Your radiator is an integral, and arguably, the most important part of the cooling system. It is designed to expel heat from the coolant via the small fins. Most radiators fail when the end tanks crack causing leaks, but higher mileage radiators which have missing or bent fins often are clogged up with debris which can also cause overheating issues as the radiator cannot expel heat effectively. If your radiator is in rough shape we recommend replacing it. We also highly recommend inspecting/replacing the upper and lower radiator hose at that time.