ideally lubricated contacts are separated by a fluid (or perhaps a solid) film, which prevents surface contact, thereby eliminating the wearing of surfaces by adhesion or abrasion. To understand the role of lubrication in inhibiting wear it is necessary to understand the nature of the wear itself. There are three-(3) generally accepted lubrication regimes:

1.	Boundary Lubrication
2.	Film Lubrication
3.	Mixed Film Lubrication

other techniques for the application of lubricants from manual to automatic methods to achieve the lubrication methods listed below:

Also see centralized lubrication, circulating lubrication system, force-feed lubrication, gear box, grease cup, grease gun, mechanical lubricator, oiler, oil mist lubrication, once-through lubrication, ring oiler, sight fluid, splash lubrication, squeeze lubrication, ZN/P curve.