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Plugged fuel filters usually manifest by causing misfire when passing a
semi-trailer unit while climbing a hill in a rainstorm with four
passengers. If that's not happening to you, just run a bottle of Chevron
Techron thru the gas tank twice a year, and do a tune-up as specified in
your manual.

You can change it if it makes you feel good. I slipped mine off, shook
it with fuel inside, then gently blew it out backwards with compressed
air. The dirty stuff is gone.

'Curly'

I have a 97 and my mileage has not changed (in fact its better b/c now
that i'm older I don't hit the gas so hard). I do try to fill up with
chevron a least once a month. The rest of the time I am putting
Maverick or a non top tier brand in. (which is dumb because I only save
.01 a gallon but the Maverick is on my way to work so its easy).  I
don't have as many miles yet but I haven't seen anything wrong with my
engine at this point. The suggestion to run the chevron techron stuff
is good, or you can just fill up with chevron gas for a couple of tanks
and see what that does (might be an even cheaper solution).

Some have said that a fuel filter on a Honda lasts for the life of th
car

However, I have about 168,000 miles on my '98 Civic.  I have detected tha
my fuel efficiency is starting to lower a bit

Is this due to a dirty fuel filter or just the age of the car
first off Honda fuel filters dont last the life of an
car much less a Honda and second of all leaving a filter in that LONG with-ou
changing it is asking for trouble. it can and will damage your fuel pump by making it work harder and strain it and there by become noiseyer as well. its not worth th
aggrevation it causes get it changed!  you"l do your fuel pump and wallet a favoure

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johnin

clogged filters restrict fuel flow, not increase it, so it's unlikely
that the filter's increasing your consumption.  run injector cleaner
through it to make sure they're not dribbling.  other things to check
are the pcv valve and the health of the ignition system - weak spark
reduces engine output.

johnin wrote:> Some have said that a fuel filter on a Honda lasts for the life of th

eh?  the resistance of the filter is /nothing/ compared to th
resistance of the pressure regulator or bigger still, a closed injector
and it's an inductive pump, so there's nothing to strain

forget it.  filters last pretty much the life of the car.  the test, a
stated by curly, is whether it's starting to choke at full load.  and a
only 168k, it ain't there yet.  not even close
Think so!  jim beam read the article on the "importance of replacing a fuel filter"

www.autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/a/aa082203a_2.ht
www.automedia.com/Fuel/Filter/Replacement/ccr20010701ff/

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johnin