I noticed that on Advance Auto Parts they have a carbon canister filter for the carbon canister for my car...is this something that should be changed ever? I was also wondering it'* purpose...

I never changed mine on my 88 and put 275K miles on her. I believe its purpose in life is to take excess gases from the gas tank that build up and inject it into the intake of the engine. Just another smog control device. The only service that it needs is keeping the vaccume lines to it healthy.

Yeah, I saw that too...was wondering the same thing....kinda makes me just want to change it anyways just because i can and its so cheap

(its the green car thread so far)

Yeah for what, $1.77, I am just wondering if I am getting a benefit here from doing so, I mean it'* a filter, you'd think after all these years it gets dirty and changing it would help SOMETHING...right?

EDIT:

I found the definition for carbon canister, as found in a 300zx UK club:

"The carbon canister is filled with active charcoal to absorb evaporative gases produced in the fuel tank. These absorbed gases are then delivered to the intake manifold by manifold vacuum for combustion purposes."

Yeah...so should we change it? lmao.

Well I can only assume that filter filters nasty things from getting back into the motor other than vapors? I have no clue what I'm talking about here... ....there'* only so many things the filter COULD be doing, maybe some gearhead or moderator knows...only time will tell.....

The filter inside the canister cannot be changed. The canister is a sealed unit IIRC. The only time it needs to be replaced....is when it is damaged in an accident.