Experiments were performed to study the effects of various metallic salts on the oxidation kinetics of a light Australian crude oil. Aqueous solutions of eleven metallic salts were mixed with quartz sand and an 824 kg/m(3) (40.2 degrees API) crude oil. The mixtures were then subjected to a controlled heating schedule under a constant flowrate of air. The produced gas was continuously analysed for its oxygen and carbon oxides contents. The experimental results showed that a plot of oxygen consumed versus temperature contained from two to five peaks depending on the salt present. This range of behaviour is substantially different from that observed for heavy oils. The crude-oil-oxidation reactions were classified into three broad groups depending on the ratio of carbon oxides produced to oxygen consumed. Sodium, copper and iron enhanced the fuel combustion reactions while lithium, magnesium and cobalt reduced the amount of fuel available.