The automotive engine performance is greatly affected by the calibration of its electronic control unit (ECU). The method for ECU calibration is traditionally done by trial-and-error. This traditional method consumes a large amount of time and money. To resolve this problem, case-based reasoning (CBR) is employed, so that an existing and effective ECU setup can be adapted to fit another similar class of engines. The adaptation procedure is done through a more sophisticated step called case-based adaptation (CBA) (Craw, Jarmulak, & Rowe, 2001; Craw, Wiratunga, & Rowe, 2006; Leake, Kinley, & Wilson, 1996, 1997). CBA is an effective knowledge management tool, which can interactively learn the expert adaptation knowledge. The paper briefly reviews the methodologies of CBR and CBA. Then the application to ECU calibration is described via a case study. With CBR and CBA, the efficiency of calibrating an ECU can be enhanced. A prototype system has also been developed to verify the usefulness of CBR in ECU calibration. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.