The diesel soot was collected from diesel engine exhaust pipe. The morphology and structure of the collected diesel soot was characterized by HRTEM, XRD and XPS and its tribological behavior was investigated by a SRV IV oscillating reciprocating friction and wear tester. Test results showed that the tribological behavior of diesel soot was largely influenced by the test load. Under a low load, the diesel soot could reduce the wear volume of the disc. While under a high load, the diesel soot could reduce the friction coefficient of base oil. Based on the characterization of the w scars by the SEM technique, the 3D surface profiler and the Raman spectroscopy, it was assumed that the core-shell structure of diesel soot with several graphitic layers played important roles. On one hand, its spherical and special structure could make it roll between friction pairs to reduce wear under a low load. On the other hand, its outer-shell graphite layers could be peeled off to form lubrication film to reduce friction under a high load and shear force.