While I appreciate your attempt to rationalize this issue, that is not quite reality.
When the engine is started, the phasers (when functioning properly) are in a locked position. Without oil pressure reaching them, they will remain in that state. Once oil pressure has built up and the solenoid allows oil to flow the the phaser, the timing can be controlled.
If the phaser has failed and does not enter the locked position, camshaft timing is dependent on the phaser spring mechanism. When oil pressure reaches the phaser via the solenoid, the phaser rattles as the oil pressure begins to control the position.
The oil pumps on these engines are more than sufficient. In fact, the pump is variable. If you monitor your oil pressure in your gauge view, you'll notice that it changes with load; it is not proportional to engine RPM like a traditional oil pump. This allows oil pressure to be increased with engine load, and reduced at idle and deceleration. That increases oil pump life, reduces oil shear/wear, and increases engine efficiency.
The timing chain tensioners are spring loaded. That is how the engine doesn't jump time on initial start. The oil pressure is only there to act as a damper and provide additional force on the tensioner under load. If the timing chain rattles during a cold start (Nissan VQ, I'm looking at you) the chain is stretched, the guide is broken, or the tensioner has failed.
Please know that when you make assumptions, people will sometimes read them as fact. We don't need to create false perceptions here.
Thanks for chiming in, its great to have a pro in the forum. Everything you said makes sense, just have one particular question. The oil pressure gauge never seems to move, the PID for oil pressure doesn’t generate a variable. Are you sure the oil pressure gauge shows a difference between loads and doesn’t reflect a simple yes or no value?
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