QUOTE (jarris @ Jun 9 2009, 08:51 AM)

NO, it is not ok to use a higher weight oil. ONLY use what is recommended for your size engine. the mechanic wants your car back in his shop ASAP. Heavier oil can disrupt engine balancing and cause low idling issues to occur. Heavy oil and low octane fuels decrease the amount of amps your altenator produces.needless to say, one problems causes another.
Everyone has opinons but not everyone has facts.
Using 10 40 will not effect the car , if anything it will improve the cylinder compression on start up as the car has aged and is not the same specs for tolerance it once was.
a 10 weight oil is only that at cold start until it gets heated to be a 40 weight so how this could cause an issue is beyond me.
I use motul 10 40 and it is the best oil i have ever used hands down.
Low idle issues or alternator output ????? That really is a joke.
If your car is not idling properly you have a bigger problem than oil.
Alternator amperage output is directly associated to rpm so unless the car is not idling proerply it has no bearing on oil weights.
A one step up on cold being slightly thicker is NEVER going to cause a problem . It stays at that viscosity for a few moments before it heats up and gets thicker by virtue of it being oil.
Already using a sythnetic base oil is going to improve the start up efficency more than using a conventional base stock oil . So you are already ahead of the game.