In order to overcome the poor lubricity of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) in aluminum contacts, ZnO nanoparticles (ZODDP) modified with dialkyldithiophosphoric acid were prepared through one step process from ZDDP. Compared with ZDDP the sulfur and phosphorus contents of ZODDP decreased by 77.9% similar to 82.8% and 77.3 similar to 80.7%. respectively. The tribological properties of ZODDP as the additives of diisooctyl sebacate (DIOS) in steel-aluminum contacts were evaluated on ball-on-disk tribometer. Compared with ZDDP the friction coefficient (cof) and wear rate (wr) of ZODDP decreased by 10.37% and 71.74% respectively. The ZnO nano cores in ZODDP enriched on frictional surface, which avoided the direct contact between friction pairs. The weak chemical interaction between ZnO nano-core and modifier promoted the tribological reaction between modifier and aluminum disks. ZODDP is expected to be a cheap and easily available lubricant additive for aluminium-based materials lubricating.