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Do ECUs "learn"?

  1. #1
    Don't run with the pack. whynot's Avatar
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    Do ECUs "learn"?

    That something I've read on some forums now and then. That ECUs react to your riding style and self-adjust and make everything better and all good.

    Is that true? Or is that an old spouses' tale?

    Asking since I am electronically impaired.

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  2. #2
    Lifer ZX-12R's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    I can't say with any certainty that any modern motorcycles have that capability, but it's certainly achievable in an ECU. Most cars already do this including adaptations in the transmission as well.

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  3. #3
    Backwoods lobster boy number9's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Hopefully they would "learn" to optimize air/fuel ratios.. but I can't imagine what else they'd learn?

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  4. #4
    Lifer capitalcrew's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    My apexi power fc in the rx7 learns, and that's like late 80s early 90s tech. So I'd say to a degree yes. Mine doesn't learn anything about my driving habits but it does need to learn the idle with electrical and AC loads

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  5. #5
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    I think they should learn to wheelie

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  6. #6
    BMW track whore e30addict's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul_E_D View Post
    I think they should learn to wheelie
    No doubt in my mind BMW or Ducati will have a wheelie button soon....

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  7. #7
    Lifer SwiftTone's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Quote Originally Posted by capitalcrew View Post
    My apexi power fc in the rx7 learns, and that's like late 80s early 90s tech. So I'd say to a degree yes. Mine doesn't learn anything about my driving habits but it does need to learn the idle with electrical and AC loads
    I had a mint 1988 10th anniversary back in the mid 2000's. Great car with a very unique feel. Also had the Apexi. Tons of street cred with that car. Man I miss it!

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  8. #8
    Lifer golden chicken's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    The answer is likely 'it depends.'

    If it is new enough to have at least one oxygen sensor, then probably. If it's dumb like my SV, well, it's dumb.

    And it's more likely that it adjusts to make the least emissions, rather than perhaps what is best for performance.

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    Last edited by golden chicken; 06-03-21 at 12:43 PM.
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  9. #9
    Don't run with the pack. whynot's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Hmmm ... all very interesting ...

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  10. #10
    Backwoods lobster boy number9's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Quote Originally Posted by capitalcrew View Post
    My apexi power fc in the rx7 learns, and that's like late 80s early 90s tech. So I'd say to a degree yes. Mine doesn't learn anything about my driving habits but it does need to learn the idle with electrical and AC loads
    Is it really "learning", or is it just using the Idle Air Controller to hunt and find the right settings to idle at a given load?

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  11. #11
    BMW track whore e30addict's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Quote Originally Posted by number9 View Post
    Is it really "learning", or is it just using the Idle Air Controller to hunt and find the right settings to idle at a given load?
    Are you talking specifically about the RX7 or just in general? If in general, research STFT and LTFT and how the ECU switches tables differently based on feedback. I learned quite a bit chasing down an issue. Not as simple as I thought.

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  12. #12
    Changes come butcher bergs's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    There are timing values in my Legacy GT that change with various driving habits. I'll take a look at what they're called since it's been a while but there are in fact learned values.

    The transmission in that car learns for sure. If I spend a few minutes putting the beans to it, the gear box becomes eager to down shift at the slightest throttle input. Seems to take about 75ish miles of easy driving to readjust

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  13. #13
    BMW track whore e30addict's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Quote Originally Posted by butcher bergs View Post

    The transmission in that car learns for sure. If I spend a few minutes putting the beans to it, the gear box becomes eager to down shift at the slightest throttle input. Seems to take about 75ish miles of easy driving to readjust
    That is how my Dad knew I took his car without him knowing. The car adjusted to me taking it on a beat run and he noticed it was acting different. Oops.

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  14. #14
    Lifer Garandman's Avatar
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Quote Originally Posted by e30addict View Post
    That is how my Dad knew I took his car without him knowing. The car adjusted to me taking it on a beat run and he noticed it was acting different. Oops.
    You can set Waze to adjust driving time to your personal driving habits.

    So I had my son punch in the same destination. His ETA was 2 minutes faster than mine. Busted by Big Data...

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  15. #15
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    Re: Do ECUs "learn"?

    Parents let kids drive their car? Where the hell was this when I was that age? Then again I did trash my 1st car so...

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