Abstract: The present invention relates to an oil separator for separating oil and/or oil mist from a gas. An optimum separation performance is hereby achieved with normal volume flow of the gas (A) but also in the case of an increased volume flow (A) or a blockage of the oil separator, the ventilation for example of a crankcase is ensured and observance of a maximum pressure loss is ensured. For this purpose, two oil separation elements (10a to 10d and 10e to 10h) are disposed one behind the other in the volume flow (A), the spacing of which from each other is variable.