My mother's Mini Cooper (2003) had a lifetime filter. When doing a tune-up for her, I ended up replacing it which required removing the rear seats and pulling the fuel pump assembly, much the same as doing it on the Mustang.

I can tell you that it was one dirty filter. Whether or not it was causing any performance issues, I don't know. The car certainly runs smoother, but I also did plugs, wires, etc. I can say that I'm glad I replaced it, and for 30 mins of work and 25 bucks, I didn't lose any sleep over it.

I'm not saying technology hasn't changed enough to allow for a lifetime filter . . . but when you think about what it does, it's designed to be a wear/tear/replace item. Unless the quality of fuel has changed, stuff WILL get into the tank. And unless the size or ability of the filter to store those contaminates has increased/changed, it will get into your fuel system.

Criticize Ford all you want, but I never anticipated a fuel filter becoming a lifetime part, and certainly don't mind the small investment to keep my car going. If you truly want something with almost 0 maintenance, go electric.

 

Try pulling the filter off, replacing it and blowing air through it backwards. Black goo comes flushing out.. Nasty... I change mine every 30k...

 

Ford says my rear diff and manual trans fluid are lifetime, but I say to hell with that! I believe some of the Focus models have lifetime air filters, but if I had one of those I'd switch it out for aftermarket.

 

Can someone invent lifetime wiper blades?...

 

I wonder why we still have wiper blades at all. It would be cool to have glass that would, without any treatment such as Rain-X, enable water to blow right off with some help from jets of air directed at the windshield.

 

Given the choice between changing a cheap fuel filter every once in a while and having 132000 miles of crap built up in the fuel tank, I'll take the former.

 

I support this, but just be ready for a $24,000 battery every 6-8 years.

 

I wax my glass, from day 1, always applied some kind of wax/polish to the glass, my wiper blades can't be heard when in use + still never get dirty

 

If you're a fan of lifetime fuel filters, would you also be a fan of lifetime oil filters or lifetime air filters? I'm not, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that Ford going with a lifetime fuel filter does NOT impress anyone who's ever changed a fuel filter and seen what comes out of them.

 

I've seen lots of Euro cars now that have the fuel filter built into the fuel pump.
What that means is that when there is an issue with the filter, you will be changing the fuel pump.

I think changing the filter must be too difficult for the ones here whinning about replacing a $15.00 filter every 30,000 miles.