Need help diagnosing vct timing issues

[Keepinitoldskool]

I agree I thought the same but from the way it behaves and reacts it appears to be an oil pressure issue on the left bank. I would swap left and right oil solenoids, but on this motor that requires pulling both valve covers and I'd rather just change the oil first at this point.

 

[07navi]

I am leaning more toward the driver VCT solenoid now. No power above 3500 rpm is a symptom of a bad vct. Maybe better to just put a new VCT in there even though you cleaned it. They redesigned them anyway and you never said what year it was. I am betting thicker oil will do nothing. Running perfectly 30+- minutes until you come to a stop is also a symptom.

 

[Keepinitoldskool]

Power loss above 3500 was fixed by gutting the LH catalytic.
Both phasers and solenoids are new oem Ford parts. I only took out that solenoid to see if the screen got clogged with sludge or debris, which it had not, so I sprayed it with some brakeclean and put it back in