The advanced nano-additives can improve the lubrication performance of nanolubricants efficiently, which could greatly reduce energy consumption. Here, we prepared the BN coated with carbon layer (BN@C) by a novel hydrothermal coating method with pristine BN nanosheets as matrix material and glucose as carbon source. And the BN@C exhibited excellent lubrication performance as a lubricant additive. In order to investigate the tribological properties, BN@C was modified with oleic acid as a surfactant, and the friction tests were carried out on an MRS-10A four-ball friction and wear tester. Benefitting from the stable dispersity, ultrasmall particle size and the surface carbon layer of BN@C-OA, the lubrication performance was significantly improved. More impressively, BN@C-OA could enter the interface of friction pairs. The interlayer sliding occurred to improve the anti-wear and anti-friction properties. This study could provide a new avenue to synthesize the coatingcontaining nanocomposite additive to promote the lubrication properties of nanoparticles in oil.