There are more reasons than ever why your engine could fail with all the technology that now goes into running it. That's why most people these days automatically take their car straight to a garage to be fixed, but the basics of the engine still remain the same and more times than none it is a basic problem that's causing it to malfunction.

For example a problem such as when you step on the gas there seems like there's less power it could be a simple thing like the engine needing new spark plugs or the air filter needs changing, these are easier problems to fix than you may think below are some instructions to follow on changing the air filter in your engine:

• To see if your air filter needs changing take it out of its holder by unscrewing the screws holding it into place then shine a torch from the inside out, if you can't see any light or very little then it can be said your filter needs changing.
• Before starting you need to make sure you have the correct tools for the job like Phillips screw driver, straight edge screw driver, new air filter & breather filter and a pair of pliers. When you are sure you have all the right equipment you can follow the instructions.
• If your car is of an earlier year then your filter housing is most likely on top of your engine in a round holder you simply have to unscrew the wing nuts holding the casing in place, there may also be some clips to remove as well. With newer models of cars the filter is most likely to be housed in a rectangular shaped container somewhere near the radiator in most cars, once found simply unscrew/unclip the housing away from the filter then remove the filter. Make sure no dust or debris falls into the container when removing the old filter.
• When this is done fit the new filter (making sure it is the correct size other wise it won't function properly) and replace the housing ensuring it is fitted securely, being careful not to over tighten.
• You will then need to replace the breather filter which is situated usually on the side of the filter housing attached by a clip, simply pull of the clip replace the filter and clip back on. Newer cars tend not to have breather filters as their inlet is situated underneath the air filter, still it is wise to check that the PCV is still in good condition.

As well as all the basic problems you can fix your self there are now modifications that can be made to your vehicles engine to make them more fuel efficient and as a result friendlier to the environment which is now becoming a big issue for many people. Making sure your car is regularly maintained with air filter and spark plugs being replace as and when required, this affects the efficiency of the engine. Also other factors you may not have considered such as the tyres being pumped up correctly greatly effect how efficient your engine performs. There are more drastic steps you can take like converting your cars engine fuel to one of the more efficient gases such as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) these fuels having a lower CO2 emission level making your engine less polluting to the environment and more efficient. However, if considering this the work can only be performed by a professional and would probably be quite costly so ensure you have researched all possibilities before going ahead with the work.

There may be lots of problems that can cause your car engine to fail but there is lots of help available both in training courses and online. The main thing to take into consideration is your safety as working with any machinery there is a danger if the correct safety procedures aren't followed.