Several families of liquid crystals, 4,4'-dialkyl- and dialkoxyazobenzenes, 4,4'-dialkylazoxybenzenes and cyanoaryls, have been studied as commercial oils additives. Tribiological studies have been carried out on a real time pin-on-disk machine at variable temperature and concentration. Variations in viscosity and transition temperatures have no significant effect on friction values. Friction values for increasing concentration solutions of liquid crystals in base oil are very similar. A 1% weight addition of liquid crystals to two different base oils lowers friction coefficients of steel for all 14 liquid crystals studied. Wear rates of steel-steel and steel-aluminum contacts are significantly lowered by addition of liquid crystals to base oil.