009 at 8:53 PM
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ZACKMAN
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  • ASE Certified Mechanic
I am guessing either the radiator hose or the bypass hose is leaking coolant slightly. If coolant drips onto the engine block, you will smell that burnt metal smell.
May 4, 2009 at 9:19 PM
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