Are the Maxxforce engines really this gutless?

My father bought an almost new 2012 International Workstar dump truck with 8,000 miles on it with the Maxxforce engine with Eaton 8LL- not sure if it's the DT or 9 model engine. He's had this truck for about a year and a half now and has always complained about the lack of power and terrible fuel economy. He even took it back to the dealer and after having it for 2 weeks they said they did some tweaking and gave it back with no change. I don't think its ever gotten better than 6 mpg- even empty!! I normally drive a '95 Freightliner Classic with 435 N-14 redtop cummins and I've recently had to drive his truck and I cannot believe how gutless this truck is!! I know it's a smaller engine than what I'm used to but this is just ridiculous!! This thing can barely pull itself empty let alone with a load! (weighs 26,500 empty) It has the twin turbo setup and seems like you NEVER hear or feel them kick in. Along with the engine issue, the a/c only comes out of the defrost now, and the "low fuel" buzzer comes on just because it wants to sometimes. The truck now has 18,000 miles and only getting worse.
We had issues with a previous '01 IH truck and after this one, I HATE International and am convinced they are total junk! My father is convinced its worth taking the hit and trading in this headache!
My questions are: are the Maxxforce engines this bad or could there really be something wrong? Is there any reason the turbos wouldn't be able to spool up? Why the terrible fuel economy?? Thanks!

 

turbos are most likely coked up with oil causing it not to spool

 

The engine is likely under spec'd for the application. Workstars minimum GVW are 27,500. So if you have the lower hp DT the engine is too small. DT is smallest, 466 CI, up to 300 hp, 9 is a 570CI, up to 330 hp and the 10 is basically a high torque 570 CI, up to 350 hp. Do you know that model you have specifically, and what this unit totally loaded weighs? Comparing a DT engine to a N-14 is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

Yep maxxforce engines are junk I drove a rental one while my isx cummins was getting the egr cooler replaced truck had no power what so ever

 

Most tandem dump trucks are able to gross from 52k to 56k, depending upon wheelbase.

 

Compare the prices of used IH's with the Maxxforce engines in them to the IH's that have Cummins or Detroit's in them, that should tell you all you need to know about the Maxxforce engines. I used to run LTL and my company bought 10 IH's with that engine in them. 6-8 months later the company got rid of all of them and replaced them with Mack Pinnacles. Now, the Mack was definitely NOT trouble free, but it was FAR more reliable and had loads more power than the IH ever hoped to have.

 

I double checked this morning and its actually 2011 truck and its got the Maxxforce 11 in it! -370 hp and 1350 tq. I never would have guessed it was over 300 hp!
It's normally around 55,000 loaded

 

Ok, yep, something is wrong for sure. These engines are really easy to corrupt the ECM calibration by programming other devices, or the engine itself. When the ECM is corrupt it will be a dog. The boost control solenoids are known for sticking and making the wastegate bypass all boost out the exhaust.

 

I know they were all up in the computer when the dealer had but don't know if they looked at anything turbo related. I would have to guess they updated the software but who knows. The problem is now the warranty has run out and my we'd have to pay this time. I would love to be able to put a boost gauge on it and see what the turbos put out- if any.

 

Nothing stopping you putting a manual boost gauge in if you can find somewhere to plumb it in.

Are you sure there is not a digital boost gauge on the screen that you can prompt?