Modified SiO2 particles were successfully prepared via [(perfluorobutyl)methyl]oxirane and [(perfluorobutyl)methyl]thiirane in sol-gel conditions using basic catalysis. As a result of acid catalysis non-modified nano-sized SiO2 particles were formed. Chemically modified SiO2 particles were characterized by means of FT-IR, BET, TEM, XRD- and XPS-analyses. Friction coefficients were determined at steel surface for base oil with modified SiO2 additives (5, 10 and 15 wt.%) at 10, 20, 30 and 60 N loads. Friction was reduced most strongly in the oil mix with the lowest content of the additive. A possible mechanism of antifrictional improvement is the formation of boundary lubrication layers containing iron salts. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.