a fuel dispenser having a filter status sensor includes a fuel delivery path for delivering fuel from a station storage tank to a vehicle ; a fuel filter in the delivery path for filtering fuel flowing in the delivery path ; a flow monitor in the delivery path for measuring fuel flow in the delivery path ; and a controller associated with the flow monitor adapted to determine and compare a first flow rate taken during a first cycle with a second flow rate taken during a second cycle . the controller provides a filter status signal when the first and second flow rates differ by more than a predetermined difference indicative of an unclean fuel filter .