the factory matched the aftermarket. I blew through the inlets and sucked though the inlets and there were valves inside that opened and closed. I was wondering if it was a closed system since it is flex fuel. But really I do t know

 

you have the airbox off all the way to the top of the throttle body so you can see the butterfly, is it opening?Can you feel the air flow entering top of TB. Is it moving with throttle.
This being flex fuel must be different than the picture I have in my head for a normal 5.4. How are the orings on injectors the only other thing I cab visualize would be bad valve seal .
you may have to send pictures

 

To me the throttle body looked too closed and it didn’t seem like it was getting too much air through. I was thinking that the throttle body might need to be cleaned or replaced but my friend said otherwise he said that the throttle body valve was supposed to be closed but I don’t believe it’s supposed to be like that. Any thoughts? And I was thinking valve seals because I do get a bluish smoke on start up

 

Flexfuel isn't mechanically any different from non-flex. Just uses different materials that can stand up against the higher alcohol content of fuels and OBD-II’s sensors that can tell what type of fuel the engine is running, and can adjust the timing (and other factors), based on the ethanol content. Higher ethanol blends have a higher octane rating than regular gasoline, so the computer brain accounts for that, maximizing efficiency. For modern vehicles with parts that are compatible with ethanol, the only adjustment that would be needed is in the OBD-II software.

You might have some valve seals leaking a little oil on top of the intake valves (causing blue startup smoke), but 'valve seals' are not designed to seal out air passage by the valve stem. If you had valve stems loose / sloppy enough to allow significant passage of air - you would have all sorts of trouble and noises.

There is NO point of entry for vacuum into the crankcase except via the Driver's side PCV hose. _IF_ the driver's side valve cover hose is connected to the correct place (filtered air from air box) and NOT OBSTRUCTED, crankcase would have normal minimal vacuum and air flow.

There is another vacuum port on IM on passenger side that provides full vacuum to EVAP system (via a valve -- the EVAP Purge Valve). If the Passenger side valve cover PCV inlet were connected to the EVAP vacuum source port (instead of air box), there would be NO path to atmospheric pressure. Thus, crankcase vacuum would equalize with that in the belly of the intake manifold.

 

Okay so the problem may lay in the IM belly? Possibly restricting air flow?

 

No

 

All hoses and are connected into the right places and are not instructed in any way.

 

On my truck the passenger side valve cover has vacuum to the crankcase and the drive side has vacuum from the IM.

 

In your first photo (if I can trace the line), the tube connection right NEXT TO the trans dipstick - runs back along top of fuel rail, turns right and up to the connection at top rear of air box. That connection provides 'filtered' AND 'metered' air for crankcase ventilation. It is NOT vacuum. That's above throttle plate and should be equal to atmospheric pressure MINUS any restriction presented by air filter and intake air plenum.

If you unplug it at the valve cover, or remove the Oil Filler cap, you are introducing unmetered air, but the engine should NOT die (as I think you have mentioned). You could reconnect that and disconnect it at the top rear of Air Box and see if that line is clear - if it is sucking unmetered air with it uplugged. If the engine dies, the Throttle body has to have the throttle plate closed WAY too tightly - forcing the engine to draw 100 percent of its aspiration air through the crankcase and those small tubes.


That would be ALL unmetered air (since it is not passing the MAF) and with the dramatic drop in apparent air, the O2 sensors see excess oxygen causing the PCM would probably increase fuel pulse width and flood the engine (kill it).

Do you have any Codes, or a scanner that can read live data. ie: Fuel trims, MAF air flow, etc?

 

"There is NO point of entry for vacuum into the crankcase except via the Driver's side PCV hose. _IF_ the driver's side valve cover hose is connected to the correct place (filtered air from air box) and NOT OBSTRUCTED, crankcase would have normal minimal vacuum and air flow."

This is exactly what I was thinking. With the PCV hoses unhooked there should be no vacuum in the crankcase. So what about a cracked intake manifold?