4.0L Timing Chain tensioner, P0022, OCV, VVT Solenoid

I went ahead and replaced the Bank 2/Left/Drivers side Oil Control Valve (OCV)/VVT Solenoid yesterday. Pics are what a 526,000 mile OCV looks like. I was determined to NOT snap off the head of the valve from the stem that goes inside the head as I've read others have done, and I didn't. Soaked it for a few hours with penetrating oil and just started turning it back and forth slowly with a pair of pliers until it started to turn, at that point I was confidant it would come out in one piece, which it did, putting up resistance the whole time though.
As previously mentioned I has already replaced the OCV/VVT solenoid screens about 45,000 (2 years) ago but I checked the drivers side anyway, you can see from the image it was only slightly discolored. I had a new one on hand so I replaced it anyway.
No codes have reappeared but P0022 was only appearing intermittently so time will only tell if intermittent means many years from now or not.

 

Nice notes & pics, thanks for sharing

 

Nice! Those be lookin pretty crusty. Did you try bench testing them with 12V? I'm not convinced your chain is stretched otherwise.

When I had my P0012 it would be after my truck had sat undriven for an extended period. If it drove it regularly it wouldn't trigger. When the valve was sticking you could literally feel it unstick during acceleration.

 

I have not tried putting 12v to it. Someday I might. I figure it was working/moving the majority of the time.

 

Put 12v to the old sensor, yes, it moves, figured it would