Patent ID: 8220427

Claim:
A method to control a spool valve of a VCT phaser disposed in an internal combustion engine during engine starting, wherein the spool valve comprises a spool with a plurality of lands housed within a valve sleeve having a plurality of passages including at least: a vent passage, a lock pin oil inlet passage, and a lock pin passage, the spool being acted upon axially by a spring disposed in the valve sleeve and a solenoid proximate the spool and an axial position of the spool determining which passages are in fluidic communication due to the position of the lands, the method comprising: commanding the solenoid to move the spool to a starting position in which: the vent passage is fluidly coupled to the lock pin oil inlet passage and fluid communication between the lock pin oil inlet passage and the lock pin passage is substantially prevented; and maintaining the spool in the starting position for a period of time sufficient for oil pressure to increase to a level sufficient to control the VCT phaser.