2005 Allure - Odd issue

I've got an odd problem and I'm hoping someone can give me some ideas.

2005 Allure with about 170,000km on it. Once in a blue moon (anywhere from once every few weeks, to once every few months) the car will have a bit of a power loss. Car will be fine one day, then next day you drive it and the problem is there. Drive it the day after and it's gone till the next time is shows up. When the problem is there, the car idles fine and it never stalls. Just seems to not have the get up and go it normally does, not until you get the engine RPM above around 3000, then it seems to be normal. Light acceleration you really notice it. Almost like it's starving for fuel. It's the 3.8 engine in the car.

As a side note (maybe related, maybe not), my wife has an 06 Allure with around the same mileage on it and same engine, and under normal conditions (well normal for the 05) her's generally seems to have more get up and go. Not sure if the 05 3.8 has a lower HP rating or not, or if there is something else that maybe related to my above problem. It has always been this way for the year and a half I've owned the car, but never gave it much thought, as other than the above mentioned hiccup, it runs fine.

Have it scanned for codes?

Last time fuel filter replaced?

Could be a cat on it's way out?

When it acts up, try disconnecting the MAF and see if it runs better....

Check the f/p reg vac line for fuel/fuel smell....

If it is the cat. You may get lucky, most cats are warranty for 10yrs. Check your owners manual. You are right on the line.

Cat was just a guess on my part......with it being so intermittent, could be a wire/harness or sensor on the way out, and maybe a code will point in a direction....

No engine light is on. I do have a code reader, so I'll check to see if it's got anything in memory. Not sure how I would check the cat, but my mileage seems fine, and I expect if it's the cat, I would notice a mileage difference between the 2 cars.

I like the MAF idea. I'll do that next time.

As for your last suggestion (vac line), would you by chance have a picture of where this one is?

Thanks for the ideas.

Edit - Just checked, no codes stored.

Facing the engine, at the end of the fuel rail is the F/P reg.....there will be a vac line coming off the top of it ......the other end is attached to the throttle body(source of vacuum)....

Facing the engine, at the end of the fuel rail is the F/P reg.....there will be a vac line coming off the top of it ......the other end is attached to the throttle body(source of vacuum)....

Thanks, I'll check into that tomorrow if I get some time.

You also mentioned fuel filter, but from research I've done before, I believe this car doesn't actually have a fuel filter, just the screen in the tank, and that's it.