Abstract: An axial oil filter including at least one pair of axially aligned filter elements includes an elongate filter body and a removable filter cartridge. The filter elements are mounted on an axial conduit which is a part of the filter cartridge, and the filter cartridge placed in the filter body so as to define upper and lower chambers, and a bypass flow path between the upper and lower chambers. Fluid to be filtered may flow into either of the chambers and will flow upward through the lower filter element and downward through the upper filter element. The filtered fluid is collected from a passage defined by a screen between the two filter elements, and passes outward from the filter through the outlet port.