AbstractThe thickness and frictional characteristics of thin lubricant films are known to affect the fuel economy properties of oils. The base oil and polymer compositions of the lubricant are generally considered to be critical chemical factors that can influence these thin‐film lubricant properties in new oils. However, it is important to produce lubricants with good fuel economy properties that are maintained after the lubricant is degraded. Lubricants in use can undergo oxidation and mechanical shear degradation. The effect of oxidation degradation on thin‐film physical properties has previously been studied. This paper investigates the effect of mechanical shearing on thin‐film properties. Dispersant olefin copolymers are found to reduce thin‐film friction in simple mixtures and in fully formulated oils. In simple mixtures, shearing the dispersant olefin copolymers does not affect the friction‐reducing ability of these polymers. In fully formulated oils, even though shearing diminishes to a degree the friction‐reducing ability of dispersant olefin copolymers, these copolymers can still provide significant frictio