Improved lubricant and surface conditioner forming composition containing oxa acids and their methyl esters corresponding to general formula (I): H3C—(CH2)n—CH═CH—(CH2)m—O—(CH2CH2O)x—CH2—C(═O)—OR  (I) where each of m, n and x, which may be the same or different, is a positive integer and R represents H or CH3, when dissolved and/or dispersed in water is effective in reducing COF values on substrates that have been contacted with such a lubricant and surface conditioner forming composition and subsequently dried, even when the substrates have been conversion coated and rinsed before any contact with the lubricant and surface conditioner forming composition. Materials according to general formula (I) may be used together with other surfactants, including some constituents of previously known lubricant and surface conditioner forming compositions to provide improvements in COF, waterbreak performance, water drainage and resistance to dry-off of the conditioner.