During a 40k check-up at the land rover dealer they told me there is coolant leaking (they did not specify where) and that it would cost US$1700 to repair. They said I cannot use any of the stop lead products because the radiator is plastic/aluminum. Is this true?

 

First step. They need to tell you where it is leaking. Go back, get on the phone, get the report from the tech, talk to the tech.

Skip the service advisor at that point.

 

I get pricing ideas from here: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...,radiator,2172

 

have you isolated where coolant is pooling, i.e., below water pump, radiator, more to the passenger side? I have 215K miles on mine and had a leak as well. Well, my thermostat went bad and so while replacing it, on the good advice of another forum member, paul_g, i also replaced the hoses. Turns out, the small hose going to the heat exchanger (next to the thermostat) had finally succumbed to age and cracked where it connects to the engine and was the cause of my leak. Again, paul_g to the rescue, advised to replace the o-ring which usually goes bad but in my case, it was the hose itself. To my surprise, my thermostat repair simultaneously repaired my coolant leak.

It's not an easy job, but it's not a hard one either.

m