A filter device includes a filter housing (10) in which at least two filter
elements (12, 14) with differing filter grades of filter material (16)
are arranged. The filter elements are partially separated from each other by a
separating device (18), with a through channel (24) of predetermined
cross-section for a hydraulic connection between neighboring filter chambers (20,
22),. The filter chambers arranged prior to the filter materials (16)
in the flow direction of the fluids for filtering. The filter device permits a
combination of main- and side-stream filters in the smallest possible space, whereby
very good purity levels for the filtered fluid are nevertheless achieved.