Coils would have done nothing. Mechanic said that a lifter(s) was collapsed and lock up.
I wont be going more than 3,000 miles per oil change for the rest of the time I own this truck. I may even try some high detergent oil for the next few changes to help clean it up a bit.

What is Star-tron?

 

BTW, dealer is giving a 12/12,000 mile warranty on the work. Is this pretty standard?

 

Sounds like extended change intervals with conventional oil this is compounded if you tend to take shorter trips and don't allow the oil to run at a sustained temp to burn off moisture. Sludge is the result and this isn't helped by the fact that the EGR and PCV both dump crud back into the system (thanks EPA!).

I agree that you should not go more than 3000 miles if using conventional oil and despite claims of being ok for VERY prolonged use, I won't go more than 6000 with a 100% full synthetic.

Yes, 12/12,000 is normal...

 

I agree. I did my changes at 5,000 miles. I do have a very short commute to work but I also take about 5,000 miles worth of road trips a year for racing. Also not sure what the previous owner did before me as well. I am dissapointed in myself, not sure what I was thinking with trusting the OEM manual. I am trying to take the positives from this, the heads and MDS system were taken off dissasembled, cleaned, suspect parts replaced and rebuilt. Service manager said the mechanic will drop the pan and clean it out for me as well.
When I get the truck back I'm going to replace the pcv as well.
Starting over with a clean motor, any recommendations on a good oil that will stand up better to shorter trips? Also maybe an oil with decent detergent content to help clean up the motor a bit more?

 

I used Mobil 1 for about 15 years but found that Valvoline SynPower cut what was a pretty noisy "Hemi Tick" down to where it's barely noticeable. Been using it in all my vehicles for about five years now.

When I rebuilt the 4.7 in my previous daily driver the inside was clean as a whistle with 6000 mile changes.

Here is what I had when I pulled the timing cover. I've seen the 4.7 so gunked up that you couldn't see the chains in some of them...

 

A fuel additive that basically neutralizes the ethanol in today's gasoline and cleans the fuel system...adds anywhere from 2-3 mpg on avg.
Its in the marine section @ Walmart $8 treats 128Gal, look for the blue bottle.

 

Couldn't have said that any better myself...

 

Do synthetics generally do a better job at cleaning up sludge? Any thoughts to doing a couple short oil changes after I get my truck back? Maybe a couple 2,000 mile oil changes with some marvel mystery oil added 100 miles before changing the oil.

 

I really hate having someone else work on my truck. I've been worrying everyday about how the truck will drive when I get it back. It never burned a drop of oil, never a puff of smoke on start up no matter how cold. I will likely find out tomorrow around 2 when the truck will be done.... hopefully by tomorrow night.

 

I can definitely empathize! Other than major warranty work or recalls I do all work myself to sleep easy at night.

Then again Ive never had to pull an engine either. Hope everything works out, Im rooting for ya.