Can a new Air filter really make that much of a difference?

[stcbenz83]

Sorry this is kind of a pointless post, but i'm just amazed by the results. So i'd been noticing that my car has been smoking more on start-up and while idling. I thought i needed another valve adjustment, or something else. However, i remembered earlier in the year, when i took it to get an oil change, they told me that i needed a new air filter. After searching posts on here about smoking, and a clogged air filter. I went and finally bought a new one (since this isn't my DD, i tend to forget about these things). I put it in and WOW! I have no smoke on start-up or idle, and thier also seems to be less nauseating fumes? What an improvement for such little cost!