[hharney]

My opinion is based on limited single engine work, just enough to know how the aircraft will handle. I have shut down an engine several times but this was for practice and can't say what the loads were exactly but here's a good attempt at remembering.

Out in the mountain states years ago with 2JF dad and I practiced the SE stuff several times. I can remember being at around 10K MSL but don't remember the temperature. I would guess that it was at least standard or maybe less. For load the mains were full, not sure on the aux's but it's a good chance that they were full too. Myself at 200 lbs and dad at 265 lbs. We maintained 10K for some time but it was a little sluggish. The rear was better than the front. I lost a cylinder over Lake Michigan several years ago and pulled the front back to minimal and flew it for about an hour with no problems. I would say that I was at 6500 ft. I did not know what had happened to the engine while in flight but I watched my vitals and limped into the airport. Cylinder separated from the base.

At 5,000 ft and 2/3 load I would estimate that you could maintain altitude. You didn't mention that your experienced source had actual factual info on this or if it was just an opinion based on POH.