The radiator on my recently purchased 1992 DL wagon seems to be working fine but from the posts I've read on this site about the plastic inlets cracking causes me to be concerned. I'm not sure if the radiator was ever changed and the car is 11 years old. Is there a way to tell if the radiator (visually or other) is worn or should I just replace it in your opinion?

where the plastic sides tanks mount to the core itself. Remove the fan shroud and it will expose the radiator. Look for coolant stains along the seam and the bottom of the tank. Mine always went out around a 110k, though that is not a gurantee.

Change the radiator, all hoses, heater water valve. You are close to failure.

like mcduck said, you are definately in the window, the plastic tank radiator in my '93 just started to weep before this winter. I changed it right away with a rad-tech all metal version to avoid any problems. If the service history is unknown, it wouldnt be a bad idea to replace the thermostat, upper and lower hoses, and heater hoses too.

Matt

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'82 DL - 153k, '93 945 - 101k

I can't think of a good way to tell when your radiator is about to blow, except in hindsight, which may not be useful.
You're "in the window" for failure, which can be expensive and in convenient; I'd change it.