2001 Nissan Maxima Hesitates with a heavy foot. Chugs?

Engine Performance problem
2001 Nissan Maxima 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 176K miles

My parents just bought me my first car. It ran fine for the last two weeks. Been using ethanol gasoline. Dad thinks it's a fuel filter, and if so where is it located? Possibility fuel pump? With a light foot it runs just fine, but if I need to accelerate quickly it loses power and hesitates. Any information will be helpful. This is my first car.