According to the invention there is provided a method of reducing wear of one or both of two steel elements having surfaces in sliding or sliding-rolling contact. The method involves applying an HPF friction control composition to one, or more than one contacting surface of one or both of the two steel elements. In a particular example, the HPF friction control composition comprises a rheological control agent, a lubricant, a friction modifier, and one, or more than one of a retentivity agent, an antioxidant, a consistency modifier, and a freezing point depressant.