If you have the time and desire, it doesn't hurt to torque things down. Sometimes it just isn't worth the hassle, and you go by the torque wrench built into your elbow. I torque oil pan and tranny pan gaskets when I have the room to because it cuts down on leaks. But I never do it if it requires removing other components. As for the valve covers, I find it easier to grab an 8mm wrench and snug them down every oil change.

 

Cousin Frank says they use the following torque rules in the Pressure Vessel and Power Plant industries:
1. Tigthen until it snaps.
2. Back off 1/4 turn.
3. Continue to next fastener & repeat.

 

love it!!!!

 

You go by feel, vibration is not a issue on things like oil pan, etc.
Good and tight, but not to tight, to loose and it will leak, to tight and it will leak.
But on the factory floor one guys "tight enough" is different from the next guys "tight enough" and after 8 hours of screwing on 24 bolts into a oil pan your version of "tight enough" is going to be "screw it, finger tight and it's time to go home.

Its just a gasket on a old worn out lump, not a gasket on the space station.

 

Thank's Danny, you made my day!