The addition of the alkanes C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 8 , or n-C 4 H 10 in the CH 4 –O 2 –SO 2 reaction feed resulted in an improvement of pre-sulfated 1% Pt/γ-Al 2 O 3 activity on CH 4 oxidation in lean conditions. These results are explained assuming that (i) the energy generated during the oxidation of the alkanes may be transferred to activate the rate determining step of CH 4 oxidation, over the catalyst surface, increasing the reaction rate at lower temperatures and (ii) alkanes oxidation may lower the coverage of oxygen on the Pt surface, leaving surface active sites free for CH 4 adsorption, thus increasing its oxidation rate, since, oxygen species act as an inhibitor for the reaction at full coverage. n-C 4 H 10 addition in the reaction feed generated the highest promotion on CH 4 complete oxidation. This promotional effect was further increased on pre-sulfated 2% Pt/γ-Al 2 O 3 . Results presented in this investigation suggest that small amounts of n-butane in the gas feed during CH 4 –O 2 reaction over a pre-sulfated Pt/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst may eliminate completely very low concentrations of methane emissions at low temperatures from lean-burn NGV exhausts.