a/c was on and RPM'* around 730 at the low end. Once I start driving, I don't notice any misfire. What about vacuum leak. Should I take out spark plugs and ensure gaps are good or replace them as I have some old working plugs to test with.

I wouldn't bother with any of that at this stage. It doesn't sound like a ignition-system related misfire.

Run without air conditioning and see if it does it in the same circumstances while the air conditioning is off.

does anyone know the torque specs for valve cover for my 2014 sonic 1.8L . I have found several different ones so I am not sure if any are accurate.

That 106inlb/8lbft specification seems like the right specification.

I wouldn't go much more than that on one of those.

Odd, questioned chat GPT valve cover torque specs and gave it my VIN only and it came back with the following:"For a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic 1.8L engine, the valve cover torque specs are as follows:

• The valve cover bolts should be torqued to 71 in-lbs (8 Nm).

It'* important to follow the specified torque sequence and double-check the specs in the vehicle'* service manual for accuracy."

from info given,It knew year,model and engine size and reported torque of 71 in-lbs I am afraid to go to 106 in-lbs as some people have stripped their bolt.

I don't know why I am getting so many different specs

I would invest in a repair manual for it, and go with whatever spec it says.

You're poking at this car enough to justify spending a few bucks on a manual.

Looks like this is off a manual for 1.8L sonic. I assume camshaft cover is the same as valve cover and it lists 71 inch lbs

That is probably more correct than anything else I've seen here or have access to. If I were you, I'd get a 2014 manual to be sure, in case they changed the spec for some reason. I don't think you'll hurt anything at 71inlb, but at the same time, yours appears to have a leak there so maybe they figured this out and have a tighter specification in later years.