The results of the experimental and numerical studies of the dust filter with a short diffuser at various size of a filter element clogging are given in the paper. The connection between the value of the filter clogging and the growth of hydraulic losses in a flowing part of the filter is found, the emergence of this effect from the point of view of redistribution of velocities and vortex formation of a stream is proved. Satisfactory agreement between the calculated and the experimental results is obtained.