Disclosed is a thermal oil recovery method suitable for recovering viscous oil by injecting steam and an amine compound having the following formula:R.sub.1 R.sub.2 NR.sub.3wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each hydrogen or a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 and preferably a C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 alkyl, linear or branched, and R.sub.3 is an alkyl, linear or branched, having from 3 to 20 and preferably 4 to 12, or R.sub.3 is --R.sub.4 NH.sub.2 wherein R.sub.4 is a C.sub.2 to C.sub.18 alkyl, linear or branched, and preferably 3 to 11, the sum of carbon atoms in R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 being from 3 to 20 and preferably from 7 to 13. The amine and steam may be mixed and injected into the formation, or one or more slugs of amine may be injected sequentially with steam injection. The amine improves the overall oil recovery and thermal efficiency of a steam flooding oil recovery process by improving the separation of viscous oil from the formation mineral surfaces.