Time to tighten the valve cover bolts/nuts,how do you prevent the new(6 year old )paint from chipping?use a metric socket one size bigger?

Valve cover bolt torque is pretty low... socket on a screw driver handle is about right. Over torquing the VC bolts will bend the covers and make it leak worse. Paint damage from re-torquing will be mostly from turning the bolt... not the socket. Suggest the correct SAE socket and go easy.

If it seeps a little... that's pretty normal. If it has a major leak, tightening may help, or a new gasket, or stiffer cast valve cover. Its not really a "dry" design as original.