A fuser assembly including a heater assembly that includes a heater body, the heater body includes a substrate that extends across the fuser nip. A plurality of retention features are defined on a protective layer covering the surface of the substrate. The protective layer includes a first layer and a second layer, the second layer including a plurality of passages extending from an outer surface of the second layer to the first layer and dimensioned and positioned to allow a lubricant to pass through the second layer between the retention features and the outer surface of the second layer.