That's good to know. Glad you are prepared and everything is shipshape.  We are keeping an eye on it up here in SC.  I am far enough away from the coast to where I will get some wind and rain and not much more.  If it does decide to head for my coast, I'll be sent to assist with any possible evacuations.  Stay safe. 

Sunny and 90 at the moment.  Really shouldn't be a big deal for us as we're on the West coast. It'll be ugly but not particularly dangerous here. No labor day picnics are planned and I'd avoid Disney World next week. Car is tucked in garage. Garage doors have been tested by Andrew, Charlie, Wilma, Jean etc.  Will top off the gas cans JIC we need the generator to keep the beer cold. Pay attention in GA and NC as the leftovers will likely hook up that way.
Kim 

KimB...

Given the nasty weather heading your way, make sure you stay safe down there. 

-G

I’ll have a branch water and distilled alcohol, pour yourself whatever you like Mandrake.

I did the same thing. My car was new to me. Had an issue with it overheating when I first bought it. Replaced thermostat. Everything seem to be fine except the coolant was very dirty looking (visualize water with potting soil mixed in).  Oil was clear. No suspect cylinders. Anyway, original radiator had no drain. Decided to replace the entire cooling system. Once everything was replaced and the right coolant mixture added, the temperature stays right at normal maybe just to hear above. I’ve had no problems since (knock on wood) and my new radiator has petcock (?) to assist in drainage for the next time. 

I wish i had a donut shop close to me to drive mine to. However, that doesn’t stop me from driving mine every where else.

Glad to know I wasn't missing the obvious. The search did reveal the labels inside the replacement fenders - Rhibo out of Italy- who knew?  
In the end I inserted a quick flush kit in the heater hose line and used the provided attachment and a hose piece I had in the top of the radiator and back flushed away.  Three pans full was the charm.   I closed it up and added some quick flush treatment. Then I drove a bit to get temperature up and everything  flowing.  Back at the house I flushed again three times- black, grey, almost clear.  Closed it up with just l'eau de tap (it is Florida in August). It did seem to help the temp. It now seems to hold at about 1/3 above N on its way to H.  It was running more like 2/3 before all this attention.

The original driver of this task was the coolant being black almost oily.  Head Gasket?  Oil is clear.  Runs fine.  Will pull plugs next week to see if there is a suspect cylinder.  Wondering about adding some stop leak/head gasket sealer (snake oil or salvation?) I'd hate to have to pull the head. 

Did take it out to buy donuts this morning.   They were good. That's why I bought the car
Kim

Back in the day, "rain water" was purer than tap water because it had been naturally distilled. Tap water can have dissolved minerals (especially well water) as well as treatment additives like chlorine and fluoride. Who knows what is in rain water these days. You can get distilled water from a drug store by the gallon if you are really concerned.

If the car is new to you might want to replace the hoses as long as you are draining the radiator. Back flushing the radiator might be a good idea at the time also.
Michael

If your Mk I doesn't have a couple of little bolts holding the shroud together (i.e. its one piece) then its something fitted by a PO.... probably along with a new radiator.

The solution is simple (ho ho ho  just undo the bottom hose ..... 

The good news is that you'll get a better flush.

Cheers, Ian

kim.. most of the aftermarket rads for classic minis do NOT have bobbycock drains..  just take off the bottom hose..  later bc

850 Mk1 - I am starting to feel like the village idiot.   Project for the weekend was to flush the radiator.  But I can't find the radiator drain?  My trusty BMC Workshop manual (original from the 60's) shows a standard little petcock on the bottom of the radiator as I would expect but my mini begs to differ-  there is nothing on the bottom- not even just a plug?  It either doesn't have one or it is hiding behind the fan shroud? Fan shroud is one piece and shows evidence of a tin snips taken to the upper front corner FWIW.  Radiator is of unknown origin but certainly appears vintage. Fan is plastic with lots of blades.  Before I pull the fan shroud what am I missing? 

BTW Manual says 'When possible, rain-water should be used for filling the system." 

Kim