Plz Help Me Identify What My Finger Touched!!!

[110k miles]...

Below is an excerpt from another thread that I was the original poster. The excerpt was off topic and figure I should make a new post. I am quite concern about what happened.

During a replacement project of the timing belt, water pump, oil seals and eventually valve cover gaskets, I observed some rust buildup inside the canals of the engine side where the water pump is mounted.

...excerpt
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-block-am-i-freaked-up.474536/#post-14368159

Anyways, I managed to do some sanding of the WP block [what is the name of this area of the block?]. Decent but not ideal result [see pic]. BUT...BUT...BUT I may have goofed up something. How genius...I used a big straw from bubble tea drinks to extend the hand vacuum hose to collect all the sanding particulates. It worked great. BUT...BUT...BUT... I inserted the straw up a narrow canal several times and suddenly saw a small flow of clear oil running down. The flow stopped shortly afterwards. I inserted my finger up there to see what the #$%$% was up. My finger goes along the canal, then something rubbery/plastic(?). Then, I slowly moved upward feeling as if that rubbery material had pivoted upwards. Afterwards, I felt my finger going through a narrow vertical cylinder [metal?], then something soft [like plastic/rubber?] again. I removed my finger and there was no oil. Maybe residual. I tried going through the same path again, but the 2nd time, I don't feel the initial rubber material until after the vertical cylinder area.

Then, I tried vacuuming again. But this time, I consciously didn't insert the straw extension too far up the path and a small amount of oil started to flow again. I put a napkin under the flow and will see later if it will accumulate oil. It seems as if the vacuuming sucks oil from the head area? I'll have to clean up that cavity area with acetone later.

What did I just do?
What is the pad circled and the area under that in the picture?
Did I puncture something I shouldn't have?
Did I just dig a deeper grave? Bury me now!

 

Dunno off hand. Hopefully not too much internally that you can ruin with a straw. Just trying to keep this thread towards the top for ya.

 

One of the best thread titles I've read in awhile.

Sorry I don't have any real advice.

 

It must have been a cooling passage into the head. What you felt was an overhanging piece of gasket material that was too large for the opening. I think you enlarged the gasket material. No damage,since it's all bolted together tight.
Just flush out the head through the thermostat opening. You may get some gasket material flushed out. I don't know what the oil substance was.

 

There is a metal tube in there that transfers coolant to the back of the motor. It is sealed w gasket maker that's what you felt.
Nothing to screw up really. What came out was water/coolant. May have felt oily because of the coolant.

 

+1 You shouldn't be able to "hurt" anything up there with a finger or a straw.

 

I was thinking something else when I read it...

 

Looks like this in there.

 

I think I feel alot better now with everyone's assurance. It's probably not important, but I still can't quite picture the gasket in relation to the passage into the head.

excuse my noobness, but do I put up a water hose through the passage opening where my straw was pointing? And the water will flow out of the thermostat opening?

Thanks for the pic and explanation . So did my finger go through a passage way leading to a metal tube like the one in your pic that runs lengthwise?

I can now proceed with the project. Good that the rain stopped.

 

Don't worry about noobness.

I would try putting a garden hose where the upper radiator hose usually enters the engine. I think you have it blocked off with painter's tape on the first photo.

Hopefully that would flush out any gasket material you loosened up.

 

See in the picture inside the valley when the 2 nuts hold the flange on the end of the tube down.
That is sealed with gasket maker aka silicone so it spooges out when u bolt it together.

 

I see the flange area. So, I probably touch some overhanging gasket around the mating area. I took another look today and none of the coolant flowed since yesterday only when I tried to recreate the flow again today with a vacuum. Yes, indeed, it is not oil. Sorry for the false alarm everyone. I'll probably try to hose it this weekend and see if anything comes out.

Thanks everyone for your help. You are awesome. I was very relieved.