Just as humans need oxygen to breathe, a car needs oxygen for the combustion process. The air filter prevents airborne contaminants such as dirt, dust and leaves from getting pulled into your car's engine and potentially damaging it.

Over time, the engine air filter can become dirty and lose its capacity for filtering the air going into the engine. If your air filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, it can have a profound effect on the performance of your car's engine.