IMO it's not just the crappy gas we get at the pump it's also the dirt from crappy, aftermarket air filters. The race car carb gets cleaned before every race and runs with a K&N filter. (BTW, never run these air filters on your turbocharged vehicle.) Fuel filter is cheap enough to change with the oil so why not? If you aren't running the stock air cleaner with a stock type filter, I would at least check the carb and clean it with say every oil change. Maybe every time you change the air filter on the stock stuff. All carbs have tiny passages that get crud in them. Clean that crap out! Invest in the good reusable gaskets.