I’ve been searching for the answer to this question. Reading the thread,
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-chat/3858-does-ecu-adapt-your-driving-style.html
, I can’t understand the value of the ‘ECU adjusting to my driving style’??
Atlas Croc states “It never loses the ability to deliver full rated HP, but does modify fuel and ignition curves for what you are asking the car to do at the moment….” WTFDTM?? And, why would we not get the total Porsche HP/TQ at any moment, on demand?
Lately, I’ve been driving very slowly due to a medical procedure last week. Yesterday, on the way home from work, and feeling a bit better, I decided to step on it in response to traffic conditions and it was crucial that I get the most acceleration from my car. Was there nobody home down in the engine room? Do they fall asleep when I’m not always driving at 100%?
This makes no sense to me! Does the ECU remap the engine performance for those who drive slowly? If it does why? Better fuel economy? Longer engine life? If yes then why does it not INSTANTLY respond when I decide to take-it-up-a-notch or nail the sucker to the floor? Why is there a delay in performance that many at this site report having to revert before a true dyno test is performed? If this is true, is there, a software remapping tool available disable this built in Punishment for Driving Slow?
-Stevie
Looks like no one has the answer. I have wondered the same thing for a long time and Porsche is not the only "smart"
ECU
.
ECU
adaptation is a myth. Its used to explain everything that people don't know how to explain or don't want to explain.
...and you know that the
ECU
dosn't self adjust and that this belief is a myth because???
As I understad it, there are greater than 40 maps in the
ECU
determining all sorts of stuff including ignition timing, fuel ratios, vario cam activation and so on. Yes, they do adapt, but that adaptation is a lot less than you think.
For example, if the
ECU
detects pre-ignition, it will adapt by chosing a different timing map (with less timing advance). This prevents the pre-ignition. If the pre-ignition is still present, it choses yet another map. It may take several ignition cycle before to
ECU
tries the more agressive map again.
Driving slowly doesn't punish you by selecting a less aggressive map, but driving briskly may reward you by pushing the boundaries of ignition timing.
I just had my car on a dyno and the guys at Farnbacher Loles were explaining this to me. The told me that in their experience, a Cayman will adapt to it's max power in 5 - 8 full throttle runs. Mine kept climbing the horsepower ladder until the 4th run, where is settled in at 294.3 BHP. My first pull was 282.7 BHP. There are other variables.
I would agree with Kor in the fact that too many people use this 'adaptation' to explain things they don't understand. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
The
ECU
"adapts" within parameters. These parameters are octane rating, temperature, air density, etc to name a few. It does not adapt to driving style.
dun think its a myth, actually a friend of mine used to disconnect his
battery
every couple of months (not a cayman) so that his
ECU
would reset.
________________________
"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"
A good car will get you from point A to point B. A great car... will just get you into trouble!
The
ECU
not only adapts, it actually evolves. That is why it is recommended that you drive different routes and vary your speed as opposed to commuting the same way/speed each day. Otherwise the
ECU
will learn your habits and evolve.
Have you ever been deep in thought only to realize that you are already half way home without even thinking about it? Almost like you were on "auto-pilot"? The evloving
ECU
can take control of the vehicle at those times. Imagine "coming to" only to realize that you are not almost home, but instead half way to your ex-girlfriend's house? Or pulling into the parking lot of a strip club with an open "40" of Schlitz in a paper bag?
Don't let the
ECU
evolve. And for God's sake, never trust robots.
