The oil absorption behavior of a room-temperature-cured, two-part epoxy adhesive on three metal substrates, cold-rolled steel (CRS), 2024-aluminum, and electrogalvanized steel (EGS), was studied using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR). From relative absorbance ratios calculated from ATR spectra taken at different penetration depths, it was determined that the effectiveness of the adhesive in replacing the oil from the metal surfaces followed in the order of 2024-Al > CRS > EGS. As thick as 20 microns oil could be absorbed from the 2024-Al and CRS surfaces, but much less oil could be absorbed from the oiled EGS substrate. However, the heat applied during cure could greatly help the adhesive absorb oil from the EGS substrate. Distributions of adhesive functional groups with respect to penetration depths were found in adhesive layers adjacent to metal surfaces. The abundance of curing agents in the adhesive/EGS interfacial region resulted in the incomplete oil absorption observed on the oiled EGS substrate. The results from ATR also showed that the oil did not inhibit the cure of the adhesive in the bulk.