There are inconsistencies in the literature regarding the role of organosulfur compounds in general, and sulfonic acids in particular, on the oxidative instability of middle distillate fuels. Comparison of published results between investigations is complicated by differences in a large number of variables. Variations in fuel composition, heteroatam distribution, reaction surface, hydroperoxide concentration, dissolved oxygen and reaction temperature all contribute to the variation in observed results. In an effort to clarify this situation, we have examined the t-butyl hydroperoxide liquid phase oxidation of hexyldisulfide in deaerated benzene.