MAZ-5516
Specs, engines and history
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By Oleksandr Hnatiuk, Automotive Editor & Used Car Specialist Reviewed by Felix Hartmann
Who the MAZ-5516 suits: verdict
Our verdict · Oleksandr Hnatiuk
For a construction or quarry business, the MAZ-5516 is a simple, robust tipper whose systems are easy to repair without special equipment. Running costs and parts prices are lower than for European trucks, and parts are widely available in the regions where MAZ trucks work. The trade-offs are comfort and refinement: even the later cabs are basic by European standards, and early trucks are noisy and stiffly sprung.
When choosing a used truck, look for a later version with the improved cab and reinforced suspension. Check the frame and spring hangers for cracks caused by overloading, the tipping hydraulics, and the gearbox synchronisers. Other Minsk trucks, from the 4x2 MAZ-5551 tipper to tractor units, are in the MAZ catalogue, and the plant's story is told in the history of MAZ.
The MAZ-5516 is a three-axle 6x4 dump truck made by the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) since 1994. It carries about 20 tonnes in a rear-tipping body of roughly 10.5 m³, and over the years it has been offered with YaMZ V8 diesels from 176 kW (240 PS) up to 294 kW (400 PS) units from YaMZ and Deutz, with day or sleeper cabs.
In short
- Built by MAZ from 1994 as a heavy construction tipper, replacing earlier 6x4 tippers based on the MAZ-6303 chassis.
- Engines: YaMZ-238 (176 kW (240 PS)), YaMZ-238D (243 kW (330 PS)), YaMZ-6581.10 and Deutz (294 kW (400 PS)).
- Payload 20 t, body volume 10.5 m³, kerb weight 13,500 kg, length 7,770 mm, top speed 88 km/h.
- Two cab lengths, eight- and nine-speed gearboxes from YaMZ and ZF, and an optional heated body for winter work.
MAZ-5516 at a glance
MAZ, the main truck maker of Belarus, has built heavy cab-over trucks since the MAZ-500 of the 1960s. The MAZ-5516 is the plant's three-axle tipper for bulk construction materials, which the old 1cars text describes as one of the most popular MAZ dump trucks. The same source calls it a replacement for the tipper version of the MAZ-6303 and notes that it kept that truck's square cab and practical layout.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), Belarus |
| Production start | 1994 |
| Type | Rear-tipping dump truck, cab-over |
| Wheel formula | 6x4 (two driven rear axles) |
| Payload | 20,000 kg |
| Body volume | 10.5 m³ |
| Engines | YaMZ-238 V8 family, YaMZ-6581.10, Deutz |
| Power range | 176–294 kW (240–400 PS) |
| Smaller sibling | MAZ-5551 (4x2, 10 t) |
Origins in the 1990s
The MAZ-5516 entered production in 1994, after a period of testing. It arrived at a time when building work and road construction created strong demand for large tippers in the region. Its intended jobs, as listed in the old 1cars text, were construction (sand, gravel, crushed stone, bricks and dry mixes), road building (asphalt), municipal work (soil and waste) and agriculture (fertiliser, compost and grain).
From 1997, MAZ also built trucks with the German manufacturer MAN in the joint venture MAZ-MAN, which gave the plant access to European components and engineering. The MAZ-5516 itself stayed a MAZ design, but its later versions gained European parts such as Deutz engines and ZF gearboxes.
Engines and power
The first trucks used the YaMZ-238, a naturally aspirated V8 diesel of 14.9 litres that MAZ had used in its heavier models since the 1960s. A later version of the same engine family is described on the YaMZ-238M2 engine page. Later versions moved to turbocharged engines with much more power.
| Engine | Type | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YaMZ-238 | 14.9 l V8 diesel | 176 kW (240 PS) | Original engine |
| YaMZ-238D | Turbocharged V8 diesel | 243 kW (330 PS) | Uprated version |
| YaMZ-6581.10 | Turbocharged V8 diesel | 294 kW (400 PS) | Later engine, up to 1,225 Nm |
| Deutz | Turbocharged diesel | 294 kW (400 PS) | Imported option |
The old 1cars text gives a top speed of 88 km/h, a 350-litre fuel tank and consumption of about 32 l/100 km for the YaMZ-238 version; the fuel cost calculator turns that figure into a cost per kilometre. It adds that the Deutz engines were more demanding to maintain but lasted longer. According to the same source, the later engines met the Euro 3 emissions standard.
