Still leaky IMS plug

I've had the IMSG installed on my 04 C4S since 10/2012. It has seeped oil I discovered on my second oil change after install. Flat6 sent me a second plug which had a thicker subwasher/base attached to it and included a new washer which I used to install...they also suggested I use some sealant on washer. I did and On this my oil change since installing it it is still leaking. I'm thinking its the washer and I started reading about the 1st and 2nd generation plugs. More on this later I contacted Flat6 who put me in touch with Nicole at LNE. I sent her a picture of the two harnesses I have. she says i have the latest model . She sent me "the updated" washer that thy have ben told to include in the kits. I figured I won't need sealant since this is the "fix". It's still leaking. I don't know if its the thickness of plug base which with this new washer only left half the threads exposed. So here is a question(it's later ) Did I have the proper plug(with thin subwasher the first time(on left in picture) [which looks like what they are still selling on LNE website] and I should be using it with the thick stand alone washer Nicole sent me or is this thick subwasher(on right in pic) a protote or something? Left..initial right...current Latest washer on thick subwasher...previous washer sent with replacement harness So anyone with the issue please chime in. At this point I gotta drain this fresh oil out and start over. Kinda a downer of my piece of mind I gained from IMS watchdog to oil liability...

By the way. It is installed and torqued to 19 lbs always

In addendum ...looks like the one on left has no subwasher...just head and threads. One on right does look like LNE website just thicker subwasher. Is the intention to reduce the depth at which the plug goes into pan.

Check to see if the one of the old washers is still stuck on the oil pan.

Good idea. I checked this when I didn't find a used washer in the catch. I immediately went to the pan opening. This lead me to finding the washer sealed to the plug as instructed. The question I'm concerned now is the ongoing loss of oil. Luckily I hang oil frequently but this is messy. With half of the threads not descending into the opening as well as using 50% of manufacturers torgue(OEM is 37lbs) and if adding sealant as planned doesn't cure. It didn't the last time...maybe it broke down after a period of time.

I'd put the factory plug with a new factory washer in for a while to make sure that does not leak to eliminate the threads in your pan as a possible culprit (how that would happen is beyond me but it is a variable).

If you're genuinely supposed to use both washers, you're going to need sealant between them - there's no way they're going to crush like a normal crush ring does to provide a seal. This looks wonky to me - I can't imagine you're supposed to stack the washers, but maybe I'm just not imagining hard enough. I would use a standard (or magnetic) oil plug until a definitive answer was provided.

Hey...please note. There is only one washer albeit very thick. The plug is not going in all the way. It makes sense to use the sealant but shouldn't that not really be necessary? Hmmm...using factory plug o he for stripped threads. Would that mean a new pan? I have a Email out and maybe LNE will shed some light.

I received this response from Jake Raby... Rod, The thicker gasket serves two purposes. It moves the MCD further from the contact point of the sump, and it seals better than factory. Some very late engines have issues with the sump webbing contacting the MCD sensor, creating a leak, so the thicker gasket solves that issue. The generations of sensor don't mean anything to the MCD unit it's self, no changes there have ever been made. The only difference is the style of the plug that is used, which was only changed by requirement of our Australian distributor due to the laws in Australia that mandate all connections under a vehicle to be weather proof, even those that do not carry current and only provide a ground, like the trigger device of the MCD. We changed all units to the different plug to streamline manufacturing. If you have had this recurring condition, my guess is the sump plate has a deficiency, which we have seen on two occasions in the past. Sealant + the new washer would more than likely solve it, otherwise I have replacement sump plates that will dove the issue and I'll trade one out with you at no cost. It can be fitted in 30 minutes as a DIY. Jake Raby Wish us luck folks....

To be honest....I think you should put in an LN anodized magnetic drain plug, skip all the other stuff and go for a long drive.

It would be nice to simply do that. ( did so on the wife's 07 C2 cab...EPS magnetic plug). However addressing this washer business which was resolved by using sealant on it and now no leak. So being prudent I check the clean underbody for any new leaks and the plug/pan junction was clean but this what was discovered. There is oil dripping from above. It's either and RMS or IMS. I'm going to find out Anderson the side of caution but should I park the car?

I'm going to error on the side of caution. I had an episode where there was a low oil condition which may have been the busted seal dumping oil out of IMS I'm told. It may have not been that just rms starting. Nonetheless I'd rather be safe than sorry. (I year to date pat the frakkking settlement statue...go figure.

Better pic of leak