In a message dated 99-06-12 23:09:29 EDT, vanagon@MINDSPRING.COM writes:

<< What is the consensus on the need for the square plastic fuel filter
 between the fuel pump and the fuel tank?

 I bypassed it with a brass coupling but then thought the better and
 installed a new one.  I surmise it is to keep crud out of the fuel pump.
 Since I installed a new pump I want to err on the safe side.  Seem to
 remember some earler post that the factory installed them to filter out
 residue from the then new fuel tanks.  The dealar then bypassed them later
 at a service interval.
  >>

filters out dirt, crud, rust scale, and anything else that gets into your gas
tank.   its there for a reason....

chris