Maybe not appropriate for the list, but since dish soap vs. shampoo has been mentioned:  a few years ago Consumer Reports tested shampoos from cheapest to most expensive, and compared them to dish soap for hair washing.  No comparison, dish soap won, hands down.  I use Joy.  mcneely

---- "fonman4277@comcast.net" <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET> wrote: 
> Yeah, actually Dawn works best. Found out the hard way years ago when trans fluid dripped on my head (and I still had hair) shampoo would not wash it out. Dawn did.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

----- Reply message -----
From: "Jason" <uberhare@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, Apr 4, 2012 15:34
Subject: Trans fluid in coolant system
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>

Dish soap?

Jason

On Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 2:43 PM, HotelWestfalia <zolo@foxinternet.net> wrote:
> Hi to all,
>
> This is a first to me.  The transmission cooler has failed, thus releasing a lot of oil into the cooling system.  Now I'm not sure how to rinse the whole system to get rid of the oil.  If detergent to be used, what kind and how much to a gallon of water.
>
> Also I was real surprised how expensive a new cooler cost, between 530 and 300 dollars.  I would think an external radiator type cooler would be cheaper and better for the purpose, as is used on other cars.
>
> Zoltan

--
David McNeely