Base for an internal combustion engine filter cartridge, intended to receive s a filter cartridge (3) provided with apertures for the entry of the oil to be filtered and for the exit of the filtered oil, in a respective upwardly facing matching engagement seat (2) provided with oil feed and discharge. channels to be connected to the matching channels of said cartridge, with said seat--there being peripherally associated a salient enveloping element (33) with which it forms an oil spill protection compartment, from the bottom of which there extends a recovery conduit (6) connected to a collection site and intercepted by a check valve (66), the closed or open state of which depends on whether the cartridge and seat are mutually engaged or disengaged respectively.