Retorque head
 

Can you retorque the head on this engine to slow oil leak at rear of engine or should I just replace gasket. Engine runs great. If so what would be the procedure for retorqing the head.

If it's truly leaking between the head and block, the head gasket needs to be replaced. The head gasket is thin in that area and is prone to going bad. It's a common problem for your engine.

The head bolts are torque-to-yield bolts. Thightening them up won't do. During installation they're tightened to a certain torque, then a 90° turn and another 90° turn.

As Kestas says, these are torque to yield bolts. This means that they are stretched. This stretching causes tension to be maintained, turning them further will do nothing except risk breaking the bolt.

Hope this helps,

I guess I'll bite the bullet and buy a new head gasket kit and install. I used to think I was a perty smart fellow till I bought this Mercedes.

If the engine is running great and your oil consumption is within your tolerance level I would hold off on pulling the head. If it were mine I would wait till the guides and valve stem seals need to be replaced which, on that car, should be at around 160k+.

It's burning a quart about every 1500 miles. It has 160,000 on it. It runs great except for hard start problem when hot. Guess I will drive a little longer and fix some of the other stuff that needs fixing--front flex disc--hard starting problem. Thanks for the input. Could not own this car without this site. I traded a 96 camry with 130,000 miles even for this car. I love the ride of this car. Smooth and quiet. Dennis

You got a good car. I would put the flex disc on ALOT higher priority than the leak. Your oil consumption is not bad yet. When it gets to around a qt every 500 miles will be the time the head needs to come off for rebuild.