Abstract: Lubricating oil composition comprising the reaction product of (a) molybdenum sulfonate, which is the reaction product of a hydrocarbyl sulfonic acid compound and molybdenum halide, and (b) sulfur or a sulfur-yielding compound. Preferably, an alkyl sulfonic acid having from 8-200 carbon atoms in the alkyl group is reacted with molybdenum pentachloride, and the molybdenum sulfonate resulting therefrom is sulfurized to produce the reaction product of the invention.