1. when people say "rods" what part of the engine is that? as in "crank, rods and pistons". is it the part that connects the pistions to the crank?


2. how does coolant cool the engine? where exactly is it pumped? do the fans do anything other than just blow air at the engine?

 

http://www.howstuffworks.com/

all of your how does this work needs. and the rods connect the piston head to the crank shaft.

 

coolant is pushed from the radiator around the cylindars and head, cooling them slightly, then back to the radiator to cool the coolant down to do it agian

 

coolent is pumped into the engine block which has small hole in it (when the head gasket blows u burn cooolent or oil) then the hot coolent goes in the raditor and cools off....it the same thiing ovre and over to cool the enginjne

 

You got #1 right. rods connect pistons to the crank. Pistons are a lot smaller then you may think. (At least I thought when I was learning)

 

unless the pistons are from a BIG block chevy