So I think I'm noticing an issue. I'll throw the silencer on my exhaust and I get more throttle response. After a while it will go away. When I take it off, same thing happens. Then it goes away. This usually takes a few days of driving. Is the computer adapting according to the back pressure? And how do I stop that?

 

most likely it is just a placebo effect.

when you change something you think it is going to be different so it is

then you get used to it so you change it again and now it is different to you

then you get used to it - cycle repeates

I have a 97 accord

Right now I am running no muffler at all

It is no different then when I had a muffler on

it is all in your head.

 

These are econobox cars not tuned High Horsepower machines.

Stock intake vs. Aftermarket - same but sounds better

Stock muffler vs. No Muffler - same but now sounds like poo

I get 36 miles per gallon - that is all that matters to me.

If you want to go fast buy something that is fast.

 

Well Im looking to improve a decent car a bit. Not to make it real fast but to make something thats fun to drive around in until I can get a better car.
I am definitely feeling a difference in throttle response and I know the computer adapts to changes made.

 

Mr. Ricer

The ECU measures air entering the motor then adds a predetermined amount of fuel and measures the exhaust leaving the motor for proper A/R ratio.

If you change the exhaust or intake system the computer will make adjustments in order to keep the proper A/F ratio.

It is not going to change that a week later because it has grown bored of the changes you made.

It is just you getting used to the "different noise" the exhaust is making.

I promise you if you had 2 identical cars except one of them had a louder muffler, you would (and most everyone else) would think the car with the louder muffler was faster.

it is just the way it is.

 

I do understand the psychology behind it. But through different "experiments" and such with my car I have noticed that the ECU does take a while to adapt and some things it will notice immediately. There is an obvious difference in high vs low end power with or without a restriction in air flow but I do know based on what the computer measures in all the sensors it will vary the gas ratio.

 

Ok I agree with what you are saying now

Perhaps it was how you worded it in your first post cause it sounded like you were saying that you changed the exhaust the car changed and gave you more throttle response but then after a while those changes went away.

 

Yeah I have trouble explaining things. So the computer does not adapt and take away the HP gains I get with these mods? Or it does and this is why I need a chipped ECU?

 

It doesn't really "take away" the gains. The O2 sensor has a limited authority to modify the fuel/air mixture while the engine is running. Using the feedback from the O2 sensor, it sorta remembers the fuel/air mixture for next time. That's a really over-simplified explanation. Not sure it can explain the feeling that it "took back" some of the improvement...?

 

Well with that would it be safe to say that when I get off the highway and the throttle is a bit heavier its because of that?

Also, on a side note, how would I know if my ECU is messed up? I've still been having issues and they're random enough it may be the ECU...