Abstract. Extending the service life of technical devices by exposing the surface of the friction tribo different drugs is an established fact. There are various hypotheses to explain the mechanism of formation of coatings with high wear resistance and low coefficient of friction on the mating surfaces of friction units of machines and mechanisms during their operation with the presence of drugs Tribo. All these conflicting hypotheses. The proposed technology without the wear operation of equipment using Tribo drugs differ in content and methodology of processing machinery. In this paper, an analysis of existing hypotheses formation mechanism of these coatings. The authors have their own experience in the development and application of technologies without the wear operation of equipment using Tribo drugs. This allows them to develop their own hypothesis of the mechanism of formation of coatings with high wear resistance and low coefficient of friction on the mating surfaces of friction units of machines and mechanisms during their operation with the presence of drugs Tribo.