re: Mechanic help needed - wife's car makes a weird noise that I can't pinpoint

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What year Accord? The variable valve timing system in most Honda engines is controlled by oil pressure. When the oil leaked out from the filter area, this system may have gotten screwed up. So when you're accelerating and the cams are opened more it's fine, but when you're cruising perhaps the system is malfunctioning. You may have a faulty VVT solenoid or VTC actuator which is causing the cams to stay partially open or shut depending on where they're stuck. Is the check engine light on?

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