Originally Posted by
Doug_MPS6
There are a lot of myths, usually perpetuated on sites like this, about the ECU "learning" all sorts of accommodations to (usually owner-induced) newly-evident or introduced changes over what existed previously.
This ECU's self-adjustment capacity is basic and only deals with such things as injector flow rates, timing parameters, altitude, O2 content, and various other electronically sensed parameters.
But if you have done a crook mod (say, not fully tightened a clip on an intake hose) or have a severe mechanical issue, no amount of caning or kilometres will cause the ECU to magically figure out what is wrong and correct it, and if the problem is serious you need to stop driving and sort it. Don't keep driving in the hope the ECU will apply a band-aid to a stuff-up or problem. And thrashing the car, say, in the event that timing is way off, could potentially be disastrous. If you are detonating or blowing smoke or sucking or blowing induction air, or repeatedly stalling, or throwing CEL's, then stop driving and investigate what is wrong.
When the battery has been disconnected and then reconnected after service, usually the ECU has figured out all it is ever going to after about 15km of running.