No, again, I am quite confident it is not. I know what you are speaking of and I had a very similar issue with my STi 2 years ago. Timing tensioner was overtightened from the factory and causing a clacking under load. The racket from my VX is quite different and I am able to access the sound better with a stethoscope over the driver's side valve cover. I would love to drop the oil pan and inspect there but again, I have to much crap going on with my house renovations, I forget I even have the VX.