Abstract: In the present study, the effect of tension overloading on the fatigue life of 16Mn steel butt welds and the macro-residual stress in the surface layer near the weld toe was experimentally investigated. Test results and analysis showed that tension overloading has no appreciable effect on the fatigue life of 16Mn steel butt welds although the residual compression stress in the surface layer near weld toe is thus increased. This may suggest that the main factor affecting the said fatigue life and overloading effect is not the macro-residual stress in the surface layer. besides, the engineering applications of the test results were also briefly discussed.