ECM "Adaptive Strategy" and "Keep Alive Memory"

[samiam]

Would anyone like to take a shot at explaining how the ECM works in our trucks? Does an ECM learn anything, or does it simply output data to the engine components? Does it learn tranny data and does it make changes in engine performance to "optimize" anything? I've dug up conflicting opinions on the internet about our 7.3L ECMs. I've read about "adaptive strategy" which seems to mean the ECM doesn't create anything new, but it follows a different set of parameters based on engine performance data changing. Also, there are opinions about a reset of Keep Alive Memory (KAM) every few months by unplugging the batteries for 30 minutes to get the computer back to factory settings, to allow it to determine once again the optimum operating parameters.
This question isn't keeping me up at night, but i'd like to know.

[strokin_early_99]

I will use one of Joes better responses here:"The trans is stupid, it shifts". It shifts as it is programmed to do so.


I have never reset the KAM in 9 years. Never herd anybody say it is a good idea. I will have to email Jody and see what he says.

[Dave]

Howard is right the 7.3 trans doesnt learn. But the 6.0 trucks do learn and adapt

[samiam]

From the things I've dug up online (that's the disclaimer that I don't know anything) it seems that if the batteries are disconnected longer than 5-30 minutes (opinions vary) the Keep Alive Memory is reset, causing the ECM to return to a base program. From there the ECM optimizes itself by making programming choices based on input it receives from all the engine sensors.