Gearbox, axles and suspension
With the YaMZ engines, the standard gearbox was the YaMZ-238A manual, with eight forward speeds and one reverse. Over the years MAZ also fitted the YaMZ-2381-02 and YaMZ-2391-02 and the German ZF 9S109, a nine-speed unit. Both rear axles are driven, with a two-stage final drive; the overall ratio quoted for the Yaroslavl-engined trucks is 7.24.
The suspension uses leaf springs. The old 1cars text describes the first trucks as stiffly sprung and notes that MAZ later reworked the rear suspension with new springs and a reinforced, double-skinned frame. This was needed because many operators loaded the trucks well beyond their rating. The same source warns that the truck can physically carry around 30 tonnes, but that such overloading in quarries wears out the suspension quickly.
Body and payload
The steel body tips to the rear at an angle of up to 49 degrees, and every tipping operation is controlled from the cab. From the early 2000s, MAZ offered a heated body, which stops wet sand, clay and gravel freezing to the floor in winter. The truck can also tow a tipping trailer, which raises the load per trip.
| Parameter | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 7,770 mm | 305.9 in |
| Width | 2,500 mm | 98.4 in |
| Height | 3,100 mm | 122.0 in |
| Wheel formula | 6x4 | – |
| Kerb weight | 13,500 kg | 29,762 lb |
| Payload | 20,000 kg | 44,092 lb |
| Body volume | 10.5 m³ | 371 cu ft |
| Tipping angle | 49° | – |
| Fuel tank | 350 l | 77 UK gal |
| Top speed | 88 km/h | 55 mph |
Cab and driver's workplace
Like other MAZ trucks of its generation, the MAZ-5516 has a flat-fronted cab mounted over the engine, with steps in the wheel arches and a heavy steel front bumper. Buyers could choose between a short day cab and a longer cab with a sleeping berth and three seats.
The early cabs were basic, with poor paint quality, controls in awkward places and little insulation. Later updates brought a higher, adjustable driver's seat with air suspension, a steering column adjustable for height and reach, seat belts and an engine pre-heater for cold starts. Sound and heat insulation were also improved, along with storage shelves and curtains for the sleeper.
MAZ-5516 compared with the KamAZ-6520
The most direct comparison is the KamAZ-6520, another 20-tonne 6x4 tipper from the same part of the world, introduced in 2002.
| Parameter | MAZ-5516 | KamAZ-6520 |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 1994 | 2002 |
| Payload | 20 t | 20 t |
| Power | 176–294 kW (240–400 PS) | 235–294 kW (320–400 PS) |
| Gearbox | 8- or 9-speed manual | 16-speed ZF manual |
| Length | 7,770 mm | 7,800 mm |
| Kerb weight | 13,500 kg | 11,900–12,950 kg |
The two trucks are close in size and payload; the most powerful trucks ranking shows where such 294 kW engines stand among heavy trucks in our catalogue. The KamAZ is newer and uses a 16-speed gearbox, while the MAZ has a longer history and a wider choice of engines across its production. The KamAZ-6520 page covers its rival in detail.
MAZ-5516 photos 12
FAQ
What is the payload of the MAZ-5516?
The rated payload is 20 tonnes, carried in a rear-tipping steel body of about 10.5 m³. The kerb weight is about 13,500 kg. Heavier loads are physically possible but wear the suspension and frame quickly.
What engines does the MAZ-5516 use?
It has used the YaMZ-238 V8 diesel with 176 kW (240 PS), the YaMZ-238D with 243 kW (330 PS), and 294 kW (400 PS) engines from YaMZ (6581.10) and Deutz, depending on the year and version.
When did MAZ start building the MAZ-5516?
The first production MAZ-5516 trucks were released in 1994, after testing. The model replaced earlier six-wheel tippers based on the MAZ-6303 and was updated many times over the following years.
What gearbox does the MAZ-5516 have?
Most trucks have the eight-speed YaMZ-238A manual gearbox. Other versions used the YaMZ-2381 or YaMZ-2391, and some were fitted with the nine-speed ZF 9S109 from Germany.
Is the MAZ-5516 suitable for winter work?
Yes, with the right options. From the early 2000s MAZ offered a heated body that stops loads freezing to the floor, and later trucks have an engine pre-heater and better cab insulation for low temperatures.
Data sources
Data collected automatically from the sources below and not yet checked by an editor.
- The text of this article (1cars archive)
