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 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 to be rotatable about the filter axis, which closure device comprises a closure element by means of which the idling channel can be closed, - wherein the closure device is designed so that it is fixed in a precisely defined position when screwing the filter housing cover onto the housing, in which position the closure element is arranged aligned 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 on unscrewing the filter housing cover is rotated and at the same time is moved axially away from the housing so that the closure element releases the idling channel, - 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, characterised in that - the intermediate piece comprises a cap, - the closure device comprises a plate mounted rotatably in the cap, - the plate comprises an opened side wall with openings, - between the plate of 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, - the closure device or its plate when screwing on the filter housing cover engages with at least one rib, which is arranged on at least one side part of the opened side wall of the plate, on a ramp of the cap and can be adjusted by means of additionally screwing the filter housing cover into its position closing the idling channel. - 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 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 to be rotatable about the filter axis, which closure device comprises a closure element by means of which the idling channel can be closed, - wherein the closure device is designed so that it is fixed in a precisely defined position when screwing the filter housing cover onto the housing, in which position the closure element is arranged aligned 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 on unscrewing the filter housing cover is rotated and at the same time is moved axially away from the housing so that the closure element releases the idling channel, - 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, - the intermediate piece comprises a cap, - the closure device comprises a plate mounted rotatably in the cap, - the plate comprises an opened side wall with openings, - between the plate of 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, - the closure device or its plate when screwing on the filter housing cover engages with at least one rib, which is arranged on at least one side part of the opened side wall of the plate, on a ramp of the cap and can be adjusted by means of additionally screwing the filter housing cover into its position closing the idling channel.