Originally Posted by dogememe
5w30 too thick for the timing chain tensioner? Lol! Taxi drivers with Vics come into my store every day and buy oil... Some stick with 5w-20, some buy 20w-50, they drive their car every day and despite the fact that maybe I disagree with their choice to use thicker oil than 10w-30 (again, I prefer 5w30 for the 4.6) they put lots of miles on their cars, and as far as I can tell, the cars still run and drive.
I really hate to get in on this, and shouldn't really, but I will anyway.
I agree with the above. People get way too hung up on the suggestion stamped on the oil cap. Tune the oil to the conditions and driving style.
I use Valvoline Maxlife 5w30 Synthetic in the Marauder. It has twice the cams and longer chains. And it goes to the drag strip every once in a while. It still does and has always run perfect and quiet. These engines were spec'd for 5w30 originally. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING changed in the capacity of these engines "requiring" 5w-20 in the changeover period. 5w30 works in these engines, pure and simple.