A method for improving wear control in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil has a composition including a lubricating oil base stock as a major component, and encapsulated microscale particles, as a minor component. The minor component contains no sulfur or phosphorus. The encapsulated microscale particles include an encapsulating material and a core material encapsulated by the encapsulating material. The core material includes at least one metal salt selected from a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate, or mixtures thereof. The encapsulating material is derived from a carboxylic acid selected from an aliphatic carboxylic acid, a cycloaliphatic carboxylic acid, an aromatic carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof. The lubricating oils are useful in internal combustion engines.