# Multiple Radiator Issues Over Past Several Years **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 30, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624 "2020-06-30T19:22:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![riverofwind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@riverofwind](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverofwind)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/1 "2020-06-30T19:22:12Z")
I’ve been having multiple radiator issues over the past several years and two different cars. I have a quick question - applying significant force to tighten the radiator overflow reservoir cap isn’t going to crack the reservoir or damage anything is it? Is it possible to use too much force? I have been making sure it’s just _very_ tight not godzilla tight… ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/2 "2020-06-30T19:25:24Z")
Turn the cap until it stops turning. That’s it! Tester ---
**Author:** ![riverofwind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@riverofwind](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverofwind)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/3 "2020-06-30T19:48:13Z")
Thanks Tester. Any danger of cracking the reservoir from too much force? Also just gently tightening is enough? ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/4 "2020-06-30T20:35:00Z")
As @Tester says gently tightening is enough. The cap will stop moving, then you stop. It does not need to be torqued down. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/5 "2020-06-30T20:45:41Z")
Radiator problems or coolant reservoir problems ? ![Capture](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/9/a/9a051586b0a915788052b2661f6e60f0dede4919.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/6 "2020-06-30T20:49:25Z")
> [@riverofwind](#): > > I’ve been having multiple radiator issues over the past several years and two different cars. Just what are these problems ? What have you done to solve them ? ---
**Author:** ![riverofwind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@riverofwind](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverofwind)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/7 "2020-06-30T21:10:04Z")
I believe the old car had a overflow reservoir replacement as well as several other coolant part malfunctions like 2-3 of them. The new one had a leaking thermostat wand water pump then a cracked overflow reservoir. All issues dealt with by the local mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/8 "2020-06-30T22:38:14Z")
> [@riverofwind](#): > > The new one had a leaking thermostat wand water pump then a cracked overflow reservoir. Coolant reservoir OR coolant overflow ? If the pressure cap is on the radiator = coolant overflow If the pressure cap is on the reservoir = coolant reservoir ---
**Author:** ![riverofwind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@riverofwind](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverofwind)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/9 "2020-07-01T03:47:03Z")
Pretty sure it was the overflow. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/10 "2020-07-01T04:29:16Z")
Whether the reservoir is pressurized or not, it is still a reservoir. “Over flow” containers are something from the 1970’s. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/11 "2020-07-01T06:06:23Z")
What is a thermostat wand? ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 6:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/12 "2020-07-01T06:47:16Z")
> [@riverofwind](#): > > thermostat wand water pump > [@oldtimer-11](#): > > What is a thermostat wand? I think it’s supposed to be thermostat AND water pump ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/13 "2020-07-01T12:12:54Z")
I think there needs to be some clarity on this issue. You refer to radiator issues then mention water pump, thermostat, coolant bottle, along with old car. They are not all one and the same and age takes a toll on the entire system. Maybe the reason for the force needed to tighten the radiator cap is due to the rubber seal on the cap becoming fossilized. It should not take much to rotate the cap until it’s at the stops. ---
**Author:** ![riverofwind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@riverofwind](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverofwind)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/14 "2020-07-01T19:09:36Z")
Thanks guys. I meant thermostat _and_ water pump. Also the cap didn’t need force, that’s just my style. From now on will be more gentle. I was just wandering if excessive force when tightening the cap could cause some of the problems mentioned or any problem in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/multiple-radiator-issues-over-past-several-years/166624/15 "2020-07-01T19:18:03Z")
If you don’t do something, like apply excessive force, there’s no need to worry about the negative effects it may or may not have. Tester