Аннотация:The effect of some carbon coatings deposited on steel surfaces on lubricating properties of oils is investigated. The friction tests were carried out by using two test configurations: “ball-on-disk” and “ring-to-ring.” Friction surfaces were coated by carbon of two types: monocrystalline and amorphous ones. As lubricants some model and commercial oils were used. It is found that the friction coefficient and its temperature dependence differ significantly for carbon films under study. The obtained results were attributed to a different orientating effect of these coatings on structural ordering in boundary layers, which structure is considered as a mesophase of liquid crystals. The findings suggest that the carbon coatings with orientating effect on boundary layers are advantageous for improving antifriction characteristics and for governing processes of boundary lubrication.