I have 116,000 miles on my LS and as of late my radiator isnt looking so good. After a hard/long drive I pop my hood and see coolant along the top of the radiator and some times in tiny pools near the cap, small amounts of steam coming up from the bumper area, and the radiator hoses are not pressurized and make faint cracking noises when squeezed.

Do I need a new Radiator? thanks

 

Hi, it sounds like its seen better days. Replace the hoses asap, that wont cost you much. Try a Rad sealer as a temporary fix, but get those hoses done!

 

My radiator just cracked along the top last week.
Fill up the radiator all the way, put the cap on and squeeze the hoses and see if/where fluid comes out. If you're lucky, it's just a cracked hose.

 

So for the first time last night the temperature started to rise at idle. When I started to move again it cooled down. When I got home the overflow box was empty and i could see coolant along the top of the radiator and there were also wet spots along the front. It can't be the hoses if the front of the radiator is leaking right>?

 

100 bux on ebay for one with lifetime warranty

 

that happened to my buick. radiator isnt taht hard to replace when you diy.

(edit) hmm i have an ls with 116k as well, i think ill go take a look at mine. lol