Filter device, in particular an oil filter for cleaning lubricating oil for the internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, - with a filter housing cover delimiting a receiving chamber, in which filter housing cover a ring filter element is arranged, - with a housing, in which a mandrel is arranged centrally onto which the filter housing cover is screwed, - with at least one intermediate piece, which is connected to the filter housing cover, and, with the filter housing cover screwed onto the housing, is arranged between the filter housing cover and housing, - with a housing-side inlet channel, which communicates with a dirty side of the ring filter element, and a housing-side outlet channel, which communicates with a clean side of the ring filter element, - with a housing-side idling channel, through which the receiving chamber can be emptied on removing the filter housing cover, - wherein the intermediate piece comprises a closure device arranged rotatably about the filter axis, which closure device comprises a closure element by means of which the idling channel can be closed, - wherein between the intermediate piece and the ring filter element a disc-like base is provided, which comprises a plurality of through openings distributed in circumferential direction, - wherein between the closure device and the disc-like base a spring element is arranged which causes the closure element to be pushed onto the idling opening, - wherein the closure device is designed so that when screwing the filter housing cover onto the housing it is fixed in a precisely defined position, in which the closure element is aligned flush with the idling channel and by screwing on the filter housing cover can be adjusted into a position closing the idling channel, whereas the closure device rotates when unscrewing the filter housing cover and at the same time is moved away axially from the housing so that the closure element releases the idling channel, characterised in that - the closure device comprises an annular groove open in axial direction in which the closure element designed as a seal is arranged, - the intermediate piece forms or comprises a cap and in that the closure device comprises a plate mounted rotatably in the cap, wherein the plate has a broken through side wall with openings, - the spring element is arranged between the plate of the closure device and the disc-like base. - with a filter housing cover delimiting a receiving chamber, in which filter housing cover a ring filter element is arranged, - with a housing, in which a mandrel is arranged centrally onto which the filter housing cover is screwed, - with at least one intermediate piece, which is connected to the filter housing cover, and, with the filter housing cover screwed onto the housing, is arranged between the filter housing cover and housing, - with a housing-side inlet channel, which communicates with a dirty side of the ring filter element, and a housing-side outlet channel, which communicates with a clean side of the ring filter element, - with a housing-side idling channel, through which the receiving chamber can be emptied on removing the filter housing cover, - wherein the intermediate piece comprises a closure device arranged rotatably about the filter axis, which closure device comprises a closure element by means of which the idling channel can be closed, - wherein between the intermediate piece and the ring filter element a disc-like base is provided, which comprises a plurality of through openings distributed in circumferential direction, - wherein between the closure device and the disc-like base a spring element is arranged which causes the closure element to be pushed onto the idling opening, - wherein the closure device is designed so that when screwing the filter housing cover onto the housing it is fixed in a precisely defined position, in which the closure element is aligned flush with the idling channel and by screwing on the filter housing cover can be adjusted into a position closing the idling channel, whereas the closure device rotates when unscrewing the filter housing cover and at the same time is moved away axially from the housing so that the closure element releases the idling channel, - the closure device comprises an annular groove open in axial direction in which the closure element designed as a seal is arranged, - the intermediate piece forms or comprises a cap and in that the closure device comprises a plate mounted rotatably in the cap, wherein the plate has a broken through side wall with openings, - the spring element is arranged between the plate of the closure device and the disc-like base.