Surface engineering techniques are routinely used for enhancing the performance of a diverse range of products. They are especially beneficial in tribological applications [1–2]. Mo-sprayed coating, nitrided coating and Cr-plated coating are three kinds of typical piston ring materials in IC engines and their tribological performances exert direct influences upon the power output, fuel economy and exhaust emission of the IC engines [3]. Many investigations have been conducted on the tribological behaviors for Mo-sprayed coating, nitrided coating and Cr-plated coating [4–8]. These investigations have characteristically involved (1) concentration on dry friction and wear behavior for these three coatings and few focus on their lubricated tribological performances; and (2) lower experimental temperatures generally than 200 ◦C though the real temperature for the piston ring can be as high as 320 ◦C. Thus it is of practical significance to study both friction and wear behavior for the Mo-sprayed coating, nitrided coating and Cr-plated coating lubricated with fully formulated engine crankcase oils at higher temperature. In the current study, the friction and wear behavior for the Mo-sprayed coating, nitrided coating and Cr-plated coating under lubricated and sliding contact conditions at a temperature of 320 ◦C were studied. In addition, chemical analyses were conducted on the wear tracks to understand the effect of the coating type on the tribochemical behavior of a friction modifier—molybdenum dialkyldithiocarbamate (MoDTC).