P0021 & P0524 Codes at the same time?

[anewstartinchrist]

I just got two codes driving today. It just so happened I took my code reader with me to also test for misfires. I hadn't driven it in a couple of days and decided to try and diagnose the vibration with a spirometer. I had no trouble codes before I left home because I checked and I let the car warm up before I left. After trying to accelerate harder out of a turn my car seemed to jerk under harder acceleration out of nowhere. It felt like it didn't want to shift into 2nd under harder acceleration & power loss. I stopped on an entrance ramp after getting off the highway to turn around to go back home. No CEL, just these codes:

P0021: INT/V TIM CONT-B2 (One Time)
P0524: Engine Oil Pressure (One Time)

I feathered the throttle home & realized I really should have stopped driving it after digging into the oil pressure code. But the transmission seemed to shift fine under light throttle. I already changed both camshaft sensors. The P0021 code tells me that it is bank 2 that has the issue. I tried changing the bank 2 VVT solenoid, but when backing it out, it hits the hose that connects to the thermostat housing. I'm hoping I don't have to drain the coolant or even remove the thermostat housing to pull the solenoid all the way out. Will I have to? My current oil is Valvoline Restore & Protect 5W-30. I have maybe 1900 miles on it and changed the filter about 100 miles ago. I had Amsoil High Mileage 5W-30 in it before, and planned on changing it to Amsoil Signature Series 5W-30. Oil level seemed fine too.

After changing the camshaft sensors and reinstalling the old B2 VVT solenoid, I cleared the codes and parked it where I can get to it tomorrow. Could it be the dreaded gallery gaskets???

Found this video to test for oil pressure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Io6ryxWFtQ
I'm going to have to do this ASAP.

Codes from my TOPDON SCANNER:

[AZhitman]

More likely than not, it's the gallery gasket (front cover gasket at the same time).

I don't know that all that oil switching is worth the $. Clean oil is the best oil, and you're going to need that $ for maintenance.

Coolant drain isn't that big a deal, worth it to check that VVT solenoid.

[anewstartinchrist]

I appreciate it. So far I've done an engine flush and changed the oil with a new filter. I let the car warm up after the oil change and gave it some throttle a couple of times. The P0021 code came back but not the P0524. And that may be because I wasn't driving the car, accelerating and decelerating, etc. I'm not sure. The next step I will try is to let the car cool down and then drain the coolant to take the thermostat off so that I can get the bank 2 VVT solenoid out to change it. I'll do the bank 1 too. Once I get everything back together, I'll test drive the car and keep my scan tool with me.
I wasn't able to test the oil pressure due to the oil pressure switch being a lot less accessible than the VQ's that have it on the front of the engine above the bottom oil pan. Mine is on the top side of the oil filter housing(bracket) at an angle and I don't want to risk breaking it off. I found a shop called NISformance in Mebane, NC that I've started communicating with. I reached out to SOHO Motorsports in Monroe, NC via email but haven't heard anything back.

[anewstartinchrist]

I replaced both VVT solenoids and the camshaft sensors. I didn't have to drain the coolant, thank God. I still have the OEM clamp, so I was able to move it out of the way to squeeze the solenoid right out. Even though part of the thermostat housing is still in the way, removing the clamp created just enough room to remove it... I let the car warm up and revved it a few times to try and duplicate the P0021 code just as before and it didn't come back. I performed "Clear Flood Mode" a couple of times to prime the solenoids(Dipping them in oil also helped get them back in place). If I have time tomorrow, I'll drive it to see if the oil pressure is an issue.