Maxxforce diesel engines

[Hay Dude]

Have an opportunity to buy a truck with a Maxxforce 9.3L diesel. It’s the “emissions” version of my HT-570 in my 2007 International dump truck. It has a problematic DPF and an even worse cooled EGR.
I have heard many nightmares. This engine line/family basically put IH out of the OTR truck engine business for good.

We all know how the rumors fly, but I also still see many running. Solutions to their problems have become available. I know an aftermarket HD EGR cooler is available for their problematic EGR.

If the price was right, would you take a chance? New replacement engines are $30K now, and I’d rather not do that, but like I said, if the price was right, would you take a chance?

 

[dodge man]

I’d guess you’d know more about it than the rest of us. Would you buy a Ford with a 6.0 diesel? The problems and solutions are well known with those.

 

[Hay Dude]

Really I do t know all that much. I do know there's a few guys here with trucking & diesel engine experience I'd like to get opinions from

 

[mrmikey]

Do not under any circumstances purchase that boat anchor on wheels (IMHO). Keep in mind I'm not a mechanic just a lowly weldor so take my opinions correspondingly LOL.
We had bought a dozen or so and they were scrapped after 3-4 years at a great loss where our usual lifespan was 10-12 years. The advice from International after a year or constantly chasing repairs " We advise you to sell your current chassis before they start costing you more money" real helpful.....not.
Problems started showing up on some of them less than two months after purchase mostly (if I remember correctly) egr systems internally leaking. The problems were bad enough but there were no parts available for repair. Mind you that was a fairly new engine so I guess that explains the parts availability.
Oil consumption was terrible, dealer knowledge was mostly non existent. Reason I knew of all the breakdowns was a friend of mine was operating a unique unit mounted on a chassis so when it was down it really screwed up a lot of people. In the end the machine was removed from the chassis and put on a new different brand, Mack I believe it was.
We even looked into repowering the chassis with I think it was Cummins who had a retrofit engine available but it was designed for school busses.
When the 'running' chassis were sold at auction they didn't bring much more than scrap.

 

[mrmikey]

HD, you decide if it's worth taking a chance?

 

[Hay Dude]

HD, you decide if it's worth taking a chance?

I’m thinking about looking at it tomorrow but it’s a 4-5 hour drive and I’m real busy.
He’s practically throwing it at me. No check engine lights. Inspected. Engine slightly “modified” to make it a bit more reliable……

Very affordable, but there’s a reason..

 

[mrmikey]

Very affordable, but there’s a reason..

That's the scary part.
Anyway you can get the vin and have a record of the warranty work done?

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

Egr cooler failure = hydro lock

Big risk.

 

[Hay Dude]

Egr cooler failure = hydro lock

Big risk.

I would immediately install aftermarket EGR system.
Probably $5,000.
Even after that I'm still way ahead on cost.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Is there anything wrong with the current truck? This seems like a pain in the arse.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I would immediately install aftermarket EGR system.
Probably $5,000.
Even after that I'm still way ahead on cost.

Eee that's lot.

Especially for an international.

Had a family member whos trucking company was almost out of business due to buying a fleet of maxxforce powered trucks. Soon as they could go back to Cummins stuff they did.

 

[4570Man]

I just bought a 2019 Volvo truck with an automatic and D13. I’m getting the impression that the new truck is way too expensive to work on. The new truck has way too many sensors for my liking and the emissions isn’t a plus either. At least the D13 is proven good. A maxforce would be a pretty hard no from me unless the bed was worth the cost. If it didn’t have a bed that would be another hard no because semis with better options aren’t hard to come by.

 

[mrmikey]

Had a family member whos trucking company was almost out of business due to buying a fleet of maxxforce powered trucks.

There was a few small businesses that went out because of them around here. Bad enough they were breaking down at a regular rate but the wait for parts is what eventually killed them. A small business doesn't have a backup to fall back on.
Internationals attitude is what did me in on them. Any company can have a bad batch of anything, it's how you treat customers during the recall/repair is what determines the worth of a company, in this case 0.

I’m getting the impression that the new truck is way too expensive to work on. The new truck has way too many sensors for my liking and the emissions isn’t a plus either

Unfortunately I don't know what you're going to purchase now that isn't loaded with electronics and sensors. It never ceases to annoy me why they put electronics in places they don't need to be, least in my mind.
Even something simple as my electric windows in my truck, what's wrong with power to switch to motor now you have to throw the BCM in the mix, turn signals, no flasher now its thru the BCM. Blower motor thru the BCM. Wipers BCM. My truck when the wipers are on, 'lighty' apply the brake pads to keep the rotors dry, really, why? etc.
Apologies for rant.

 

[Rustyiron]

Our town IH trucks of that vintage were constantly on the hook going back for "repairs".
One of those times it happened to me (I'd help out with guys on vacation), operated fine all morning and with no symptoms, reasons, lights, buzzers ir warnings..... another $500 towing job to the guys with the computers.
I'd sacrifice a newer model for a simple mechanical (the way God intended) diesel with its comparatively simple old age problems.

 

[Hay Dude]

I cancelled my appointment to look at the IH Maxforce truck. I’m really torn about this.
DIRT cheap, but yes. Has everything I want-yes. But it’s dirt cheap for a reason. I get it.
Looked at a Freightliner single axle with 37,000LB GVWR, but it’s not enougha truck for what I want to do.

I am re-thinking this, but long overdue.

 

[4570Man]

How cheap is this truck? A tandem axle I assume?

 

[Hay Dude]

Tandem
6x6
Auto with PTO
Maxforce 9 @ 315/1150
Exhaust brake
Locking differentials
Power divider lock
24' of frame
AC
Air brakes for trailer
80,000 miles
Under 5,000 hours
Alcoa wheels
Current inspection

Has everything I want but the engine isn't reliable and when it goes, BIG coin.

$30,000

 

[4570Man]

I’d transplant a mechanical injection Cummins way before I spent a $30,000 for a new maxforce.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’d transplant a mechanical injection Cummins way before I spent a $30,000 for a new maxforce.

Or better yet, hopefully do neither.
“Transplanting a Cummins” would be nice, but with all the sensors, electronics, etc. It would be an absolute nightmare. I bet it would cost $40,000

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

Like a 8.3 or 14L?