I'm wanting to re-tune my ls/vtec but am curious to know what the right temperatures/conditions should be when doing this?

It was last tuned a year and half ago on a very hot day. Can runs great, but I did change the header and exhaust and added a BPi velocity stack since.

Also, the car smokes pretty bad and not sure if it is too much fuel and or burning some oil.

I'm also thinking about changing the rings. Should I put new rings in before or after the tune. The current build which is an ls/vtec has 22,000 miles and runs great.

 

what color is the smoke?

new rings = retune.
if the rings are leaking you have oil in chamber and more blow by, which changes A/Fs and timing.

to me ideal for tuning is between 70-80F, basically the type of day where you just want to sit in the car, stare at the clouds and listen to the radio. (maybe that's just me)
But honestly the IAT tables are key, if they are right it doesn't matter which temp it is when you tune.

 

It smokes 2 different colors depending on what I am doing.

1st - If I hammer it in first gear into VTEC up to 8000rpm and then let it engine brake, it will be gray/black smoke when VTEC kicks in, but then as I'm stopped, there will blue/gray smoke billowing from the tail pipe as the oil is being burnt off from blow by I am assuming.

2nd - Anytime the car is in VTEC, it is gray/black from too much fuel I am assuming.

This is why I want to have the car re-tuned and also replace the rings. I think this will/should fix both issues.

Should I replace rings first or 2nd before I tune. If I replace rings 1st, I'm afraid they won't seat properly due to the bad tune. And if I tune 1st, I'm worried the tune won't be perfect because of any blow by, but I think the blow by.

Any suggestions or help?

 

Replace the rings and break them in while your on the dyno. Kill two birds with one stone.

 

I would like to do that, but that would require driving the car 100 miles or towing it.. There is a shop about 15 miles from my house that tunes Supras and other cars, but not sure if I trust them or not.

 

So rent a truck and dolly and pay the money to do it right. Or better yet, find a family member or close friend that has a 1/2 ton truck and borrow it. Rent a dolly and make a day of it..

 

x2 .replace rings first... will completely change everything