P0021, P0022, P0023, P0024 VVT SOLVED

New to the forum,

Wanted to share some discoveries that I believe others may have found in the past, if nothing more than a confirmation on their claims.

2013 Crewmax Platinum Flex.

Changed my oil a few months ago. I’ve always used 0w20 Mobil1 and Mobil1 (or Wix) filters. This time when I bought the ‘sale bundle’ at Advance Auto, it included a K&N filter instead of a Mobil1. I thought, surely the K&N is just as good if not better.

I don’t drive this vehicle very often, but I noticed a new rattle not long after changing the oil. Checked oil level, no problem. It was getting a lot colder outside, so I figured it was just cold start noise. Then came the CEL. P0021, P0022, P0023, P0024. Not all at once, but they would come back in various pairs each time I cleared them. On the way down the driveway a couple of nights ago, the rattle got louder and the oil pressure dropped to nothing. Called the dealership to see if they could give me some insight on what could be wrong. Dealer says “oh it’s definitely the oil pump. We can send a tow truck to get it. We’ll need to replace the cam gears as well. They’re bad about the gears all wearing out at once.”
I’m thinking, nah, I’m going to drain the oil and see if there’s metal in it. Components aren’t going to wear without metal going somewhere.
Pulled the filter out and the mix of emotions somewhere between relief and absolute fury erupted in what was likely newly fabricated profanities to echo through the countryside.
Replaced the collapsed K&N filter with a Wix that I had on the shelf, and presto. Oil pressure is solid. No more rattles. No more CEL.

 

You'd be better off with no filter than that thing!

 

Glad you found the problem. Do you have the metal insert? You should have the perforated metal insert that slides in the filter.
Is that supposed to be removed for the K&N or something?

 

Looks like it was crushed and twisted on installation. K&N makes some good products, but that one looks like it was too long and crushed and twisted as the cover was installed. On that note I think I would stick with stock on that.

 

Curious if the Center perforated insert is in there as well. Not sure the filter would crush like that if it was.

Pic of center piece mentioned.

 

What I was thinking. If the OP has exchanged the plastic filter cap with the aluminum one, I bet he did not change the center support tube.

The OP is actually lucky. The last case of this I read about, the filter media came apart when the filter collapsed.

 

Hopefully @Brashnak will check in... afraid he’s driving around without the insert.