Abstract: One dimension nano attapulgite powders with a fiber fasciculus shape are ball milled into sub-micron granulated powders. The sub-micron granulated attapulgite powders are dispersed into engine oil, Great wall CD 15W/40. The friction reduction and self-repairing performance are researched using two kinds of configurations, plane-on-plane and ring-on-block, and a comparison is made between CD 15W/40 lubricant with and without sub-micron granulated attapulgite powders. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer are employed to analyze the test samples.In addition,the self-repairing mechanism of sub-micron granulated attapulgite powders as an additive to lubricating oil to the worn surface is explored. The high-energy ball mill transform the fiber fasciculus attapulgite particles into granulated sub-micron particles which is composed of attapulgite and quartz. The friction coefficient of CD 15W/40 containing sub-micron granulated attapulgite is lower than that of base oil. Compared with the worn surface lubricated with CD 15W/40, the worn surface is smooth and free of obvious scratch, pitting, or plastic deformation. The repairing area characterized by deposition of elements O, Si, and Fe is different from the substrate material and this demonstrates that granulated attapulgite powders have excellent friction-reducing and self-repairing performances.