Abstract This study investigates the potential of juliflora oil for bio-based lubricant applications and it was chemically modified by a two-step trans esterification process with further treatment with trimethylolpropane. After the chemical modification process, TiO2 nanoparticles were added to the oil. The lubricants were examined for properties like kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, flash point, and iodine value. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used for the examination of the worn surfaces. The kinematic viscosity of the oil shows increment with chemical modification and during the addition of the nanoparticles. The maximum increment was observed with a 1.2% addition of nanoparticles. The flash point increases with the addition of the nanoparticles and the maximum value was attained at 0.6% concentration. During the tribological analysis, 0.6% concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles demonstrated a reduction in the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear of the pin. The SEM images also show better surfaces when the nanoparticles were added up to 0.6% concentration which was due to effective lubrication to the surface. The optimum nanoparticle addition was found at 0.6% concentration to the chemically modified oil with an improved anti-wear mechanism.