In an oil application roller having an oil retaining member made of a hollow cylindrical porous formed body provided with an oil application layer on the outer periphery and that supplies a fixing roll with lubricant oil retained in the oil retaining member, the porous formed body is made of an inorganic material having micro-diameter voids and pores inside, at least a part of the micro-diameter voids communicates with a surface of the porous formed body and the pores, and at least a part of the pores communicates with a surface of the porous formed body through the micro-diameter voids. Also, if permeability resistance is 100 to 6,000 Pa.s/m.sup.2, no oil leak occurs during transportation and storage, the amount of the lubricant oil supplied to the fixing roll can be controlled and a uniform amount of lubricant oil can be supplied despite its compact and simple structure, the utilization rate of the lubricant oil can be enhanced. Further, if a pressure buffer device is provided between the hollow portion and the atmosphere, ill effects from oil leak and thermal expansion can be prevented.