Hydrolase with high activity towards palmitoylcarnitine. Is also active with p-nitrophenylacetate and alpha-naphthylacetate. May also hydrolyze retinyl esters (By similarity). H2O + O-acyl-(R)-carnitine = (R)-carnitine + a fatty acid + H(+) all-trans-retinyl hexadecanoate + H2O = all-trans-retinol + H(+) + hexadecanoate Detected in liver (at protein level). Up-regulated in liver by di-(2-ethylhexyl)phtalate (DEHP). Belongs to the type-B carboxylesterase/lipase family.