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I think I was using the wrong air filter for like 13 years. According to fram's site just for the 1996 civic SOHC the say use a CA8040 (which has noticeable thinner pleats. I was using a CA7764 (thicker pleats) which for the 1997 and on engines.

I am wondering why the change when the engines for 96 til 00 where the same? I wonder if the 8040 would offer better fuel economy or performance since the pleats where smaller?

Just as a side note the I remember the Honda filter looked like the thicker filter.

 
Rep Power: 244

More pleats=more surface area...hence better flow. The more pleats the better, and keep in mind much better filters than Fram don't cost much more (such as Wix or Puralator PureOne). They filter much finer particles and generally have more pleats than the Fram.

 
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I don't see how you could be running the 7764 filter incorrectly. It doesn't even come close to fitting in the factory airbox. It is square and completely the wrong size. I know because I accidentally bought one to replace mine only then did I realize when I went to install it and noticed it wasn't going to work. The 8040 is the correct filter.

 
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The 7764 was in the lookup guide at Walmart, but it fits perfectly you can turn it is not perfectly square., I doubt the air box changed in 98 to 00? don't forget I have a EX not a DX. And like I said it looked identical to the stock air filter from honda with the deeper pleats.