170,000 miles. Engine starting to make a noise. Am told it is the Variable valve

It a hydraulically operated cam gear that advances or retards timing based on various inputs from other sensors.It's to maximize both power,fuel economy and emissions.(most people just like it for the boost in performance , hey!. why not? When not operating properly it can make a very harsh rattle on start-up 1-2 seconds in some cases.May also cause the check engine light to come on if the duration of the faulty cam timing readings last long enough for the PCM to detect.