Driving with a vvt rattle- does it hurt the engine when NOT rattling?

As stated elsewhere, my tundra has a bad timing chain tensioner. Driver's side of course. I am sure of this diagnosis, based on multiple lines of evidence. It only rattles when cold, but it's a horrifying metallic clacking noise untill the truck warms up. After that, the normal 3UR sounds and nothing else

If I let it warm up completely and wait for the noise to go away before driving, am I still at risk of totalling my engine?

 

It would be very difficult for the chain to come off even if the tensioner was all the way loose/retracted. It could, however, jump a tooth on the crank gear. But, it’s a ratcheting AND pressure activated tensioner. So, it’s very unlikely the chain is going to be loose enough to skip a tooth. If it’s going to get damaged from being a tad loose it will be during start up - not after the noise subsided.

 

If it's ratcheting, how does the chain get loose enough to have a VVT rattle?

 

Well, it ratchets like it a certain amount, and then oil pressure kicks it outs a little more (but not enough to hit the next ratchet groove).

 

Hey! I have a vvt drivers side rattle too, could seafoam and 0w oil fix it?

 

Just wanted to add that it does it when completely warmed up, not when cold.