The authors report here the results of a study undertaken to determine how aircraft engine oil degrades to form coke in static films on engine components and the impacts of additives and surface materials upon the coke production processes. The research is presented in two parts. This first paper deals with the initial research to develop a simple laboratory oil-coking test capable of monitoring antioxidant depletion, oil degradation, and coke formation of stressed aircraft turbine engine oils. Details of the analytical chemistry experiments performed on the stressed samples to quantitate the percentage of oil, polymer dissolved in the oil, and insoluble coke are also presented. The second paper (Part 2) (I) deals with more quantitative measurements of the degradation of thin layers of oil on heated surfaces. Effects of different oils and surfaces are explored.