Quenching oil compositions comprising (1) an oil having kinematic viscosity (ASTM Test Method D-445) at 40° C. ranging from about 4 to about 45 mm2sec−1 (about 40 to about 210 Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS)) and having a saturated content from about 80% to about 100%; and (2) an alkali metal salt of saligenin derivative and optionally, further comprising at least one of (3) an aliphatic polyolefin having Mn ranging from about 300 to about 10,000; (4) at least one member selected from the group consisting of metal salts of hydrocarbyl substituted phenols, salicylic acids, carboxylic acids, and sulfonic acids; and (5) at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl substituted succinic esters, amides, ester-amides, imides, amine salts, acid-esters, acid-amides ester-amine salts, amide-amine-salts and acid-amine salts, and methods of heat treating metals comprising employing said quenching oils.