Replaced Head Gasket, When should I Retorque the Head Bolts?

[Brad.Jones]

Hi Guys,

Long time no talk, finally got around to getting my Zook back on the road.
Hopefully I'll see you all out on a trip soon... maybe even AT hahaha.

Anyway my question is now that I have replaced the head gasket do I need to re-torque the head bolts?
And if so after how long would you normally do it? My dad and everything else I read suggest that after a few 100kms I should give the bolts a little tweak.
But I didn't read anything in the Factory Service Manual about it.

Thanks Brad.

[jono165]

It depends on the type of head gasket whether it is a retorque one or a monotorque one.

Retorque ones are usually after about 1000km.

I'm pretty sure the monotorque ones come with instructions where you torque it down and then go a further 90 degrees

[Brad.Jones]

The instructions with my head gasket didn't say I had to re torque the bolts.
So I'll assume it was a monotorque one. Although it said nothing about going to extra 90 degrees.
I'll have a chat to the guy that reconditioned my head and sold me the gasket kit.

[greyghost]

even monotorque gaskets can benefit from a re-torque.
I always re-torque the head down after about 100km or a few hours of running, ensure that that car has got "warm" and cooled down several times first.