Kinetic tests on pyrolysis of waste automobile lubricating were carried out with a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) technique at heating rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 degreesC min(-1) in a stirred batch reactor. The main region of decomposition of waste automobile lubricating oil was between 400 and 460degreesC at each heating rate. The corresponding kinetic parameters including activation energy were determined by the degree of conversions. The ranges of activation energies were from 281.78 to 447.66 U mol(-1) at conversion in the range of 0.11-0.96 and the reaction order was 1.35. The effects of heating rate on the product distribution have been studied. The distribution of the liquid products shifted slightly to smaller carbon numbers as the heating rate decreased. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.