Abstract This paper presents a semi-detailed kinetic scheme for n -heptane oxidation. Both the low and high temperature primary mechanisms are conveniently reduced to a lumped kinetic model involving only a limited number of intermediate steps. This primary reaction scheme, similar to the Shell model, is flexible enough to predict accurately the intermediate components, the heat release and also ignition delay times. General criteria for the reduction of intermediate species allows efficient coupling of the scheme with a detailed kinetic model of C 1 – C 4 oxidation. Several comparisons with experimental data, obtained under very different operating conditions, from pure pyrolysis to fuel-lean conditions, including shock tube, flow and jet stirred reactors support the applicability of this kinetic model of n -heptane oxidation over a wide range of pressures, both in the low and high temperature regions.