ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Coolant

Coolant is a special liquid that helps keep your car's engine from overheating. Think about when you're playing outside on a hot day and you start to feel really hot and sweaty. Your body needs water to cool down, right? Well, your car's engine needs coolant to cool down too.

The coolant is usually a mixture of water and a special liquid called antifreeze. Just like how you need to drink water to keep your body from getting too hot, your car's engine needs coolant to keep from overheating. Coolant flows through your car's engine and helps absorb the heat that the engine creates when it's running. This keeps the engine from getting too hot and causing damage.

Coolant is stored in a special tank under the hood called the coolant reservoir. If the engine gets too hot or if there's a leak in the system, you might see steam or smoke coming from under the hood. This is a sign that your car needs more coolant or that there might be a problem that needs to be fixed.

It's important to make sure your car always has enough coolant in it. If your car runs out of coolant, the engine could overheat and cause serious damage. So, make sure to check the coolant level regularly and add more if needed. And remember, just like how you need water to cool down on a hot day, your car's engine needs coolant to stay cool too!